Layoffs in United States

In April 2020, action camera manufacturer GoPro announced a significant restructuring, laying off over 200 employees, which amounted to 20% of its workforce. The company, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic's disruption to its global retail distribution, is shifting to a direct-to-consumer business model centered on GoPro.com to improve margins. This strategic pivot includes reducing office space in five regions and cutting operating expenses, targeting a $100 million reduction in 2020. Founder and CEO Nicholas Woodman also forewent his salary for the year, with the board receiving no cash compensation, as GoPro withdrew its earnings guidance for the first half of 2020 amid these changes.

Dude Solutions, a software company providing operations management solutions, has laid off 20% of its workforce due to the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company's leadership announced the difficult decision after a month of crisis management, which included cutting non-essential spending and freezing hiring. The reduction was deemed necessary to extend the business runway and ensure long-term stability. While the exact number of employees affected wasn't specified, the layoffs were described as heartbreaking, with the company providing severance and support to those impacted. The announcement was made in early 2020 as the global crisis unfolded, emphasizing the pandemic's widespread effect on businesses.

VSCO, a popular photography mobile app, laid off 45 employees yesterday, representing 30% of its workforce. The CEO cited the need to transition toward a self-sustaining business model as the reason for the cuts. The company is offering a minimum of seven weeks of severance pay, two months of health coverage, and job placement assistance to those affected, most of whom are based in the San Francisco Bay Area. This restructuring reflects broader challenges in the tech industry as companies adjust to economic pressures.

In April 2020, amid the economic turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, luxury consignment retailer The RealReal announced significant workforce reductions. The publicly traded online platform laid off 10% of its employees and placed an additional 15% on furlough. These measures, part of a broader cost-cutting strategy that included executive pay reductions and a hiring freeze, were aimed at reducing operating expenses by approximately $70 million to preserve liquidity. The furloughs affected staff across e-commerce centers, retail stores, consignment offices, sales, and headquarters. CEO Julie Wainwright stated the moves were necessary to weather the crisis and position the company for a strong recovery once the economy stabilized, highlighting the company's focus on its balance sheet and long-term operational scaling.

Envoy laid off 58 employees representing approximately 30% of its workforce on 2020-04-14.

In April 2020, amid the economic turmoil of the coronavirus pandemic, mobile gaming marketplace Skillz laid off 21 employees, including senior analyst Alexander Muhr. The San Francisco-based startup, which had been optimistic about its future and a potential IPO, was among the many tech companies forced to cut costs as the crisis hit. While the exact percentage of staff affected is not specified, the layoffs reflect the broader squeeze felt by startups fearing funding shortages and revenue declines. Despite the upheaval, many laid-off tech workers, including those from Skillz, reported continued recruiter interest, offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise challenging job market marked by widespread unemployment filings and hiring freezes across the industry.

DataStax, an enterprise software startup valued at $967 million, laid off approximately 15 to 20 employees in the second week of April 2020. This marks the company's third round of job cuts since new CEO Chet Kapoor took over in October 2019, following layoffs in December and February, and is part of a broader trend of restructuring over the past year. The recent reductions, which primarily affected sales and solutions engineering roles, were attributed by Kapoor to the company not growing quickly enough to justify its headcount. These cuts come amid leadership changes and a shift in strategy toward appealing more to developers, following a period where DataStax had been reportedly preparing for an IPO in spring 2019.

Groupon, the online marketplace for local deals, announced on Tuesday that it is laying off 2,800 employees, which represents 44% of its total workforce. The cuts span all departments, including a significant number of engineering roles. The company cited a "material deterioration" in its business, largely due to the widespread closures of local businesses it partners with, as the primary reason for this drastic restructuring. This major reduction highlights the severe impact of the economic downturn on the tech and e-commerce industry, affecting a company of its scale.

Zoox laid off 100 employees representing approximately 10% of its workforce on 2020-04-13.

Geekwire laid off 5 employees representing approximately 31% of its workforce on 2020-04-10.

Meow Wolf, the Santa Fe-based immersive arts and entertainment company, laid off 201 employees and furloughed an additional 56, representing a significant portion of its workforce. The company, which employs nearly 200 remaining staff, made these cuts in response to the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. With its flagship House of Eternal Return installation closed and major events like the Taos Vortex festival canceled, the company faced a critical revenue crunch. The layoffs, announced in late April 2020, affected employees across all locations, including upcoming projects in Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Washington DC. Meow Wolf cited the need to ensure the company's survival and future success, providing severance packages and support to affected staff.

NuoDB laid off 20 employees representing approximately 29% of its workforce on 2020-04-10.

Built In laid off 28 employees on 2020-04-10.

Frontdesk, a short-term rental and hospitality startup, laid off 35 employees, which represents 16% of its total workforce. The difficult decision was made in response to the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel and hospitality industry. The layoffs, announced by CEO Jesse DePinto, affected a range of roles including digital marketers, data analysts, and hospitality cleaners. These employees were credited with contributing to the company's significant growth. The move reflects broader economic challenges faced by the sector during this period.

Clinc laid off 40 employees representing approximately 32% of its workforce on 2020-04-09.

Yelp, the prominent local business reviews platform, announced significant layoffs last week, affecting 1,000 employees, which represents 17% of its workforce. The company also placed an additional 1,100 staff on furlough. This move comes as Yelp faces a sharp 64% decline in customer interest for restaurants since March 10, highlighting the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its core business. The layoffs spanned all departments, including engineering, underscoring the broad restructuring effort by the San Francisco-based tech company to navigate the economic downturn.

In April 2020, Domo, an American Fork-based cloud software company, laid off approximately 90 employees, representing about 10% of its workforce. The layoffs were a direct result of the economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. CEO Josh James stated that while the business was performing well at the time, the company needed to take proactive measures to ensure long-term stability and continue serving its customers. Despite the workforce reduction, Domo was actively demonstrating its value during the crisis, notably by building a data-driven command center for the state of Utah to aid pandemic response efforts.

Matterport, a company specializing in 3D imaging technology, laid off approximately 90 employees earlier this month, which represents about 34% of its workforce. The cuts impacted all departments across its offices in the SF Bay Area, Chicago, and London. This significant reduction reflects broader challenges in the tech industry as companies adjust their operational strategies amid economic uncertainties.

OneTrust laid off 150 employees representing approximately 10% of its workforce on 2020-04-09.

CipherTrace on 2020-04-09.

Code42 laid off 25 employees representing approximately 5% of its workforce on 2020-04-09.

Lever, a San Francisco and Toronto-based company that provides applicant tracking software for recruiting, laid off 86 employees last week, representing 40% of its workforce. The cuts impacted all departments as the recruiting technology sector faces significant challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic, with many companies slowing or freezing hiring. This move aligns with broader trends, as other recruiting startups like ZipRecruiter, AngelList, and Triplebyte have also recently conducted layoffs.

Unison laid off 89 employees representing approximately 45% of its workforce on 2020-04-08.

Spyce laid off 4 employees representing approximately 12% of its workforce on 2020-04-08.

In April 2020, Quantcast, a digital advertising technology company with over 600 employees globally, laid off just under 5% of its staff and implemented tiered salary cuts due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This reduction affected approximately 30 employees. The pay cuts ranged from 5% for some staff to 30% for the highest-paid employees, with CEO Konrad Feldman taking a 100% pay cut. The company, which operates a managed DSP for advertisers and a data insights business for publishers, was already navigating a challenging transition to a more self-serve model and facing industry headwinds like the decline of third-party cookies. These workforce and compensation adjustments were part of broader efforts to stabilize the business during an unprecedented crisis.

Eden, which acquired Managed By Q from WeWork in March, has laid off or furloughed the remainder of Managed By Q's staff, affecting over 75 employees across all departments. This represents 100% of Managed By Q's workforce, as Eden appears to have been primarily interested in acquiring the company's customers and assets rather than retaining its team. The office management services industry has seen consolidation, with this round following a separate layoff just one month prior.

Eventbrite, a ticketing and events platform, laid off approximately 500 employees last week, representing 45% of its workforce. The cuts impacted all departments across its San Francisco and Nashville offices. The company, which relies heavily on live events, faced severe financial strain as shelter-in-place orders halted gatherings, causing its share price to drop over 70% since mid-March. This significant reduction highlights the broader challenges in the events industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scoop, a San Francisco-based carpooling platform for commuters, announced layoffs on Wednesday as the company faces drastically reduced operations due to widespread office closures across the country. The transportation startup, which operates in the competitive mobility industry alongside peers like Zipcar and Turo, was forced to reduce staff as its service volume fell to a fraction of normal levels. While the exact number of employees affected and the company's total workforce size were not disclosed, the move reflects broader challenges in the transportation sector during this period.

BVAccel, an ecommerce agency specializing in Shopify storefronts for direct-to-consumer brands, laid off or furloughed 25% of its staff, affecting 25 employees, in early April 2020. The cuts were a direct response to the coronavirus pandemic, which severely impacted the agency's clients, with some experiencing sales drops of 70-80% as consumer spending on non-essential goods plummeted. Operating in the digital marketing and ecommerce industry, the agency, which works with notable brands like Kylie Cosmetics and Untuckit, faced reduced demand for its services as DTC brands slashed their own expenses. Despite some new client acquisitions from brands seeking to diversify into direct sales, the overall downturn necessitated this significant reduction in workforce to navigate the economic crisis.

VideoAmp, a TV and digital advertising measurement firm, laid off approximately 10% of its workforce, affecting about 20 employees out of a total of 200, in early April 2020. The layoffs were a direct result of the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which severely impacted the advertising industry. Concurrently, the company revised its revenue growth projections downward to 30-50% for the year, a significant drop from the 150% growth it had experienced in previous years. As a six-year-old adtech company with substantial venture backing, VideoAmp joined other industry players in implementing cost-cutting measures during this period of widespread disruption.

Zola representing approximately 20% of its workforce on 2020-04-08.

Group Nine Media laid off 50 employees representing approximately 7% of its workforce on 2020-04-07.

Ibotta, a Denver-based rebate app startup valued at $1 billion, has laid off approximately 15% of its workforce due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the exact number of affected employees is not officially confirmed, estimates based on company size range from around 90 to 105 people, as prior reports indicated the company had between 584 and 700 employees. The layoffs, announced in late March or early April 2020, reduced Ibotta's headcount to what it was roughly six months earlier and affected all departments. The company cited disruptions with retail partners like Amazon and Walmart.com, which faced supply chain issues and suspended offers. Laid-off employees received six months of continued health insurance. Ibotta operates in the fintech/retail technology industry and is considered a large, high-growth startup in the Denver area.

In April 2020, Sage Therapeutics, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotech company, announced a significant restructuring, laying off approximately 340 employees, which represented about 53% of its then roughly 650-person workforce. This drastic cost-cutting measure followed a major setback in late-stage clinical trials for its experimental depression drug, zuranolone, which forced the company to redraw its development plans. The layoffs primarily affected commercial and administrative roles, many tied to its approved postpartum depression treatment, Zulresso, whose hospital-based administration faced additional challenges due to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. The move marked a sharp retrenchment for a company that had previously been valued near $10 billion, as it sought to conserve resources and refocus on its clinical pipeline.

In April 2020, the direct-to-consumer travel brand Away, a New York-based luggage company valued at $1.4 billion, implemented significant workforce reductions due to the COVID-19 pandemic's catastrophic impact on travel. With sales of its products plummeting over 90% in recent weeks, the company first closed its retail stores but found that insufficient. As a result, Away furloughed approximately half of its employees and laid off an additional 10% of its workforce. The founders described the decision as devastating and a last resort, noting they and senior leadership took salary cuts. Affected employees received at least eight weeks of severance and healthcare coverage through June. The layoffs were a direct response to the near-total halt in global travel, which severely disrupted the company's operations.

Virta Health, a San Francisco-based digital health startup focused on reversing type 2 diabetes through coaching, has laid off an unspecified number of employees, primarily from its commercial team. The company, which employs around 200 people and was last valued at $538 million, cited the economic upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for the cuts. Despite recent Series-C funding and business growth, Virta stated the layoffs were necessary to navigate upcoming economic uncertainty and sustain its long-term mission, highlighting that even the in-demand health tech sector is not immune to the financial crisis.

Mobile marketing technology startup Branch Metrics, based in Redwood City, California, laid off 20 percent of its workforce this week, affecting fewer than 100 employees. The company, which had over 450 staff members according to LinkedIn data, confirmed the cuts as part of a trend among well-funded startups adjusting their teams. Founded in 2014 and valued at $1 billion, Branch specializes in cross-platform linking for consistent user metrics and has raised over $367 million, with its last funding round in 2019. This move reflects broader economic pressures, as seen in rising unemployment claims and similar layoffs at companies like Away and Toast.

Toast, a restaurant software company, laid off 1,300 employees on Tuesday, representing 50% of its total workforce. The cuts affected all departments and were concentrated in Boston, Chicago, and Omaha. The company stated its success is directly tied to the restaurant industry, which has experienced sales declines of up to 80% in many cities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This drastic reduction highlights the severe impact of the pandemic on the broader restaurant and hospitality sector.

ezCater laid off 400 employees representing approximately 44% of its workforce on 2020-04-07.

Redfin laid off 236 employees representing approximately 7% of its workforce on 2020-04-07.

Nav, a fintech startup providing credit solutions to small businesses, laid off 30 employees, representing 20% of its workforce, across all departments. The layoffs occurred in Salt Lake City as the company, like many in the fintech sector, faced economic pressures due to the coronavirus pandemic, which particularly impacted startups reliant on transaction-based revenues.

MediaMath, a demand-side platform (DSP) in the digital advertising industry, laid off approximately 8% of its workforce in early April 2020, citing the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. With about 659 employees prior to the cuts, this reduction affected dozens through a combination of layoffs and furloughs. The company also implemented a 10% pay cut for remaining staff and paused 401(k) matching. The pandemic caused advertisers to sharply reduce or pause spending, directly hitting DSP revenues. MediaMath, which had raised over $600 million, faced these challenges in a highly competitive market against rivals like The Trade Desk. The layoffs were part of broader cost-cutting measures to navigate the uncertain economic climate.

In April, Newfront Insurance, a commercial insurance brokerage, laid off 94 employees across all departments, with notable impacts on engineering, recruiting, strategic growth, and operations teams. The company clarified that these cuts were driven by business needs and not related to individual performance. To support those affected, Newfront provided severance packages, extended stock option exercise windows, and created an alumni list to help connect former employees with new opportunities. Additionally, the company implemented significant cost-cutting measures, including reducing most executive pay by 20% and cutting co-founders' salaries to zero.

Metromile, a San Francisco-based car insurance startup that offers pay-per-mile policies, laid off 100 employees yesterday, representing 33% of its workforce. The cuts impacted staff across all departments and were carried out in its offices in San Francisco, Boston, and Tempe. The company attributed the layoffs to economic uncertainties stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has drastically reduced driving and, consequently, likely diminished its revenue as customers drive far fewer miles.

PerkSpot laid off 10 employees representing approximately 10% of its workforce on 2020-04-06.

Rock Content laid off 100 employees representing approximately 20% of its workforce on 2020-04-06.

WordStream, a company focused on helping small businesses with marketing, made the difficult decision to eliminate multiple roles across all teams earlier this week. While the exact number of employees laid off was not specified, the move was a direct response to the severe impact of COVID-19 on small businesses, which form WordStream's core customer base. The company acknowledged the significant contributions of the affected teammates to its culture and success, emphasizing that its purpose and core values would guide it through this challenging period. This layoff reflects the broader economic strain the pandemic placed on the marketing technology industry in early 2020.

Salsify laid off 60 employees representing approximately 13% of its workforce on 2020-04-03.

Zoox laid off 120 employees on 2020-04-03.

D2iQ laid off 34 employees representing approximately 13% of its workforce on 2020-04-03.