Layoff Events

Almanac, a company in the technology sector focused on productivity and collaboration tools, laid off approximately 30% of its workforce this week. While the exact number of affected employees and total staff size were not specified, the reduction represents a significant downsizing. The layoffs were announced via a LinkedIn post, where a former colleague praised the talent of those impacted and encouraged hiring outreach. This move reflects broader challenges in the tech industry, where companies are restructuring to adapt to economic pressures and optimize operations.

Orbit, a community management platform, conducted layoffs yesterday, with CEO Patrick Woods announcing the departure of an unspecified number of teammates. The post expressed sadness and highlighted the talent of those affected, actively encouraging other companies to hire them by sharing a list of impacted individuals who opted in. While the exact scale of the layoff and the company's total employee count are not detailed in the post, the context suggests a difficult restructuring decision within the tech industry, aimed at helping the displaced professionals find new opportunities swiftly.

Core Scientific representing approximately 10% of its workforce on 2022-08-12.

Peloton, the connected fitness equipment maker, announced on Friday that it is cutting approximately 780 jobs as part of a major restructuring effort to reduce costs and achieve profitability. This layoff affects a portion of its workforce, though the exact percentage relative to total employees isn't specified in the article. The company is also closing a significant number of its 86 retail stores, exiting last-mile logistics by shutting warehouses, and shifting delivery and support roles to third-party providers. These sweeping changes, led by CEO Barry McCarthy, come as Peloton adjusts from its pandemic boom to slowing demand, aiming to eliminate fixed costs and leverage its customer base. Additionally, Peloton is raising prices on some equipment, like the Bike+ and Tread, while investors reacted positively, sending shares up 13.6%.

In August 2022, the Chilean corporate benefits unicorn Betterfly laid off approximately 30 employees from its Brazilian operation, representing about 30% of its 100-person local workforce. The layoffs, part of a restructuring, primarily affected the marketing, sales, and Xerpay teams, including the country manager. The company, an HR tech startup valued as a unicorn, faced challenges establishing itself in the local market despite significant investment, including a major funding round and expensive marketing campaigns. Reports indicate the company failed to meet commercial targets, and the layoff process itself was criticized by former employees for being poorly handled, with access revoked before official communication.

In July 2022, Kenyan B2B e-commerce platform Marketforce laid off 54 employees, representing about 9% of its then 600-person workforce, as part of a reorganization strategy in its Kenyan market. The cuts primarily affected field sales, supply chain, and customer experience roles. CEO Tesh Mbaabu explained the company was shifting from a growth-focused phase to optimizing for profitability, aiming to drive more revenue per merchant on its RejaReja platform rather than just onboarding new ones. This restructuring followed a $40 million Series A funding round earlier that year.

In August 2022, digital health unicorn Truepill conducted its third round of layoffs that year, cutting approximately 175 employees, which represented about one-third of its workforce. The company, valued at $1.6 billion, refocused on its core pharmacy operations after expanding into diagnostics and telehealth services. This restructuring followed regulatory scrutiny in the digital health sector and a need to secure further funding, marking a shift from its rapid growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In early August 2022, supply chain visibility startup FourKites laid off approximately 60 employees, representing nearly 8% of its workforce. The layoffs were part of a strategic consolidation following several acquisitions, including the sunsetting of its unprofitable ocean shipping platform, Haven. The company, which serves major clients like Coca-Cola and Walmart, simultaneously secured a $30 million investment, part of a larger funding round, highlighting a period of restructuring to integrate acquired technologies into a single global platform.

Calm laid off 90 employees representing approximately 20% of its workforce on 2022-08-11.

Expert360, a talent marketplace company, conducted a small round of layoffs affecting seven employees. This decision was driven by a shift in the labor market, where an increased supply of talented engineers has emerged, prompting the company to adjust its workforce. The layoffs occurred amidst a broader trend in the startup sector where companies, despite economic pressures and some workforce reductions, continue to offer various perks to attract and retain staff.

Vedanta Biosciences representing approximately 20% of its workforce on 2022-08-10.

Homeward, a real estate technology company offering a "buy before you sell" service, has laid off approximately 20% of its workforce. CEO Tim Heyl announced the cuts in a letter to employees, citing a sudden and more severe market shift than expected. Despite reporting strong performance in May and the second quarter, the company found itself overstaffed for the current forecasted growth. Heyl attributed the decision to significant market headwinds, including inflation, sustained high home prices, and rising mortgage rates, which have reduced revenue from its core cash-buying product. The layoffs occurred as Homeward aims to adapt to a potentially prolonged softer real estate market. Affected employees are receiving severance based on tenure, extended health benefits, outplacement support, and waived non-compete clauses. The company reaffirmed its commitment to improving the homebuying experience despite the restructuring.

In August 2022, the Brazilian online programming school Trybe laid off 47 employees, representing about 10% of its nearly 500-person workforce. The layoffs, which occurred on August 10th, affected multiple departments including customer success, design, and technology. The edtech startup cited a challenging global technology ecosystem in 2022 as the reason, stating the move was a necessary, though painful, step to ensure long-term goals. The company provided full severance packages and additional financial support to those affected. Founded in 2019, Trybe operates on an income-share agreement model and had raised significant venture capital prior to this restructuring.

SoftBank-backed adtech startup Permutive has laid off 30 employees, representing about 15% of its workforce, as economic concerns impact advertising spending and venture capital funding. The layoffs, which occurred across various departments including engineering and marketing, were attributed to over-hiring ahead of revenue. CEO Joe Root noted that the company had paused hiring in June, following similar moves by major tech firms like Google and Facebook in response to slowing ad spend. This reduction is part of a broader trend of tech industry layoffs amid a global economic downturn. Founded in 2015, Permutive provides data software for publishers and has raised $105 million in funding, including a round led by SoftBank's Vision Fund 2.

London-based events startup Pollen entered administration in August 2022 after failing to secure a buyer, a collapse that followed months of financial turmoil including missed staff payroll and unpaid customer refunds. The company, which had raised a $150 million Series C just months earlier, was forced into restructuring due to a challenging funding environment and reduced M&A activity. While its consumer-facing subsidiary and college travel business were set to continue separately, the failure to sell the entire company marked a significant downfall for the once-promising venture-backed firm in the global events and travel experience industry.

In August 2022, VC-backed aperitif startup Haus announced it was shutting down and putting its assets up for sale after its Series A funding round collapsed. The company, which had raised $17 million and achieved over $10 million in revenue, faced insurmountable challenges in securing further venture capital, largely due to "vice clauses" that deter many investors from backing alcohol brands. Additional pressures from the pandemic—including supply chain disruptions and the loss of in-person social marketing—hindered growth for its direct-to-consumer, low-ABV aperitif business. With traditional VC avenues closed, Haus turned to debt financing but ultimately could not sustain operations, leading to its closure and the layoff of its entire team.

GoHealth, a Chicago-based health insurance marketplace, laid off 800 employees on August 10, 2022, representing a significant reduction in its workforce. The company, operating in the insurtech industry, cited a challenging market environment and the need to streamline operations as reasons for the cuts. This move reflects broader adjustments within the technology and insurance sectors as companies adapt to economic pressures and shifting consumer demands.

Hootsuite, the Vancouver-based social media management company, is laying off approximately 400 employees, representing 30% of its global workforce. This reduction, announced to employees on Tuesday, will leave the company with just over 1,000 staff. CEO Tom Keiser cited the need to refocus on efficiency, growth, and financial sustainability as the reason for this difficult restructuring. The move reflects broader economic pressures affecting the tech industry and follows a period of rapid hiring and expansion for Hootsuite, which had grown to over 1,400 employees earlier in the year. The company has also faced challenges, including a postponed IPO and strategic shifts under Keiser's leadership toward e-commerce and customer service software.

Israeli video cloud platform Kaltura announced on August 9, 2022, that it is laying off 10% of its workforce as part of a cost-reduction and reorganization plan. Based on its reported 758 employees at the end of 2021, this reduction impacts approximately 76 people, with 30 of those layoffs occurring in Israel. The company, which provides video management systems and went public in 2021, cited a challenging macroeconomic outlook and the need to realign operations for greater efficiency and productivity. This move comes as Kaltura faces a significant stock price decline and a hostile takeover bid from rival Panopto, aiming to return to profitable growth.

Israeli website building platform Wix is laying off 100 employees, representing about 1.7% of its global workforce of approximately 6,000. This move, reported in August 2022, is part of a broader cost-cutting initiative aimed at improving operational efficiency amid a challenging economic environment marked by high volatility and uncertainty. The company's CFO cited a difficult environment for revenue growth, prompting a focus on strict cost management. This follows a previous round of layoffs in June when the company closed its subsidiary Wix Answers. Most of the affected employees in this latest round are based outside of Israel.

Israeli fintech unicorn Melio laid off 60 employees, primarily from its U.S.-based sales and customer success teams, in August 2022. The company, which had raised $250 million at a $4 billion valuation the previous year, cited a strategic shift in product priorities as the reason for the workforce reduction. While parting with these team members, Melio emphasized its commitment to treating affected employees thoughtfully with severance and support, and stated it would continue hiring for its R&D teams to pursue new strategic opportunities.

On August 9, 2022, Brazilian furniture e-commerce unicorn MadeiraMadeira laid off at least 60 employees, representing approximately 3% of its workforce of over 2,000. The company cited a restructuring aimed at improving efficiency and reprioritizing projects as part of its growth strategy. The layoffs affected areas including product, design, IT, and development. This move occurred amid a broader downturn in the startup ecosystem, influenced by post-pandemic macroeconomic challenges and the war in Ukraine, which led to reduced investment. MadeiraMadeira, backed by SoftBank—which itself reported significant losses—joined other major Brazilian startups in implementing workforce reductions during this period of market adjustment.

Dooly, a SaaS company in the sales enablement industry, laid off 12 employees. The CEO expressed deep regret, attributing the layoffs to economic turbulence and taking personal responsibility for not shielding the team. He emphasized that the decision was not performance-related and actively sought to help the affected individuals find new roles in go-to-market teams. The layoffs occurred on the day of the post, reflecting the challenging climate for tech companies.

Linktree, an Australian social media startup, laid off approximately 50 employees, representing 17% of its reported 300-strong global workforce, in August 2022. CEO Alex Zaccaria announced the cuts, attributing them to efforts to navigate an economic downturn and emerge stronger. The layoffs are part of a broader trend of tech industry reductions, affecting a company known for its creator-focused link-in-bio platform. Zaccaria expressed regret over the decision and outlined support measures for impacted staff, including a public job referral list and company-wide mental health days.

Absci laid off 40 employees on 2022-08-09.

Berkeley Lights, a biotechnology company specializing in single-cell analysis, laid off approximately 20% of its workforce in early 2024 as part of a restructuring effort following its acquisition by Bruker. The layoffs, which affected around 80 employees, were implemented to streamline operations and integrate the company into Bruker's Cellular Analysis division. This move reflects broader consolidation trends in the life sciences tools industry, where companies are optimizing their structures post-acquisition to enhance focus and reduce redundancies. Berkeley Lights, known for its Beacon platform, continues to operate within Bruker, aiming to advance its technology for therapeutic discovery and development.

Shift Technologies, a used car e-commerce platform, announced a workforce reduction as part of its updated business plan following its merger with CarLotz. While the exact number of layoffs was not specified, the cuts are a result of operational changes aimed at achieving profitability by 2024. The company, operating in the automotive retail industry, is shifting focus to its most profitable online sales channel and optimizing its inventory, which includes reducing its physical footprint. The announcement was made in August 2022 as Shift merged with CarLotz to combine assets and strengthen its market position.

On August 9, 2022, cloud computing and hyperconverged infrastructure company Nutanix announced a workforce reduction of approximately 270 employees, representing about 4% of its total staff. This decision followed a review of its business structure and other cost-cutting measures, positioning the layoffs as part of the company's strategic efforts to streamline operations and achieve profitable growth. The majority of the reductions were expected to be completed by the end of the fiscal quarter on October 31, 2022, with the company anticipating related pre-tax charges between $20 million and $25 million for severance and termination benefits.

Quanterix laid off 130 employees representing approximately 25% of its workforce on 2022-08-09.

Sweetgreen, a fast-casual restaurant chain in the food and beverage industry, laid off 5% of its support center workforce in mid-2022 as part of cost-cutting measures. The layoffs, announced alongside a downsizing to a smaller office, were driven by weaker-than-expected sales that began around Memorial Day, attributed to summer travel, a slow return to offices, and new COVID-19 cases. The company, which had around 2,800 total employees at the time, also lowered its annual revenue forecast. These steps were taken to reduce operating expenses and move toward profitability amid a challenging post-pandemic market environment.

On August 8, 2022, Brazilian logistics startup Loggi laid off approximately 15% of its workforce, affecting about 500 employees out of a total of 3,000. The cuts were part of a cost-reduction strategy in response to shifting market conditions, as the revenue boom experienced during the pandemic began to diminish. Layoffs impacted various departments, including technology, design, and recruitment, with the tech hub in Lisbon seeing about 40% of its team (35 people) let go. The company framed the move as an operational efficiency measure to ensure business sustainability. Concurrently, Loggi announced a CEO change, with founders moving to the board. Affected employees received severance benefits, including extended health plan coverage and career transition support.

DataRobot, a Boston-based AI startup, is conducting another round of layoffs under its new interim CEO, Debanjan Saha. While the exact number of affected employees was not disclosed, this follows a previous cut in May that eliminated 7% of its then 1,000-plus workforce. The company, which once reached a $6.3 billion valuation, is scaling back after over-expanding its operations last year in anticipation of an IPO. The decision is attributed to changed market realities, a weaker economy, and missed revenue targets. This restructuring comes amid leadership changes, including the recent resignation of the former CEO.

Vroom laid off 337 employees on 2022-08-08.

On August 8, 2022, Chicago-based e-commerce company Groupon laid off over 500 employees, representing approximately 15% of its 3,416-person workforce. The cuts impacted various teams, including merchant development, sales, recruiting, engineering, product, and marketing. CEO Kedar Deshpande cited that overall business performance was below expectations, prompting decisive actions to improve the company's trajectory. As part of a restructuring, Groupon is focusing solely on mission-critical activities, reducing its North America sales teams to emphasize self-service merchant acquisition, closing its Australia Goods business, and rationalizing its real estate footprint. The company aims these measures, alongside reinvestments in marketing, to achieve positive cash flow by the end of 2022, amidst a challenging market and increased competition in the online deals space.

Warby Parker, the direct-to-consumer eyewear retailer, laid off 63 corporate employees in early August 2022, representing a small percentage of its overall workforce, as the company aimed to navigate a challenging macroeconomic environment. The job cuts, which excluded customer-facing retail and lab roles, were part of a broader effort to operate more efficiently and focus on high-impact opportunities amid slowing growth and rising costs. This move followed a disappointing first quarter with unexpected losses, reflecting wider pressures in the retail and DTC sectors, where companies like Allbirds and Shopify were also reducing headcount.

Daily Harvest, a New York City–based frozen vegan food delivery startup valued at $1.1 billion, laid off 15% of its workforce in early August 2022. The cuts, which were planned prior to a major food safety crisis, were attributed to broader inflationary pressures and a slowing economy affecting many startups. This reduction occurred as the company grappled with a severe public relations and operational challenge stemming from its recalled French Lentil + Leek Crumbles, which reportedly sickened hundreds of customers, led to hospitalizations, and triggered multiple lawsuits. The layoffs reflect both internal economic adjustments and the external fallout from the product safety issue that amplified on social media.

Snap is planning to lay off employees, but the article does not specify the number of affected employees, total employees, reason, or announcement date.

iRobot laid off 140 employees representing approximately 10% of its workforce on 2022-08-05.

Uberflip, a Toronto-based B2B content marketing platform startup, has laid off 31 employees, representing approximately 17-20% of its workforce, which was around 182 people. CEO Yoav Schwartz announced the cuts on Thursday, citing the current unsteady macroeconomic environment as the primary reason, noting it has made the short-term future less predictable. The layoffs follow significant team scaling in recent years to prepare for anticipated growth. Founded in 2012 and having raised over $50 million, Uberflip is part of a broader trend of tech companies reducing staff after rapid expansion during favorable economic conditions. The company is assisting affected employees in finding new roles.

Talkdesk, a Portuguese-founded unicorn in the cloud contact center industry, has laid off a single-digit percentage of its global workforce as part of a restructuring effort. With approximately 2,100 employees worldwide, this reduction likely affects fewer than 200 people. The company cited the need to align resources with its strategic priorities and the current economic climate, including performance-based cuts. This move follows similar adjustments by other Portuguese tech unicorns. Talkdesk maintains over 1,000 professionals in Portugal and recently secured $230 million in funding.

In response to a challenging economic climate marked by reduced consumer spending and high inflation, the direct-to-consumer fine jewelry brand Mejuri has laid off 50 employees, representing 10 percent of its workforce. The cuts, part of a broader trend affecting retail startups, were attributed to macroeconomic pressures including supply chain disruptions and shifting post-pandemic shopping habits. While the exact date of the layoffs was not specified, the announcement was made public this week, highlighting the difficulties faced by e-commerce companies as they adjust to a return to pre-Covid demand levels.

Slync.io, a Goldman Sachs-backed supply-chain technology startup, laid off an unspecified number of employees on August 5, 2022, following months of financial turmoil. The layoffs occurred across various departments, coming just hours after the company finally paid overdue wages that had been delayed for nearly three months. Concurrently, the board terminated CEO and cofounder Chris Kirchner, who had been suspended the previous week amid the company's liquidity struggles and his controversial personal activities, including attempts to buy a football club. Interim president Tim Kehoe had foreshadowed this restructuring, citing efforts to stabilize the company's finances. The layoffs, part of a broader leadership and operational shake-up, reflect the severe cash-flow challenges faced by the startup in the competitive logistics tech industry.

Montréal-based building materials delivery startup RenoRun has laid off approximately 70 employees, representing about 12% of its 600-person workforce. The company, which operates in the construction tech and logistics industry, made these cuts in response to a challenging economic environment characterized by market downturns, a difficult fundraising climate, and concerns over inflation and potential recession. CEO Eamonn O'Rourke described the situation as a "perfect storm," leading the startup to prioritize financial longevity. Consequently, RenoRun has also paused its planned expansion into new U.S. cities for the foreseeable future, focusing instead on its existing six markets.

In August 2022, Indian school edtech unicorn LEAD laid off approximately 100 employees, which represents about 5% of its then 2,000-strong workforce. The company framed this as part of its annual performance review process, resulting in a reduction of less than 100 roles. This move occurred within a broader industry trend where edtech companies, facing a post-pandemic slowdown in demand for online education, were implementing cost-cutting measures. LEAD, having recently raised $100 million and achieved a $1.1 billion valuation, emphasized it remained adequately staffed for growth, aiming to focus on innovation as schools reopened across India.

RingCentral laid off 50 employees on 2022-08-04.

Jam City laid off 200 employees representing approximately 17% of its workforce on 2022-08-04.

On Deck, a tech startup that connects founders with resources and networks, laid off 73 full-time employees in August 2022, representing about a third of its staff. This followed a previous round of layoffs just months earlier, where a quarter of employees were cut. The company, which had grown rapidly to serve over ten thousand founders and professionals, cited a need to refocus after expanding too broadly across multiple communities. As part of the restructuring, On Deck spun off its career advancement arm and sunsetted several programs, including a climate tech fellowship. Affected employees received eight weeks of severance, accelerated option vesting, and healthcare coverage.

10X Genomics laid off 100 employees representing approximately 8% of its workforce on 2022-08-04.

Cannabis-tech company Weedmaps laid off approximately 10% of its workforce in early August 2022, affecting around 60 employees out of a total of 606 full-time workers at the end of 2021. The decision, communicated by CEO Chris Beals, was driven by a significant slowdown in legal cannabis sales in key markets like Colorado and California, rising fuel costs, and broader economic concerns pointing to a potential recession. Beals acknowledged misjudging the market's recovery timeline. The layoffs aim to help the company navigate ongoing industry turbulence and achieve profitability amid a challenging period for the cannabis sector, which has seen Weedmaps' stock drop over 55% this year.

Doma laid off 250 employees representing approximately 13% of its workforce on 2022-08-04.