Layoffs in Germany

SoundCloud has laid off 8% of its staff as part of efforts to reach profitability this year, following a previous round of layoffs in August last year. CEO Eliah Seton stated this decision is essential to secure the company's future for artists and fans. The layoffs come amid challenges in the music streaming industry, with SoundCloud focusing on partnerships and new features like a vertical feed and fan-engagement tools.

SoundCloud, the audio streaming service, announced on May 23 that it is laying off 8% of its workforce as part of a strategic move to achieve profitability for the first time in the company's history by the fourth quarter of this year. The decision primarily affects U.S.-based employees and follows a previous round of layoffs in August 2022 that cut 20% of staff. CEO Eliah Seton emphasized that this challenging step is essential to ensure the long-term health of the business, while the company also seeks further investment. This marks another restructuring effort for SoundCloud, which had significant layoffs in 2017 as well, as it strives to secure a sustainable and profitable future in the competitive music streaming industry.

German fintech startup Moss has laid off approximately 30 employees, primarily from its commercial department, as confirmed by the company. This follows a previous round of layoffs in September 2022, when the workforce was reduced from around 500 to about 380 employees. The company, which has raised $160 million and was last valued at $500 million, cites a strategic adjustment to accelerate its path to profitability amid a challenging funding environment. This move is part of a broader trend of workforce reductions within the fintech industry.

Berlin-based digital bank N26 announced layoffs affecting 71 employees in late April 2023, representing about 4% of its then workforce of over 1,700. The fintech company cited significant and lasting changes in the global business environment as it moves to sharpen its focus on strategic priorities and adjust its personnel structure accordingly. This move, part of a broader trend of job cuts in the fintech sector, comes as N26 aims to achieve profitability by 2024, following reported losses and regulatory growth constraints. The affected employees are to receive comprehensive severance packages.

The German rapid grocery delivery startup Flink has conducted a significant round of layoffs, reportedly cutting a substantial portion of its workforce. While the exact number of employees affected is not specified in the accessible content, the article indicates the company has grown large and then become small again under the quiet leadership of CEO Oliver Merkel. The layoffs are contextualized within the broader challenges facing the quick-commerce industry, which has seen widespread consolidation and cost-cutting as companies adjust to post-pandemic market realities and investor pressure for profitability. The event underscores the ongoing turbulence in the on-demand delivery sector.

Berlin-based electric cargo bike sharing startup Avocargo has ceased operations and laid off all 16 remaining employees after failing to find a buyer following its February 2023 insolvency filing. The company, which had offered app-based rentals, attributed its collapse to a failed funding round and a difficult market environment for mobility startups, with investors wary of the sharing economy's high losses. Founded a few years prior, Avocargo initially benefited from pandemic-driven demand and political interest in cargo bikes but ultimately could not achieve profitability. The service was officially discontinued on April 3, 2023.

Hamburg-based job networking platform Xing, part of the New Work SE group, is laying off 68 employees as part of a strategic realignment. The cuts affect 46 staff in Hamburg and 22 across other locations like Valencia and Porto, with the Zurich office being completely closed. This represents a significant shift for the company, which grew from a small startup to a 2,000-employee operation. The layoffs, announced in March 2023, span various roles from software development to marketing. Xing aims to refocus from a social networking model to becoming the top recruiting partner in German-speaking regions, prioritizing targeted job matching and career advice for its 21 million members.

Sono Motors, a German electric vehicle startup, laid off approximately 300 employees, representing nearly all of its workforce, in early 2023. This drastic reduction followed the company's decision to cancel its flagship Sion solar-electric car project due to insufficient funding and a failed crowdfunding campaign. The layoffs, which affected around 90% of the staff, were part of a strategic shift to focus on licensing its solar technology to other manufacturers in the automotive industry. The move marked a significant downsizing for the once-promising startup, which had aimed to bring an affordable solar-assisted EV to market.

Berlin-based football media startup OneFootball has laid off approximately 150 employees, reducing its global workforce from 470 to 320. This represents a cut of about 32% and marks the second round of layoffs in a few months, following over 60 dismissals in December 2022. Founder Lucas von Cranach attributed the cuts to overambitious expansion, particularly into a blockchain-based digital collectibles project, which diverted focus and resources from cost control and core strategy. Despite reaching "unicorn" status with a billion-dollar valuation in 2022 and serving over 130 million monthly users, the company is now refocusing on its primary business. The layoffs occurred in late February 2023.

Zalando on 2023-02-21.

Berlin-based quick-commerce startup Dropp has ceased operations after failing to secure new investors, leading to its insolvency. Approximately 60 employees lost their jobs following the company's closure in early 2023. Dropp, which provided a sustainable, white-label delivery service for e-commerce retailers, had been operating for about a year and a half. The difficult market environment for delivery services made investors cautious, and a planned funding round in late 2022 fell through, ultimately forcing the founders to file for insolvency. While the software assets were acquired by luxury delivery startup Arive, the business itself could not be saved, resulting in the layoff of its entire workforce.

Wefox, a German insurance technology startup, is cutting significantly more than 100 jobs, as reported in late January 2023. This layoff affects the company's workforce of approximately 1,400 employees, representing a notable reduction. The insurtech firm, which has raised $1.33 billion in funding but has yet to turn a profit, is making these cuts in response to the challenging market environment and ongoing financial pressures. This move reflects broader trends in the tech and startup sectors, where even well-funded companies are streamlining operations to navigate economic headwinds and work toward profitability.

Software AG laid off 200 employees representing approximately 4% of its workforce on 2023-01-31.

Delivery Hero, a major global food delivery platform, announced layoffs affecting a portion of its workforce. While the exact number of employees impacted was not specified in the provided article, the move is part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at improving operational efficiency and streamlining costs. The decision reflects ongoing challenges and competitive pressures within the technology and delivery services industry. The layoffs were implemented as the company adjusts its strategy to ensure long-term sustainability in a dynamic market.

Chrono24 laid off 65 employees representing approximately 13% of its workforce on 2023-01-30.

Soundwide, the parent company of music technology brands Native Instruments and iZotope, laid off approximately 8% of its workforce in late January 2023. This reduction, part of broader industry-wide cutbacks affecting tech and media, reflects ongoing restructuring within the company. Soundwide assured customers that product offerings would remain unchanged, though such layoffs often impact support and development. The company has faced significant leadership changes and reorganizations in recent years, culminating in its formation and acquisition of several audio software firms. Amid a challenging economic climate, these cuts align with trends seen at larger tech companies, highlighting the volatility in the music tech sector.

In January 2023, the online used car platform Heycar, part of the Volkswagen Group, underwent a restructuring, resulting in the layoff of 73 employees. The company, which operates in the competitive digital automotive marketplace, cited the cumulative impact of various crises over the preceding two years as the primary reason for these personnel cuts. New CEO Andreas Gruber confirmed the difficult decision, emphasizing the company's commitment to supporting affected staff while positioning Heycar for sustainable future growth. Founded in 2017, Heycar is a significant player in the European used car platform sector, with operations in Germany, the UK, Spain, and France, connecting thousands of dealer locations.

German enterprise software giant SAP announced on Thursday, January 26, 2023, that it will cut up to 3,000 jobs, representing about 2.5% of its global workforce. This targeted restructuring aims to streamline the company's portfolio and concentrate investments in its strongest growth areas, such as its accelerating cloud business. The move, expected to yield significant cost savings, comes despite SAP reporting positive fourth-quarter results and meeting its annual guidance. The layoffs reflect a strategic shift to ensure double-digit profit growth in 2023, even as the company navigates a challenging macroeconomic environment.

In January 2023, Tier Mobility, a major European micromobility operator, announced another round of layoffs affecting approximately 80 employees, representing about 7% of its overall staff. This follows a previous cut of 180 employees in August 2022. The company, which had aggressively expanded through acquisitions like Nextbike and Spin, cited restructuring to eliminate redundancies and a challenging macroeconomic environment as reasons. The layoffs are part of a broader shift from an "all-out growth mode" to a focus on achieving profitability, reflecting industry-wide pressures in the tech and shared transportation sectors.

Based on the provided content, there is no information about a layoff event at CoachHub. The text appears to be a generic sign-up or login interface snippet from LinkedIn, containing no news or details about the company's operations, workforce, or any restructuring. Therefore, a summary of a layoff cannot be generated from this material.

Gitpod laid off 21 employees representing approximately 28% of its workforce on 2023-01-24.

Wayfair laid off 1,750 employees representing approximately 10% of its workforce on 2023-01-20.

Berlin-based fertility tracking startup Clue laid off 31 employees, representing about a quarter of its roughly 100-person workforce, in January 2023. The company, which operates in the health tech industry, cited a strategic shift toward profitability over growth as the primary reason, a common move for VC-backed startups in the current economic climate. Co-founder and Chairwoman Ida Tin explained the layoffs were necessary to ensure the company's financial sustainability, noting they had hired more staff than their revenue could support. Clue, which has raised over €30 million since its 2012 founding and boasts 11 million users globally, stated the restructuring sharpens its focus on core value drivers to accelerate future growth.

Lendis, a company in the fintech or business services industry, has laid off half of its team due to deteriorating market conditions over recent months. The founders announced this difficult decision with a heavy heart, taking full responsibility and pledging support for affected employees. While the exact number of employees impacted isn't specified, the 50% reduction indicates a significant downsizing as the company seeks to navigate the challenging economic environment.

Berlin-based HR tech startup Workmotion laid off approximately 60 employees, representing 20 percent of its workforce of over 300, in December 2022. The company, which provides a SaaS platform for hiring and managing remote international employees, cited a macroeconomic slowdown affecting client hiring as the reason. Despite raising $50 million in a Series B round earlier that year and having strong investor backing, management stated that a leaner team was better suited to navigate the challenging market conditions, while emphasizing the company's ongoing stability.

German software startup Xentral, backed by major investors like Sequoia and Tiger Global, has laid off approximately 10% of its workforce, affecting around 20 employees out of a total of 200. The Augsburg-based company, which provides ERP systems for e-commerce and mid-sized businesses, announced the cuts in December 2022, citing slower-than-expected growth and the need to refocus on its core SME customer base amid broader economic challenges. The restructuring primarily impacted sales and marketing teams as Xentral adjusts its go-to-market strategy, despite having raised about €100 million and serving around 1,800 clients, including larger names like Porsche and About You.

OneFootball laid off 62 employees representing approximately 12% of its workforce on 2022-12-09.

In December 2022, the carsharing provider Share Now, a joint venture originally formed by BMW and Daimler and later acquired by Stellantis, announced significant layoffs. Following its sale by the German automakers, the company planned a major workforce reduction, initially targeting 36% of its then over 450 employees, which would have meant at least 150 job cuts. However, after negotiations, the final number was reduced to fewer than 50 layoffs in Germany. The restructuring aims to achieve profitability after years of substantial losses, as Stellantis integrates Share Now with its existing Free2Move service to strengthen its position in the European mobility market.

In December 2022, Chrono24, a major online luxury watch marketplace, announced layoffs affecting up to 80 employees at its subsidiary "Zeitauktion" in Chemnitz-Rabenstein, Germany. The company later clarified that 42 employees would actually be let go. This decision followed Chrono24's acquisition of the pre-owned watch dealer Zeitauktion three years prior, an expansion move intended to create synergies and establish a large European watch workshop. However, the integration failed to deliver the expected benefits, leading to the job cuts as part of a strategic pullback. The layoffs were communicated abruptly just before Christmas, causing significant uncertainty among the workforce. Chrono24 stated it would attempt to retain or reassign as many employees as possible, while the future of the Chemnitz location remains unclear.

Berlin-based tech rental startup Grover, which achieved unicorn status in early 2022, has laid off at least 40 employees, representing around 10% of its then 460-person workforce. The layoffs, confirmed in December 2022, are part of a restructuring aimed at reaching profitability and refocusing goals for 2023. After rapid growth during the pandemic, the company is shifting from a pure growth focus to a stronger emphasis on financial sustainability. Grover operates a platform for renting electronics like smartphones and gaming consoles across several countries, including Germany and the U.S.

In November 2022, the Munich-based e-learning startup StudySmarter laid off approximately 70 employees, primarily freelancers from its content department. This reduction followed the completion of a major growth initiative to cover the curricula of key academic subjects. The company, founded in 2018 and having raised $15 million the previous year, stated that these roles were specifically tied to that project. With over 400 employees and more than 10 million users at the time, the layoffs reflected a strategic shift after rapid expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic, which had boosted demand for digital learning platforms. StudySmarter continues to operate its mostly free, ad-supported platform for students and teachers.

Infarm laid off 500 employees representing approximately 50% of its workforce on 2022-11-28.

ResearchGate, a professional network for scientists and researchers, has laid off 10% of its workforce due to economic challenges affecting the tech industry. The company's CEO, Ijad Madisch, announced this difficult decision, emphasizing it was necessary to restructure and focus on key growth areas for future success. While the exact number of affected employees wasn't specified, the reduction reflects broader industry pressures, aiming to streamline operations while continuing to support the scientific community.

Dance, a micromobility startup focused on creating more livable cities, has laid off 16% of its team due to the uncertain economic climate. The company's CEO, Eric Quidenus-Wahlforss, announced the difficult decision, emphasizing a shift toward a more cost-conscious approach to sustain their mission. While the exact number of affected employees wasn't specified, the move reflects broader industry challenges. The company plans to support impacted team members by sharing an alumni list to aid their job search.

German website builder Jimdo has laid off approximately 50 employees, representing 16% of its workforce, which stood at 320 as of July 2022. The layoffs, effective immediately in November 2022, affect all departments and include positions outside Germany. CEO Matthias Henze cited an expected business downturn and a looming recession, explaining that the company's core customer base of small businesses is reporting declining revenues and cutting expenses, including on Jimdo's services. This follows a previous round of marketing team reductions in July. The Hamburg-based software company, which provides DIY website and online shop solutions, is restructuring to navigate potential economic turbulence.

Forto laid off 60 employees representing approximately 8% of its workforce on 2022-11-11.

Planetly laid off 200 employees representing approximately 100% of its workforce on 2022-11-04.

Delivery Hero, a global food delivery and quick-commerce company, announced a significant workforce reduction in early 2024, laying off approximately 1,250 employees. This cut represented around 13% of its global workforce at the time, which was about 9,500 people. The decision was part of a broader strategic restructuring aimed at improving operational efficiency and accelerating the company's path to profitability. The layoffs, affecting various teams and regions, reflect ongoing challenges and consolidation within the competitive food delivery and technology industry.

In November 2022, Berlin-based fintech Smava laid off around 100 employees, representing approximately 15% of its workforce, as part of a cost-cutting program amid a strained economic climate. This marked the company's second round of layoffs in just a few months, following a previous reduction in August. After these cuts, Smava's employee count dropped to about 700. The company, which specializes in consumer credit brokerage and had been on a growth trajectory, including acquiring competitor Finanzcheck in 2021, faced pressures from global economic challenges, particularly following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The layoffs affected all areas of the business, reflecting broader difficulties in the fintech sector during this period.

In late 2022, German e-commerce company Springlane laid off 35% of its workforce as part of a major strategic shift. Facing rising raw material and energy costs, a challenging economic and geopolitical climate, and an anticipated loss after several profitable years, the company decided to reorganize from a growth-focused model to one prioritizing profitability. This restructuring involved a sharp focus on business areas with a strong product-market fit, leading to the difficult decision to part ways with a significant portion of its valued employees. The layoffs underscore the pressures on the consumer goods and e-commerce industry during a period of economic uncertainty.

McMakler, a Berlin-based real estate platform and proptech startup, conducted another mass layoff in late October 2022, affecting over 100 employees. This follows a previous round of dismissals just a few months earlier in July. The company, which had nearly 1,000 employees, cited the turbulent economic environment and a rapidly changing real estate market—driven by rising interest rates and construction costs—as reasons for the restructuring. The layoffs impacted nearly all departments, except HR and Business Development, as McMakler aimed to position itself more robustly during a difficult market phase. This second round of cuts within months highlights ongoing instability in the proptech industry amid broader real estate sector challenges.

Berlin-based fintech Elinvar is laying off nearly one-third of its workforce, affecting an estimated 40-50 employees out of a total of 130-140 staff. The layoffs, confirmed by CEO Chris Bartz in October 2022, are part of a consolidation effort aimed at achieving profitability within the next year. This restructuring follows recent setbacks, including delays in a key partnership and the discontinuation of a robo-advisor product. Despite the cuts, Elinvar has secured additional funding from existing investors like Goldman Sachs and reports that its revenues are on track to more than double this year. The company operates in the wealth-tech sector, providing digital asset management solutions to financial institutions.

Nuri representing approximately 100% of its workforce on 2022-10-17.

Berlin-based fintech Solarisbank has announced layoffs affecting nearly 10% of its workforce as part of cost-cutting measures to achieve profitability by year-end. The company, which currently employs 750 people, informed staff of the dismissals, which span various departments, particularly those related to international expansion. CEO Roland Folz emphasized a strategic shift toward larger corporate partnerships over smaller fintech alliances, aiming to streamline operations and focus on growth areas like compliance and risk management. Despite the layoffs, Solarisbank plans to increase total headcount to 800 by the end of 2022. The move reflects broader challenges in the fintech sector, where companies are adjusting to market pressures after a period of rapid expansion.

Zenjob, a Berlin-based staffing platform in the HR tech industry, has laid off an unspecified number of employees, as indicated by a company post seeking support for departing colleagues. While the exact scale, percentage, and total employee count are not detailed in the announcement, the layoffs appear to be part of a broader restructuring or strategic shift, a common trend among tech startups adjusting to market conditions. The post, made approximately three years ago, prompted an outpouring of support from the professional network, with several companies offering recruitment assistance to the affected staff.

Berlin-based fintech startup Moss laid off approximately 70 employees, representing about 15% of its workforce, in September 2022. The company, which provides corporate credit cards and had around 500 employees at the time, cited significant changes in the overall economic environment as the reason for the cuts. This move was part of a broader trend of layoffs across the fintech sector, even among well-funded companies. Moss, which had raised $160 million and was valued at $500 million, also implemented a hiring freeze. Despite the layoffs, the company had recently obtained an e-money license from German financial regulator BaFin, aiming to become more independent from its financial partners.

On September 14, 2022, vertical farming unicorn Infarm laid off 50 employees, representing about 5% of its total workforce of approximately 1,000. The Berlin-based startup cited necessary cost reductions due to soaring energy prices and its drive toward profitability as reasons for the cuts. Valued at over a billion dollars, Infarm operates across Europe, the U.S., Canada, and Japan, and was founded in 2013. The layoffs occurred amid industry challenges, including the bankruptcy of French competitor Agricool earlier that year.

Pitch, a presentation software company, laid off 59 employees, representing 30% of its team, as part of a strategic shift to navigate the economic downturn. The layoffs were announced by CEO Christian Reber, who expressed deep regret over parting ways with what he described as incredibly gifted individuals. Affected staff will receive pay and have their shares continue to vest until the end of the year. The company, operating in the tech industry, made this difficult decision to adjust its strategy amid broader economic challenges, highlighting the impact of market conditions on startups.

Berlin-based fitness startup Urban Sports Club has laid off 55 employees, representing 15% of its workforce, in an unexpected move driven by missed profitability targets. The company, which offers flexible sports memberships across multiple European countries, had initially focused on aggressive growth following the pandemic. However, due to challenging market conditions, including the energy crisis and inflation, it has shifted its strategy toward achieving profitability, particularly in Germany by year-end. The layoffs, which affect all brands under the group including OneFit and Fitogram, were described as fair by affected staff, who received market-standard severance packages. The company remains operational in Germany, Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands.

The German fintech company Smava, a Berlin-based consumer loan comparison portal, has laid off approximately 10% of its workforce, affecting nearly 100 employees out of a total of around 1,000. The staff was informed of the cuts yesterday, with the layoffs impacting virtually all departments, including IT and marketing. This move is part of an ongoing wave of job reductions within the German fintech industry, reflecting broader market adjustments and challenges in the sector.