Zume

Zume representing approximately 100% of its workforce on 2023-06-02.

Zume, a troubled SoftBank-backed robotics startup, laid off approximately 200 employees on April 15, 2020, representing two-thirds of its workforce after earlier cuts in January. This drastic reduction left the company with about 100 staffers, down from nearly 1,000 at its peak when it was valued over $1 billion. The layoffs were driven by failed funding efforts, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused investors to withdraw and disrupted supply chains and customer contracts. The cuts affected two major divisions, including Zume Forward and the Gigaranch team, shifting the company's focus to compostable food packaging amid financial struggles and executive departures.