In May 2023, Hamburg-based food delivery startup Circus Kitchens laid off 35 employees, representing about 25% of its headquarters staff. The layoffs included 18 headquarters roles and 17 operational positions. The company cited restructuring due to temporarily suspending service in one of its three Hamburg delivery zones and shifting focus toward offering pickup options, which required kitchen adjustments. Additionally, Circus pointed to the uncertain economic climate within the startup ecosystem and a strategic push for operational efficiency and profitability as reasons for the headquarters cuts. Despite rumors, the company denied financial issues, noting it secured €11 million in seed funding in late 2022. Founded in 2021 by Nikolas Bullwinkel, a co-founder of Flink, Circus operates in the competitive food delivery industry.
