HopSkipDrive

Los Angeles-based ridesharing startup HopSkipDrive, which provides transportation services for children, conducted a round of layoffs on August 11, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted its operations. While the exact number of employees affected was not disclosed by CEO Joanna McFarland, the company had over 100 staff prior to the cuts, and this followed an earlier reduction of 10% in March. The layoffs impacted multiple departments, including operations, branding, sales, and customer support. The primary reason was the widespread shift by school districts to virtual learning, which drastically reduced demand for the company's core service. HopSkipDrive, founded in 2014 and having raised about $98 million, implemented these cuts with a focus on empathetic communication and severance support, reflecting the broader challenges faced by mobility and transportation startups during the pandemic.

HopSkipDrive laid off 8 employees, representing 10% of its workforce.