Layoffs in United States

Paperless Parts on 2023-05-22.

AppFolio laid off 62 employees on 2023-05-22.

Nuance Communications, the Burlington-based speech-to-text pioneer acquired by Microsoft in a nearly $20 billion deal, is laying off an unspecified number of employees as part of its ongoing integration with the tech giant. The cuts, announced internally in late February 2024, come as the company sharpens its focus on the healthcare market amid broader macroeconomic pressures and shifting customer needs. While the exact scale of the layoffs wasn't disclosed, Nuance had approximately 7,000 employees at the time of the acquisition announcement in 2021. The move reflects strategic adjustments within the technology and healthcare IT sectors as Microsoft consolidates its operations post-purchase.

Krebs Stamos Group, a cybersecurity consulting firm founded by Alex Stamos and Chris Krebs, laid off six employees last week. The firm had 18 employees in April, and the layoffs were attributed to a shift in client needs, reducing the team to 14 members. This event highlights ongoing layoffs in the cybersecurity industry despite predictions of resilience.

dbt Labs, a data transformation software company, laid off 15% of its global workforce in May 2023. This decision came after a review of Q1 2023 financials, where growth, while continuing, fell short of the company's ambitious plans. CEO Tristan Handy cited the need to reset expectations in a challenging economic environment for the software sector. The layoffs impacted every business function. Prior to this, dbt Labs had grown rapidly from about 50 employees in early 2021 to over 440, driven by strong demand for its dbt Cloud product. The company, which serves over 20,000 businesses, offered a 12-week severance package and other support to affected employees.

Pie Insurance laid off 63 employees representing approximately 14% of its workforce on 2023-05-18.

On May 18, 2023, Clearbit, a B2B data intelligence company, conducted a layoff affecting a number of its employees. The decision was announced by returning CEO Matt Sornson, who cited the need to create a faster, flatter organization closer to customers and to reduce costs to ensure profitable growth and continued innovation. While the exact number of employees laid off and the total workforce size were not disclosed, the move was described as a difficult but necessary step to reallocate resources toward improving core data products. The affected team members were offered support including severance pay, extended healthcare, and career assistance. This restructuring reflects broader pressures in the tech industry to streamline operations and focus on sustainable business models.

TuSimple, an autonomous trucking company that went public in 2021, is laying off about 30% of its global workforce, primarily affecting its U.S. operations. This reduction will cut its U.S. staff from approximately 550 to 220 employees. The layoffs are part of a restructuring effort aimed at preserving cash and maintaining operations amid financial challenges, including a delisting notice from Nasdaq for failing to file timely quarterly reports. Announced in May 2023, this marks the company's second major workforce reduction in five months, following a 25% layoff in December 2022 after a key partnership with Navistar dissolved. Concurrently, TuSimple plans to retain its China-based subsidiaries, which are advancing autonomous vehicle projects, despite potential regulatory concerns.

Nextbite, a virtual restaurant brand platform in the food technology industry, conducted another round of layoffs in mid-May 2023, affecting an undisclosed number of employees. Based on LinkedIn posts from over 20 former staff, including senior roles, the cuts appear significant, with some employees stating the majority of the workforce was eliminated and indicating a potential full wind-down or major restructuring of the company. This follows at least two prior layoff rounds in 2022. Despite recent expansions, such as partnerships with IHOP and Nathan's Famous, the company has not secured new funding since its Series C round in February 2021, contributing to its financial strain. Several affected employees reported being terminated without severance.

Formstack, a software company specializing in form and workflow automation, has conducted a layoff affecting an unspecified number of employees as part of a restructuring plan. The decision, announced by CEO Chris Byers, aims to streamline internal processes and simplify the operating model to ensure long-term growth and profitability. While the exact number of impacted employees and the percentage of the workforce were not disclosed, the company emphasized its commitment to supporting the departing staff by creating an alumni directory to help them find new opportunities. This move is positioned as a strategic adjustment to navigate economic challenges while maintaining a 17-year strategy of debt-free, profitable growth. The layoffs occurred in the context of a broader effort to continue delivering innovation and a strong customer experience.

Stash laid off 40 employees representing approximately 10% of its workforce on 2023-05-17.

Oracle, following its $28 billion acquisition of health IT giant Cerner in June 2022, has laid off over 3,000 employees from Cerner's original workforce of 28,000, representing a reduction of over 10%. These layoffs, part of a broader cost-cutting effort that also includes a freeze on raises and promotions through 2023, have occurred across various teams including marketing, engineering, and product, with cuts reported as recently as May 2023. The restructuring, while common post-acquisition, has severely impacted morale within the Cerner unit, exacerbated by leadership changes and the sale of Cerner's Kansas City buildings. The health IT industry giant, now integrated into Oracle Health, is undergoing significant transformation under its new parent company.

DroneUp, a Walmart-backed drone delivery startup, laid off a small percentage of its workforce in early 2024 as part of a strategic shift. The company, which now has 418 total employees, is moving away from enterprise services like construction monitoring to focus more intensely on its core drone delivery hubs. This restructuring reflects the competitive pressures and ongoing challenges in scaling commercial drone delivery within the tech and logistics industry. The layoffs coincide with a broader trend of downsizing in the tech sector, though DroneUp stated it plans to hire more people than were let off over the following six months.

Insurtech company Lemonade is laying off about 45 employees, representing 3% of its total workforce, as part of a restructuring effort aimed at improving personnel alignment and advancing toward profitability. The layoffs, announced in May 2023, primarily affect research and development departments, with approximately 30 of the impacted employees based in Israel—about 10% of the company's workforce there. Lemonade described the move as a periodic audit to ensure the right talent is in place, noting it continues to recruit for other roles. This follows a similar round of cuts a year earlier that focused on U.S. customer service.

In May 2023, beverage technology startup Cana shut down and laid off all of its employees after failing to secure crucial funding. The company, which had developed a prototype appliance capable of creating customized drinks, was unable to raise the capital needed to establish a production line and begin shipping devices. Despite having raised $30 million in early 2022 and enlisting a high-profile brand ambassador, Cana ultimately succumbed to the challenging funding environment, particularly tough for consumer hardware startups. The closure marked the end of its ambitious vision for an on-demand beverage system.

E-Discovery software provider Everlaw conducted a layoff in May 2023, reducing its staff by approximately 10%. This move reflects broader trends of workforce adjustments within the legal technology industry during that period, as companies navigated economic uncertainties. The reduction impacted a significant portion of the company's employees, aligning with cost-cutting measures seen across the tech sector.

Slickdeals laid off 79 employees representing approximately 33% of its workforce on 2023-05-12.

Autonomous delivery robot startup Nuro is laying off 30% of its workforce, approximately 340 employees, in May 2023 as part of a major restructuring to extend its capital runway. This marks the company's second significant round of layoffs in less than a year, following a 20% reduction in November. The move involves shifting resources away from commercial operations and toward research and development, including pausing plans to scale commercial activities and delaying volume production of its flagship Nuro bot. The restructuring is intended to provide the company with enough capital to operate for another three years without additional fundraising. Affected employees will receive severance packages and healthcare support.

Tessera, a Paradigm-backed NFT ownership platform, is shutting down entirely, effectively laying off all employees. The company, which had raised $20 million in a Series A round led by Paradigm in 2022, made the decision after analyzing market scenarios, its structure, and financial situation. Co-founder Andy Chorlian announced the wind-down on May 12, 2023, stating that targets for profitability for its projects, including the Escher marketplace, did not make business sense. This closure occurs amid a struggling NFT market and follows recent legal charges against Chorlian related to an alleged securities manipulation scheme. The entire team is impacted as operations cease over the coming weeks.

On May 11, 2023, e-discovery and legal technology company CS Disco Inc. conducted its second round of layoffs for the year, reducing its workforce by 8%. The company, which provides software for the legal industry, disclosed this staff reduction in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This move reflects ongoing adjustments within the legal tech sector as companies aim to streamline operations and improve financial efficiency amid broader economic pressures.

Varo Bank has laid off 97 employees as part of a restructuring effort to reduce costs and move toward profitability. The cuts primarily affect the contact center and remote deposit capture group, which are being outsourced. This reduction represents a streamlining of operations for the digital banking company, which remains well-capitalized and focused on product innovation and customer growth. Impacted staff have been notified and will receive transition support. The layoffs were announced in early 2023 as Varo aims to strengthen its financial position while continuing to serve its customer base.

Microsoft laid off 158 employees on 2023-05-10.

Digital intelligence company Similarweb laid off over 60 employees, representing about 6% of its workforce, in May 2023. This followed a previous round of 130 layoffs in November 2022. The cuts were announced alongside first-quarter results that showed a 19% revenue increase to $52.8 million but a persistent GAAP operating loss of $13.1 million. The company, which provides web traffic analytics, cited ongoing efforts to improve its financial position and achieve positive cash flow, with most affected employees based outside Israel.

Stack Overflow, the prominent online platform for developers, has laid off approximately 58 employees, representing about 10% of its workforce. CEO Prashanth Chandrasekar announced the difficult decision, citing a strategic shift towards profitability amid macroeconomic pressures. The company is refocusing its efforts on its core Stack Overflow for Teams product and upcoming AI/ML offerings, aiming for greater agility. The layoffs occurred in April 2026, affecting employees across the tech industry, with the company providing severance and support services during the transition.

Marqeta, a financial technology company specializing in card issuing and payment processing, conducted a workforce reduction in early 2023 as part of a broader restructuring plan. The layoffs affected approximately 100 employees, which represented around 10% of its total workforce at the time. This decision was driven by a strategic shift to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs amid a challenging macroeconomic environment. The move, announced in the first quarter, aligns with the company's efforts to streamline operations and focus on core growth areas within the fintech industry.

Sonatype, a software supply chain management company, laid off approximately 100 employees, representing 14% of its global workforce, in May 2023. The cuts impacted teams across sales, marketing, engineering, customer success, and general administration worldwide. Company president Alex Berry framed the move as a restructuring to position Sonatype for future market success, not due to systemic business issues. However, the layoffs were reportedly handled poorly, with employees and even engineering managers caught by surprise after being assured their jobs were secure. Staff were abruptly let go and instructed not to speak to the press, contrasting with more transparent approaches seen at other tech firms. The layoffs reflect broader cost-cutting trends in the IT and software industry at the time.

LinkedIn is cutting 716 jobs as it phases out its InCareer app in China, citing fierce competition and a challenging macroeconomic climate. The company, which has 20,000 employees and is owned by Microsoft, plans to finish phasing out InCareer by August 9 while shifting its China strategy to focus on helping companies hire, market, and train abroad.

Mobile sports streaming startup Buzzer is laying off a significant portion of its workforce as it pivots from a consumer-facing app to a B2B technology provider. The company's headcount has shrunk from a peak of around 65 employees early last year to fewer than 30 as of May 2023, representing a reduction of over 50%. This strategic shift comes in response to changing market dynamics, including leagues and teams seeking more direct control over their digital streaming distribution. The company, which has raised $44 million from prominent sports investors, will now offer its proprietary technology and services under a "Powered by Buzzer" model to help rights holders build and enhance their own direct-to-consumer streaming platforms.

Akamai laid off 290 employees representing approximately 3% of its workforce on 2023-05-09.

LinkedIn laid off 716 employees representing approximately 4% of its workforce on 2023-05-08.

Twist Bioscience, a synthetic biology company, laid off approximately 270 employees, representing about 25% of its workforce, in a restructuring effort announced in early 2024. The move aims to reduce costs and extend the company's financial runway, focusing resources on core DNA synthesis and data storage businesses. This significant reduction reflects broader challenges and consolidation within the biotechnology and life sciences tools industry.

Eventus, a trade surveillance technology provider, has laid off approximately one-third of its global workforce, primarily from sales and business development, including senior leaders. The cuts, confirmed in early 2024, are a response to a challenging funding environment, as the company shifts from aggressive growth to a phase of optimizing for efficient, self-sustaining expansion without relying on external capital. While specific employee numbers were not disclosed, the significant reduction highlights the pressures in the fintech sector, with Eventus stating these difficult decisions were made to focus resources on client-serving areas yielding strong returns.

Scribe Media laid off 90 employees representing approximately 100% of its workforce on 2023-05-04.

Sabre, a major travel technology company, is laying off approximately 15 percent of its workforce, which translates to about 1,125 employees based on its reported total of nearly 7,500 at the end of 2022. The announcement was made by new CEO Kurt Ekert during an earnings call on Thursday, May 4, 2023. This restructuring is part of a broader effort to achieve $200 million in annual cost savings, reflecting the company's response to a permanently changed travel industry landscape following the pandemic and its need to realign for future financial and strategic goals.

Autograph, the NFT platform co-founded by Tom Brady, has laid off about a third of its workforce, affecting up to 30 employees out of a total of 107. This significant reduction, which occurred in early May 2023, follows a previous round of layoffs in December, as the company navigates a cooling NFT market where sales are projected to plummet 72% this year. The layoffs, impacting senior executives as well, reflect broader challenges in the technology and digital collectibles industry, with Autograph citing market conditions similar to other tech firms that have downsized. Despite the cuts, the Los Angeles-based startup, which raised $170 million in Series B funding in 2021, aims to focus on product development with its remaining team.

Brightline representing approximately 20% of its workforce on 2023-05-03.

Unity laid off 600 employees representing approximately 8% of its workforce on 2023-05-03.

Upwork laid off 137 employees representing approximately 15% of its workforce on 2023-05-03.

TheSkimm, a millennial-focused newsletter publisher, laid off approximately 22 employees, representing about 13% of its workforce, in early May 2023. This marked the company's second round of cuts this year, following a previous layoff of 17 people in January. The affected roles included top sales executives and creative leaders. The layoffs are attributed to a persistently challenging advertising market, with digital media facing significant revenue declines. Founded in 2012 and based in New York, TheSkimm expanded from its core newsletter into podcasts and other content but has struggled to diversify revenue and secure new funding amid slowing growth.

Brightcove laid off 70 employees representing approximately 10% of its workforce on 2023-05-03.

Cybersecurity firm Bishop Fox laid off approximately 50 employees, representing 13% of its workforce, on May 2, 2023. The company, which had around 400 employees prior to the cuts, cited the global economic situation and a need to improve business efficiency as reasons for the restructuring. This move came just days after the company hosted a party at the RSA cybersecurity conference, an event that had been planned months in advance. CEO Vinnie Liu stated that while demand for their solutions remains solid, the company is responding to market uncertainty and investment trends. Bishop Fox operates in the cybersecurity industry and continues to plan for future industry events.

Commercial real estate finance startup Lev has laid off 34 employees, as reported in May 2023. This follows a previous round of roughly 30 layoffs late last year. The company, which operates a platform using AI to connect property borrowers with lenders, has been impacted by a significant industry slump driven by rising interest rates, which has choked off commercial real estate lending and reduced transaction volumes. Founded in 2019, Lev had previously secured substantial venture capital, including a $70 million Series B round. The layoffs reflect broader challenges in the proptech and commercial real estate sectors amid economic tightening.

SAS laid off 250 employees on 2023-05-01.

Embark Vet laid off 28 employees on 2023-04-28.

Cue Health laid off 326 employees representing approximately 30% of its workforce on 2023-04-28.

Poparazzi, the photo-sharing app that briefly topped the App Store charts in 2021, is shutting down as of May 2023, effectively resulting in layoffs for its entire team. The company, which had grown to a team of 15 employees following a $15 million Series A funding round in 2022, cited declining user engagement and a pivot to an unsuccessful new app, "Made with Friends," as contributing factors. Operating in the competitive social media industry, the startup failed to sustain its initial hype despite its innovative concept of allowing users to only post photos of their friends. The closure was announced via a Medium post, with the app set to be discontinued and user data available for download until June 30, 2023.

Cork-based corporate communications software firm Poppulo announced in late April 2023 that it is cutting 21 roles in Ireland, along with 11 in the UK and 53 in the US, as part of a restructuring in response to the changing economic climate and a need to re-evaluate its cost base. The company, which serves over 4,500 global customers, expressed optimism for the future despite the layoffs, stating the move would position it more strongly to seize upcoming opportunities.

Clubhouse representing approximately 50% of its workforce on 2023-04-27.

Chief, a professional network for women leaders, laid off 43 employees, representing 14% of its staff, on April 27, 2023, as part of a restructuring effort in response to the challenging economic environment. The company, which operates in the professional networking and community industry, now has around 262 remaining employees. The layoffs primarily affected U.S. staff, sparing its smaller U.K. presence. In an email to employees, co-founders cited a focus on enhancing member experience through in-person opportunities, personalization, digital simplification, and embedding diversity and inclusion. This move follows recent scrutiny over the company's stance on social issues, as it continues to serve its 20,000-member base.

On April 28, 2023, Rebellion Defense, a company developing advanced software for national security, announced a reduction in its workforce. The layoffs were a difficult decision made by CEO Chris Lynch, aimed at evolving the organization's customer delivery approach, refocusing product investments for software-defined defense, and extending the company's financial runway amid a challenging macroeconomic environment. While the exact number of employees laid off and the total workforce size were not disclosed in the announcement, the move reflects a strategic shift to prioritize core capabilities and ensure long-term impact for its defense technology customers.