On October 11, 2022, Udacity, an online education platform in the edtech industry, announced a layoff affecting 55 employees, representing approximately 13% of its workforce. The decision was made as part of a strategic review to address increasing market headwinds and create a more sustainable business model amid a challenging macroeconomic environment. Founder Sebastian Thrun communicated the difficult move, noting it was necessary after exhausting other options to reduce fixed and discretionary costs. Concurrently, CEO Gabe Dalporto departed, with Thrun stepping in as Executive Chairman. The company emphasized its commitment to its mission despite the restructuring, aiming for this to be the sole round of layoffs.
