Layoffs in United States

CloudKitchens, the ghost kitchen startup founded by former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, laid off approximately 30 employees from its recruiting team in early November 2022. This represents a small fraction of its workforce of over 5,000. The cuts were part of a broader effort to control costs and move toward profitability, as the pandemic-driven surge in online food delivery subsides and economic pressures mount. The company, valued at $15 billion after raising $850 million in 2021, is among many startups adjusting to a tougher funding environment and shifting market conditions in the food tech industry.

Shippo, a shipping software company for e-commerce, has laid off approximately 20% of its workforce as part of its end-of-year planning. The decision, announced in late 2022, was driven by a significant shift in the macroeconomic environment over the preceding year, including slowed e-commerce growth. While the company remains well-capitalized and views shipping as mission-critical, it made this difficult move to adapt to the new conditions, ensure it can weather a potential recession, and continue making strategic investments. The layoffs affected a portion of its team, with the company encouraging other employers to reach out to its recruiting team to connect with the departing employees.

LiveRamp Holdings, Inc., a data connectivity platform in the software industry, announced a workforce reduction on November 3, 2022, as part of a strategic restructuring. The company laid off approximately 10% of its full-time employees to streamline operations and improve profitability. This headcount reduction, combined with a downsizing of its real estate footprint, is expected to yield annual operating expense savings of $30 million to $35 million. The move reflects a broader effort to simplify business processes and focus resources more efficiently.

Chime laid off 156 employees representing approximately 12% of its workforce on 2022-11-02.

In November 2022, agtech startup Iron Ox laid off 50 employees, representing nearly half of its then workforce of just over 100 people. The Bay Area-based company, which had raised over $100 million to develop automated robotic greenhouses, made the cuts to extend its cash runway amid broader economic headwinds. Leadership stated the decision was part of a renewed focus on core engineering and technology competencies, leading to a comprehensive reduction across various departments. While the layoff was a significant setback for the well-funded robotics and agriculture technology firm, the company indicated it had no plans to wind down operations and remained open to additional funding or a potential sale.

Opendoor laid off 550 employees representing approximately 18% of its workforce on 2022-11-02.

In May 2023, Digital Currency Group (DCG), a major crypto venture capital firm and parent company of Grayscale and CoinDesk, laid off around 10 employees, representing nearly 13% of its workforce and reducing total staff to about 66. This restructuring, which coincided with the promotion of Mark Murphy to president, was part of broader industry-wide cutbacks driven by a severe market downturn. The crypto sector had seen significant job losses since early 2022, with DCG's subsidiary Genesis also facing substantial layoffs following losses linked to the collapse of hedge fund Three Arrows Capital.

In November 2022, enterprise SaaS startup Chargebee, backed by investors like Tiger Global and Sequoia Capital India, laid off 142 employees, representing 10% of its workforce. The company, which provides subscription and revenue management solutions and is headquartered in Chennai and San Francisco, cited ongoing global macroeconomic challenges and a need to address operational debt as reasons for the reorganization. CEO Krish Subramanian explained the decision was part of efforts to align hiring and reduce expenses amid a gap between revenue and spending. Affected staff received three months of pay, extended benefits, and career support.

Oracle, a major enterprise software and cloud computing company, laid off as many as 200 employees within its crucial Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) unit on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. This move is significant because the cloud unit had previously been largely protected from the company's broader cost-cutting efforts throughout the year. While the layoffs represent a small percentage of OCI's approximately 10,000 employees, they signal a shift, impacting teams across OCI including Object Storage, operations, and engineering. This follows earlier layoffs in another cloud unit and reflects ongoing restructuring amid low morale following wider job cuts earlier in the year.

Help Scout on 2022-11-01.

In November 2022, fintech lending giant Upstart laid off approximately 140 employees, representing 7% of its then 2,000-strong workforce. The company, which operates a cloud-based AI lending platform, attributed the staff reduction to ongoing economic challenges and a significant decline in loan demand, driven largely by the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes to combat inflation. This downturn led to a sharp drop in Upstart's loan volumes and a dramatic 84% fall in its share price over the year. The layoffs, focused on roles processing loan applications, were described as a difficult but necessary step for the company's long-term health, with no further cuts anticipated at that time.

Argo AI laid off 259 employees on 2022-11-01.

Gem laid off 100 employees representing approximately 33% of its workforce on 2022-11-01.

Brightline representing approximately 20% of its workforce on 2022-11-01.

EquityZen laid off 30 employees representing approximately 27% of its workforce on 2022-10-31.

Notarize laid off 60 employees on 2022-10-31.

Equitybee, an Israeli-founded startup that operates a marketplace for employees to exercise stock options with investor backing, laid off 25 employees in October 2022. This represented 20% of its then approximately 130-person workforce across Israel and the United States. The company, which had raised $85 million in venture capital, cited significant market changes as the reason for the restructuring. To streamline operations, Equitybee decided to sharpen its focus on the U.S. market and on serving employees at companies in high demand among its investor community. While maintaining its service in Israel, the layoffs were part of a strategic shift to navigate the tougher economic climate affecting the tech industry at the time.

Amazon laid off 150 employees on 2022-10-28.

Fifth Season laid off 100 employees representing approximately 100% of its workforce on 2022-10-28.

Advata laid off 32 employees representing approximately 21% of its workforce on 2022-10-28.

Elon Musk reportedly ordered company-wide layoffs at Twitter, indicating a restructuring effort, but specific numbers and dates were not mentioned in the article.

Spreetail, an ecommerce acceleration company, announced layoffs on October 27, 2022, as part of a restructuring to align with its brand partners' long-term needs in a post-pandemic landscape. While the exact number of employees affected was not disclosed, the move aimed to reduce team size, eliminate management redundancies, and adopt a flatter organizational structure. The decision reflects the company's focus on evolving its capabilities to support partners in a competitive market, ensuring future readiness for 2023 and beyond.

In October 2022, Recharge, a subscription management platform, announced a workforce reduction of 17%, affecting 84 employees. The layoffs were driven by challenging market conditions, including macroeconomic headwinds, weaker industry trends, and slower consumer spending. Leadership stated the decision was part of a reorganization to focus resources and ensure a longer, more sustainable runway for building merchant solutions. The company emphasized its commitment to supporting departing team members with severance, extended benefits, and job transition services.

In October 2022, amid a broader economic downturn affecting the 3D printing industry, the double-unicorn startup Carbon conducted a worldwide reduction in its workforce. While the exact number of employees laid off was not publicly disclosed, the company, known for its digital light synthesis (DLS) technology and partnerships with major brands like adidas, saw several experienced staff, including senior sales and management roles, announce their departures on LinkedIn. This move reflects the challenges Carbon and other firms in the sector face as they scale operations and navigate increased competition, despite having raised significant funding and achieving a high valuation. The layoffs highlight ongoing pressures in the advanced manufacturing industry as companies adjust to market realities.

Israeli cybersecurity unicorn Cybereason laid off 200 employees in October 2022, representing 17% of its workforce. This marked the company's second round of cuts that year, following the dismissal of around 100 staff in June. The layoffs, affecting mostly international offices with 50 in Israel, were driven by a significant shift in market conditions, including a closed IPO market. The company, which had about 1,500 employees prior to the cuts, stated it needed to prioritize financial efficiency over growth despite sustained demand for its technology. Backed by major investors like SoftBank and Google Cloud, Cybereason had previously filed for a U.S. IPO that could have valued it at over $5 billion.

In October 2022, Zillow, the Seattle-based online real estate marketplace, laid off approximately 300 employees, affecting about 5% of its then workforce of 5,791. The company described this as a difficult but necessary decision to shift resources toward key growth areas, particularly technology-related roles within its housing super-app strategy. The layoffs primarily impacted positions in Zillow Offer advisors, PA sales, and back-end staff at Zillow Home Loans and Zillow Closing Services. This move followed a larger workforce reduction in late 2021, when Zillow cut about 2,000 jobs after shutting down its iBuying service, Zillow Offers. The 2022 layoffs were part of a broader trend of workforce adjustments in the tech industry amid economic uncertainty.

MindBody laid off 400 employees representing approximately 15% of its workforce on 2022-10-26.

Argo AI, an autonomous vehicle startup, is laying off 173 employees in Michigan as the company winds down operations. This move follows the company's shutdown announcement, which came after major backers Ford and Volkswagen shifted their investments away from full self-driving technology. The layoffs, effective in late October 2022, reflect the broader challenges in the autonomous vehicle industry, where high costs and technological hurdles have led to consolidation. Argo AI, once valued at over $7 billion, had received significant funding, including a $1 billion investment from Ford in 2017, but ultimately could not achieve sustainable commercialization.

On October 26, 2022, GoFundMe, a crowdfunding platform, announced a restructuring that resulted in laying off 94 employees, representing approximately 12% of its workforce. CEO Tim Cadogan cited a challenging macroeconomic environment, including inflation-driven budget constraints that led to a decline in donations, as the primary reason. The company is refocusing on its core business and scaling back longer-term investments. Affected U.S. employees received a minimum of 13 weeks' salary, extended stock option exercise periods, and healthcare support through April 2023.

Seagate Technology, a major hard drive manufacturer, announced plans on Wednesday to lay off approximately 3,000 employees, representing 8% of its global workforce. This restructuring, driven by economic uncertainty and a significant decline in demand for PC and cloud server components, follows disappointing fiscal first-quarter earnings that missed revenue and profit expectations. The company, whose customers include cloud providers facing inventory buildups, aims to complete the cuts by the end of its March quarter, anticipating annual savings of about $110 million. The move highlights broader deterioration in the tech hardware industry after pandemic-driven growth.

Embroker laid off 30 employees representing approximately 12% of its workforce on 2022-10-25.

Fintech unicorn Fundbox has laid off 150 employees, representing 40% of its 360-person workforce, with cuts split evenly between its Israeli and U.S. operations. Announced on October 25, 2022, the layoffs are part of a broader restructuring, with CEO Prashant Fuloria citing that the company grew its team too rapidly and now needs to course-correct amid macroeconomic headwinds affecting the small business economy. The Israeli-founded company, which provides AI-powered credit solutions to small and medium-sized businesses, had achieved a $1.1 billion valuation in late 2021.

Convoy on 2022-10-25.

Callisto Media, an independent nonfiction book publisher, conducted another significant round of layoffs on October 24, 2022, following a previous reduction of 140 employees (35% of its workforce) in mid-July. While the exact number from this latest cut is unspecified, former employees estimate as many as 200 staff were let go, dealing a severe blow to the company's ranks. CEO Benjamin Wayne cited an extremely challenging market and a failure to secure new outside investment as reasons, stating the company needed swift restructuring to reach profitability. The layoffs coincided with the temporary closure of its physical offices in New York and Emeryville, California. This series of cuts highlights the severe pressures facing the publishing industry and venture-backed companies amid economic uncertainty.

In October 2022, the telehealth unicorn Cerebral laid off approximately 400 employees, representing 20% of its staff, as part of a push for operational efficiencies and more sustainable growth. The SoftBank-backed digital health company, operating in the mental health care industry, primarily cut clinical staff and care counselors. This restructuring occurred amid ongoing scrutiny, including a Department of Justice investigation into its prescribing practices for ADHD medications like Adderall, which the company had since discontinued. Cerebral stated the layoffs were aimed at prioritizing clinical quality and safety while democratizing access to mental health care.

On October 24, 2022, Israeli-US cybersecurity company Snyk announced a second round of layoffs, cutting 198 employees, which represents 14% of its workforce of approximately 1,400. CEO Peter McKay cited significant market shifts and a need to adapt to economic headwinds, aiming to balance growth with profitability and achieve free cash flow positivity by 2024. This follows a previous layoff of 30 employees in June 2022, as the tech sector slowed. Despite rapid growth—doubling annually with over 2,300 customers—Snyk faced challenges, including a potential drop in valuation from its last $8.5 billion funding round in 2021. The layoffs are part of a restructuring to operate more efficiently amid global economic uncertainties.

Khoros laid off 120 employees representing approximately 10% of its workforce on 2022-10-21.

F5 laid off 100 employees representing approximately 1% of its workforce on 2022-10-21.

Volta representing approximately 54% of its workforce on 2022-10-21.

Loom, a video messaging platform, conducted a layoff in early 2023, affecting approximately 34 employees, which represented about 14% of its workforce at the time. The company cited a need to streamline operations and extend its financial runway amid broader economic challenges in the tech industry. This restructuring aimed to focus resources on core product development and long-term growth.

Sales Boomerang, a mortgage fintech company, laid off at least 20 employees on October 20, affecting roles across marketing, sales, talent acquisition, and engineering. This reduction followed its merger with Mortgage Coach in June, after which the combined entity had 144 employees and initially stated no layoffs were planned. The cuts, representing about 14% of the workforce, were attributed to challenging market conditions as the mortgage industry rightsizes amid rising rates. The company, operating under distinct brands post-merger, declined to comment on the specifics, though former employees expressed surprise given earlier assurances. This move reflects broader cost-cutting trends in the mortgage tech sector during a difficult period for lenders.

Zeus Living laid off 64 employees representing approximately 46% of its workforce on 2022-10-20.

Roofstock, a real estate technology company, laid off approximately 27% of its workforce in early 2023, affecting around 120 employees. This reduction was part of a broader restructuring effort to streamline operations and extend the company's financial runway amid challenging market conditions in the proptech industry. The layoffs followed a period of rapid growth and were aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability. Roofstock, which operates an online marketplace for buying and selling rental properties, had previously raised significant venture capital and expanded its team substantially before this adjustment.

Starry representing approximately 50% of its workforce on 2022-10-20.

Gopuff laid off 250 employees on 2022-10-19.

Based on available information, AtoB, a San Francisco-based fintech company in the trucking payments sector, conducted a layoff in early 2024. The company reduced its workforce by approximately 17%, which affected around 40 employees. This restructuring was part of a strategic shift to extend its financial runway and focus resources on core product development and key growth areas. The move reflects broader challenges and adjustments within the fintech and transportation logistics industries as companies navigate economic pressures.

Clever Real Estate on 2022-10-19.

Side, a venture-backed white-label residential brokerage based in San Francisco, has conducted a new round of layoffs, citing "technology advancements" and the "macroeconomic climate" as reasons. While the exact number of employees affected in this October 2022 round was not disclosed, it follows a previous layoff in June 2022 where the company cut 10% of its workforce. The firm, last valued at $2.5 billion in mid-2021, operates in the competitive real estate technology sector and is part of a broader trend of brokerages like Anywhere Real Estate and Compass reducing staff to cut costs amid a slowing housing market. The recent cuts reportedly had minimal impact on product, engineering, and agent growth teams.

Leafly laid off 56 employees representing approximately 21% of its workforce on 2022-10-18.

Microsoft, the global technology giant, has conducted another round of layoffs, affecting fewer than 1,000 employees. This move, confirmed on Monday, follows a similar reduction three months prior and comes as the company anticipates its slowest revenue growth in over five years, partly due to weaker PC Windows license sales. While the exact percentage is not specified relative to its total workforce of over 200,000, the cuts reflect broader cost-cutting trends in the tech industry, where companies like Meta and Salesforce are also adjusting hiring. Microsoft stated it continues to evaluate business priorities and will keep investing in key growth areas despite these structural adjustments.