Bengaluru-based furniture rental startup Furlenco has laid off approximately 180 employees as part of cost-cutting measures to achieve profitability ahead of a planned IPO. The layoffs, which occurred recently, primarily impacted customer-facing roles, with around 95% of those affected working in customer support and similar functions. The company, which operates under House of Kieraya, cited a strategic shift from telephone-based to app-based orders, leading to downsizing in certain areas. Despite raising significant funding last year, Furlenco is focusing on becoming a more tech-driven and automated business to reduce losses. The startup has also temporarily halted operations in Kolkata and some other cities as it restructures.
