Startup Layoffs and How They Affect Crowdfunding

Jeff "fuzzy" Wenzel
3 min readMay 22, 2022
Photo by Malachi Cowie on Unsplash

It’s no secret that layoffs are happening at startups across the country. In some cases, these layoffs are due to financial difficulties, while in others, they may be an attempt to restructure the company and improve prospects. However, whatever the reason for the layoffs, they can significantly impact crowdfunding campaigns. Let’s look at how startup layoffs can affect crowdfunding and what you can do to minimize the damage.

The Effects of Layoffs

Layoffs can have several different effects on crowdfunding campaigns. The most obvious is that layoffs can reduce the amount of money people are willing to invest in a startup. This is because layoffs often create uncertainty about the company’s future and make it seem like a riskier investment. In addition, layoffs can also lead to bad publicity for the company, further damaging its reputation and making it harder to raise money.

So what can you do if your startup is facing layoffs? First of all, it’s essential to keep the layoffs as quiet as possible. If word gets out that your company is shedding jobs, it will be much harder to convince people to invest. Secondly, you need to ensure that your layoffs are being done for the right reasons. If your layoffs are simply a way to save money, it won’t be easy to convince people that your company is still worth investing in. Finally, it would be best if you had a solid plan for using the money that you do raise. If you can’t show potential investors how their money will be used to help the company grow, it’s unlikely that they’ll be willing to give you any cash.

Some Trends Related To Layoffs

Many startup companies are founded on being the next big thing. They have innovative ideas, disruptive technologies, and a strong belief in their product. However, startup companies also have a high failure rate. In fact, according to a report by CB Insights, startup companies have a 50% chance of failing within the first five years. One of the main reasons for startup failures is layoffs. In the first quarter of 2022 alone, there were 9,300 startup layoffs. This trend has continued into the second quarter, with around 8,700 startup layoffs thus far. The main reason for the increase in startup layoffs is decreased funding.

Startups rely heavily on investors for funding, and when those investments dry up, startups are forced to make cuts. One way startups are trying to overcome this funding challenge is through crowdfunding. Wefunder and StartEngine are two popular platforms that allow startups to solicit funds from the general public. While this can be a successful strategy for some startups, raising enough money to keep the company afloat is not always possible. As a result, layoffs will continue to be a significant trend among startup companies.

Your Campaign Can Still Be Successful

Layoffs are never easy, but they don’t have to spell disaster for your crowdfunding campaign if you handle them correctly. So don’t give up just because you’ve hit a few bumps in the road — with a little bit of effort, you can still make your crowdfunding campaign a success.

Do you have any experience with layoffs and crowdfunding? Share your story in the comments below!

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Jeff "fuzzy" Wenzel

Startup Fundraising Re-Imagined 🤔 Retail Investor 💰 Startup Advisor 🏆 Innovation Enthusiast 🥳