ClickUp, a software-as-a-service startup that offers a workforce productivity platform, has recently made the decision to cut 10% of its workforce. The San Diego-based company, which was last valued at $4 billion, aims to become more efficient and better positioned for a public listing amidst a slowdown in the market.
With approximately 900 employees, the layoff represents around 90 individuals. The affected employees, including those from the software engineering division, as well as customer service and support teams, were notified about the layoffs last Thursday. Additional employees impacted by the decision will transition out of the company over the next few months.
Zeb Evans, the founder and CEO of ClickUp, explained that the reduction in workforce was primarily driven by the relocation of some support roles to lower-cost regions. Evans stated that this realignment would enable the company to be more efficient and better prepared for an initial public offering (IPO) while maintaining growth.
ClickUp has provided severance packages to the affected employees, which include 12 weeks of compensation, six months of insurance coverage, and access to the startup’s employee assistance program for the same duration. The company has also allowed the laid-off employees to keep their laptops and equipment and has extended support to those on visas.
This is not the first time ClickUp has undergone such restructuring. In 2022, the company laid off 7% of its staff as part of an effort to maintain profitability. At that time, a spokesperson for ClickUp described the decision as a one-time measure to stay on track toward achieving profitability.
ClickUp boasts several high-profile customers, including Booking.com, IBM, Spotify, T-Mobile, and Netflix. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of features for document collaboration, project management, spreadsheets, and chat. The company has also recently introduced an AI-based assisting solution, following the example of other prominent tech companies.
Founded in 2017 by Zeb Evans and Alex Yurkowski, ClickUp raised $400 million in a Series C funding round. The round was co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and Tiger Global, and it valued the startup at $4 billion. ClickUp’s impressive list of investors also includes Lightspeed Venture Partners, Meritech Capital Partners, Craft Ventures, and Georgian Partners.
While expressing gratitude for the contributions of the impacted employees, CEO Zeb Evans reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting them during this transition. ClickUp will continue to hire for positions aligned with its mission, particularly those related to product development and revenue generation.