In April 2020, amid the widespread economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Los Angeles-based manufacturing startup Divergent 3D laid off approximately 57 employees, representing about one-third of its then 160-person workforce. Founder and CEO Kevin Czinger confirmed the staff reductions were a difficult but necessary step to ensure the company's long-term financial stability and protect its core technology development and customer programs. Operating as an innovative Tier 1 supplier for the automotive and aerospace industries, Divergent 3D developed an additive manufacturing platform aimed at making vehicle production more efficient and less environmentally impactful. The layoffs were a direct response to the enormous uncertainty surrounding the pandemic's duration and economic impact, as the company sought to become as resilient as possible.
