Layoffs in United States

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.

Sojern, an advertising technology company serving the travel industry, has laid off approximately half of its workforce, affecting around 300 employees out of a total of about 600. This drastic reduction of 50% was necessitated by severe financial instability directly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which decimated global travel and, consequently, the company's core business. The layoffs occurred in 2020 as the company sought to weather the unprecedented crisis impacting the entire travel sector.

The Wing representing approximately 50% of its workforce on 2020-04-03.

Velodyne Lidar laid off 140 employees on 2020-04-03.

Minted laid off 147 employees representing approximately 37% of its workforce on 2020-04-03.

DSCO laid off 12 employees on 2020-04-03.

Avantage Entertainment laid off 5 employees representing approximately 20% of its workforce on 2020-04-03.

Bustle Digital Group laid off 24 employees representing approximately 8% of its workforce on 2020-04-03.

Arrive Logistics laid off 75 employees representing approximately 7% of its workforce on 2020-04-03.

Jetty laid off 35 employees representing approximately 40% of its workforce on 2020-04-03.

Tripbam laid off 10 employees representing approximately 25% of its workforce on 2020-04-03.

In April 2020, Modsy, an e-commerce startup specializing in 3D room visualizations for home design, confirmed a round of layoffs amid the economic uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company declined to specify the exact number of employees affected, but reports suggested significant cuts, with executives including CEO Shanna Tellerman taking a 25% pay cut. Modsy, which had raised $70.8 million in venture capital, cited the need to maintain a sustainable business during unprecedented circumstances. The layoffs reflect broader challenges in the e-commerce and home improvement sectors, as consumer spending shifted away from discretionary purchases like furniture.

SynergySuite, a SaaS company providing solutions for the restaurant industry, laid off 5 employees due to the economic impact of COVID-19 on its restaurant client base. The layoffs occurred in early 2020, as confirmed by a company executive in a LinkedIn post expressing regret over parting ways with colleagues. The post indicates the cuts were a direct response to the pandemic's strain on the hospitality sector, though the total number of employees and the exact percentage affected were not disclosed. This event reflects the broader challenges faced by tech companies, particularly those serving hard-hit industries, during the initial phase of the global health crisis.

Atlanta Tech Village representing approximately 50% of its workforce on 2020-04-02.

Humu laid off 26 employees on 2020-04-02.

1stdibs, an online luxury marketplace for vintage and antique goods, laid off approximately 22 employees, representing about 13% of its workforce, in January 2023. The layoffs were part of a broader restructuring effort to streamline operations and reduce costs amid challenging economic conditions affecting the e-commerce and luxury retail sectors. The company, which had scaled significantly prior to going public, took this step to prioritize profitability and extend its financial runway.

ClassPass laid off 154 employees representing approximately 22% of its workforce on 2020-04-02.

MindBody laid off 700 employees representing approximately 35% of its workforce on 2020-04-02.

Wonder on 2020-04-02.

ThirdLove, a direct-to-consumer lingerie startup known for challenging Victoria's Secret, laid off 65 employees, representing nearly 30% of its workforce, in early April 2020. The cuts were a response to the severe impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which significantly reduced consumer spending and disrupted retail operations. Affecting teams across logistics, recruiting, design, and marketing at its San Francisco headquarters, the layoffs followed earlier reductions, including the closure of a New York pop-up store. The company cited the need to ensure long-term stability amid unprecedented challenges in the DTC sector.

Coding Dojo laid off 7 employees representing approximately 7% of its workforce on 2020-04-02.