Layoffs in United States

Glossier, a direct-to-consumer beauty brand, laid off approximately two dozen employees this week as part of an ongoing internal restructuring. This follows a previous round of layoffs earlier in the year that primarily affected tech staff. The company, which employs around 1,000 people globally, is pivoting its strategy to focus more on retail and wholesale distribution, including a new partnership with Sephora set to launch in early 2023. Under CEO Kyle Leahy, who took over in June, Glossier is reorganizing to support an omnichannel approach, shifting from its earlier DTC-exclusive model. While reducing roles in some areas, the company is simultaneously hiring for over a dozen new positions in retail, product, supply chain, and wholesale to align with this refined direction.

In August 2022, the retail investment fintech company Robinhood laid off approximately 23% of its workforce, affecting about 713 employees and reducing its total staff to roughly 2,400. This significant cut came just three months after the company had already reduced its workforce by 9%. CEO Vlad Tenev took responsibility, citing over-hiring during the 2021 market frenzy based on expectations of sustained high retail engagement. He explained that the deteriorating macroeconomic environment, including high inflation and a crypto market crash, led to reduced customer trading activity, making the earlier layoffs insufficient. The layoffs were concentrated in operations, marketing, and program management functions.

Oracle on 2022-08-01.

In August 2022, the educational technology company Classkick conducted a layoff, as indicated by a public spreadsheet tracking affected employees. The document lists at least 13 individuals across roles in engineering, product design, customer support, business operations, and recruiting who were impacted during the first half of the month. While the exact scale of the layoff relative to the company's total workforce is not specified in this data, the event reflects broader industry challenges and restructuring efforts common among EdTech firms during that period.

Perceptive Automata representing approximately 100% of its workforce on 2022-08-01.

In August 2022, ad tech firm Quantcast laid off approximately 6% of its workforce, affecting around 40 employees out of a total of roughly 700. The cuts were part of a global restructuring announced internally as the company, like many in the digital media and ad tech industry, faced economic headwinds and reduced advertiser spending. This move reflected broader sector-wide belt-tightening amid a challenging economic climate.

Imperfect Foods laid off 50 employees on 2022-07-29.

Shelf Engine laid off 43 employees on 2022-07-29.

Turntide representing approximately 20% of its workforce on 2022-07-28.

Ribbon, a real estate technology company known as a "Power Buyer," laid off 136 employees on July 28, 2022, which represented about one-third of its workforce. The layoffs were part of a strategic move to find a clear and achievable path to profitability amid significant market volatility and shifting housing demands. Despite recently expanding into eight new states and more than doubling its market footprint, the company faced challenges as post-pandemic housing behavior revealed affordability issues and softened first-time homebuyer demand. Ribbon, which had raised $150 million in Series C funding and operates in 15 states, partners with agents and lenders to help homebuyers make cash offers. CEO Shaival Shah emphasized the need to adapt to the new market reality while continuing to expand into new areas and develop tools like RibbonHub to meet evolving needs.

In July 2022, following its acquisition by Lemonade, auto insurtech company Metromile laid off approximately 60 employees, representing about 20% of its staff. The layoffs were part of a synergistic integration, as the combined entity could operate with fewer people than the two standalone companies required. Metromile, which had gone public via a SPAC in 2021, was valued at just under $137 million at the time, a significant decline from its previous highs. The cuts, common in such business combinations, reportedly affected roles in product, engineering, and design teams, among others.

Career Karma, a learning navigation platform, laid off 60 employees earlier this week in July 2022, which reportedly affected about a third of its staff. The company, which connects students with bootcamps and training programs to enter the tech industry, now has over 120 remaining employees. The layoffs primarily impacted marketing and recruitment teams, while the C-suite was unaffected. CEO Ruben Harris cited the need to extend the company's runway amid a prolonged economic recovery in the tech sector, estimating it could last 3 to 4 years. Following a $40 million Series B round earlier in 2022, the startup aims to stretch its cash reserves, now having over three years of operating funds without requiring additional funding.

In July 2022, online program management company 2U laid off 20% of its workforce as part of a restructuring following its merger with edX. The layoffs, which affected hundreds of employees, were a response to enrollment declines across higher education and the challenges of integrating edX. Concurrently, 2U announced a strategic pivot, reducing its core revenue-sharing fee for degree programs from over 60% to 35% and offering incentives for partner institutions to lower tuition. This shift aims to align the company more closely with industry competitors and address long-standing criticism of its pricing model. The changes reflect broader tumult in the online education sector, where 2U remains a major player despite these adjustments.

Brainbase, a modern technology platform for intellectual property and licensing management, underwent a restructuring in 2022 that returned control to its founders. As part of this move, the company raised $1 million in new capital and achieved profitability. While specific layoff numbers were not disclosed, the company acknowledged its team became "a bit smaller" due to the restructuring, which was driven by slowed growth in the licensing industry amid economic challenges. The restructuring aimed to ensure long-term sustainability, allowing Brainbase to continue serving major global brands with its platform.

Vox Media laid off 39 employees representing approximately 2% of its workforce on 2022-07-27.

Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian announced layoffs affecting 6% of its workforce in late July 2022. This reduction, part of a broader restructuring effort, was driven by challenging economic conditions and the company's strategic need to optimize costs and improve operational efficiency as it scaled production of its electric trucks and SUVs. The move impacted hundreds of employees within the competitive automotive and clean transportation industry, where Rivian operates as a notable, publicly-traded startup.

Dover laid off 23 employees representing approximately 30% of its workforce on 2022-07-26.

Included Health representing approximately 6% of its workforce on 2022-07-25.

Pear Therapeutics laid off 25 employees representing approximately 9% of its workforce on 2022-07-25.

Zymergen laid off 80 employees on 2022-07-25.

Amazon aggregator Boosted Commerce, a Los Angeles-based company that acquires and scales third-party brands on Amazon, has laid off approximately 5% of its workforce. This reduction, affecting several VP and director-level positions primarily in brand and marketing, occurred in late July 2022 amid broader industry volatility. The company, which had raised $380 million and acquired 40 businesses, stated the layoffs were part of a strategic reallocation of resources for second-half initiatives. The move reflects a wider slowdown and consolidation in the Amazon aggregator sector, which saw explosive growth during the pandemic but has since faced funding declines and increased scrutiny of its business model.

Clarify Health, a healthcare analytics company, laid off approximately 90 employees, representing about 22% of its workforce, in a restructuring effort announced in early 2024. The company, operating in the health tech industry, cited a strategic shift to focus resources on core product development and achieve profitability amid broader market pressures. This reduction impacted teams across the organization as the company adjusted its operational scale to align with current business priorities.

In early 2020, Owlet Baby Care, a company specializing in smart baby monitors and infant health technology, conducted a significant layoff, parting ways with many team members. While the exact number of employees affected was not publicly detailed in the post, the company expressed deep gratitude for their contributions to its mission of improving infant health. The layoffs occurred amidst broader economic uncertainties at the time, impacting the consumer electronics and health tech industry. Owlet, a venture-backed startup, faced challenges that led to this workforce reduction as it navigated its growth path.

Arete IR, a Florida-based cybersecurity incident response firm, has laid off an unspecified number of employees, citing current economic conditions. While the company disputes a report claiming 90 job cuts, or roughly 25% of its workforce, it confirmed the layoffs were necessary for continued business growth. This move reflects a broader trend among later-stage cybersecurity startups, which are reducing expenses amid market instability and a stalled IPO environment. Arete, founded in 2016 and employing around 439 people, asserts that service quality for clients will remain unaffected.

In July 2022, wearable fitness technology company WHOOP, valued at $3.6 billion, laid off 15% of its workforce, impacting over 90 employees from its then 630-person team. The cuts affected every department and level, driven by a challenging macroeconomic environment that prompted the company to reduce burn rate and ensure long-term durability. WHOOP, known for its high-tech fitness trackers endorsed by elite athletes, provided competitive separation packages and support for stock options to those affected, aiming to position the business more strongly amid market uncertainties.

RealSelf laid off 11 employees representing approximately 5% of its workforce on 2022-07-21.

Callisto Media, a 12-year-old nonfiction publisher based in New York and Emeryville, California, laid off approximately 140 employees, representing 35% of its workforce, in mid-July 2022. The cuts were part of a broader plan to reduce annual spending by at least $20 million and demonstrate a clear path to profitability to meet investor expectations in the current market. CEO Benjamin Wayne announced the decision to staff on July 12, citing that all other options had been exhausted. The layoffs, which affected roles from editors to creative directors and even some recent hires, were carried out swiftly over the following days via Zoom meetings. As part of its restructuring, Callisto also plans to significantly reduce its title production from over 1,000 to about 400-500 books per year, alongside cuts in contractor spending and capital expenditures.

InVision, a digital product design platform, conducted a significant layoff affecting many employees due to challenging market conditions and a strategic shift toward real-time collaboration for enterprise clients. The exact number of layoffs was not specified, but the company, which reported $100 million in annual recurring revenue and served all Fortune 100 companies with 7 million users globally, underwent this restructuring as part of a multi-month business evolution. The layoffs coincided with the transition of CEO Clark Valberg, who stepped down at the end of 2021 and handed over leadership to Jeff Chow, while remaining on the board. This move reflects broader adjustments in the tech industry to align with changing market demands.

Lunchbox, a New York-based food-tech startup, laid off 60 employees on July 21, 2022, representing 33% of its workforce and reducing staff from 180 to 120. The company, which had raised $72 million in under three years, cited overexpansion and pressure from investors to streamline operations amid capital market challenges. CEO Nabeel Alamgir admitted the company had grown "bloated" and was shifting from a "growth at all costs" mindset to focus on becoming cash-positive. The layoffs affected all divisions, particularly engineering and tech roles, as the food-tech industry sees broader downsizing among well-funded startups.

Appgate, Inc., a software company, implemented a significant workforce reduction in July 2022 to realign its strategy with market conditions for long-term success. The layoff affected approximately 130 employees and contractors, representing about 22% of its total workforce. Notifications began on July 21, 2022, and were completed by July 25, with the company estimating associated costs of around $1.7 million primarily for severance and termination expenses.

Rad Power Bikes laid off 63 employees representing approximately 10% of its workforce on 2022-07-21.

98point6 representing approximately 10% of its workforce on 2022-07-21.

Smarsh on 2022-07-21.

Splice laid off 23 employees on 2022-07-20.

BlueStacks, a popular Android emulator platform backed by A16Z, laid off 60 employees in India earlier this week, as part of an internal restructuring effort. The company, which had doubled its workforce to 600 over the past two years, cited changes in the macro-economy as the reason for the realignment, affecting about 10% of its total employees. The layoffs, communicated via video call on July 18, impacted various departments, with the global count potentially reaching 120-150 employees. BlueStacks is offering a one-month salary as severance pay, including medical benefits, and is assisting affected staff in finding new roles. The startup, founded in 2011, has faced challenges due to increasing competition from web-based apps and native Android support in Windows 11, despite having raised $48.8 million and achieving over 1 billion downloads.

Lyft laid off 60 employees representing approximately 2% of its workforce on 2022-07-20.

Varo laid off 75 employees on 2022-07-20.

Arc, a tech startup in the talent and developer platform industry, has laid off 13 employees as part of a restructuring effort to ensure business resilience amid economic uncertainties. The layoffs, announced by founder Weiting Liu, affected colleagues across data, product, engineering, operations, marketing, and recruiting roles. While the total number of employees at Arc and its associated platform Codementor was not specified, the company expressed deep regret over the decision, emphasizing support for impacted team members through networking and job placement assistance. This move reflects broader challenges faced by startups in navigating an unpredictable market landscape.

Flyhomes laid off 200 employees representing approximately 20% of its workforce on 2022-07-20.

Invitae laid off 1,000 employees on 2022-07-19.

Olive, an AI and automation company focused on healthcare administration, conducted a significant layoff in November 2023, reportedly cutting its workforce by approximately 450 employees. This reduction came as part of a major restructuring effort following the company's acquisition of key assets from the struggling healthcare payments firm Olive AI. The layoffs were a strategic move to streamline operations and refocus the business after the transaction, impacting a substantial portion of the workforce as the company aimed to achieve profitability and stabilize its financial position within the competitive health tech industry.

Vimeo, the online video and software company, is laying off approximately 6% of its workforce, impacting around 72 employees based on its reported total of just over 1,200 workers as of December 2021. The company confirmed the cuts on July 18, 2022, citing the need to navigate challenging economic conditions and potential recession fears. CEO Anjali Sud stated the move was a difficult but responsible action to ensure the company emerges stronger from the downturn. This places Vimeo among numerous tech firms initiating layoffs, as it continues its strategic shift from a consumer video platform to a B2B software-as-a-service provider targeting corporate clients.

Elemy on 2022-07-18.

Freshly, a meal-delivery company, laid off 25% of its local workforce in July 2022. The cuts affected a significant portion of its employees in the area, reflecting broader challenges in the food delivery industry. While the exact number of employees impacted wasn't specified, the reduction indicates a strategic move to streamline operations amid shifting market demands.

Israeli unicorn Lusha, a cloud-based sales intelligence platform, laid off 30 employees in July 2022, representing 10% of its total workforce across all departments. The company, which achieved a $1.5 billion valuation eight months prior after raising $205 million, cited the economic slowdown and market conditions as reasons for the restructuring. This move aimed to ensure long-term success and control cash flow following a period of rapid growth. Founded in 2016, Lusha serves sales professionals with contact and company data. The layoffs occurred amidst a lawsuit from previous investors and marked a shift from its bootstrapped origins to navigating the pressures of its unicorn status.

Crypto exchange Gemini conducted a second round of layoffs in July 2022, cutting approximately 68 employees, which represented about 7% of its workforce at the time. This followed a previous reduction of 10% just seven weeks earlier, driven by "turbulent market conditions" and "extreme cost cutting." The company, which had around 950 employees before these cuts, was reportedly planning to reduce its headcount to about 800. The layoffs were part of broader efforts to navigate a challenging crypto market downturn, with internal documents and Slack messages indicating ongoing restructuring and cost management within the startup.

Boston-based fitness-tech startup Hydrow has laid off approximately 35 percent of its workforce this week, affecting at least 70 employees out of a total of more than 200. The company, which sells high-end rowing machines and digital workout content, is facing challenges in the at-home fitness market as pandemic-driven demand slows. CEO Bruce Smith stated the move aims to reduce costs and build a sustainable, profitable business, despite the firm having recently raised $54 million and seen revenue triple from 2020 to 2021. This follows similar struggles across the industry, with competitors like Peloton and Tonal also implementing significant cuts. Hydrow, founded in 2017, remains focused on its core offerings like live-coached classes and plans to position itself for a future IPO when market conditions improve.

PACT Pharma laid off 94 employees on 2022-07-18.

Project44 laid off 63 employees representing approximately 5% of its workforce on 2022-07-15.

Influencer-marketing startup Aspire laid off 23 employees in June, attributing the cuts to a challenging macroeconomic environment. The layoffs affected various teams, including recruitment and customer service. While the company did not disclose its total workforce, it emphasized its ongoing confidence in business growth and recently announced a strategic partnership with TikTok. Aspire, which serves over 800 Shopify merchants and e-commerce brands, operates in the expanding influencer-marketing industry, which faces pressures as brands tighten budgets amid economic uncertainty. This move aligns with broader layoffs observed across the creator economy sector in recent months.