Private company and startup layoffs
Private companies don’t file with the SEC, so their layoffs never show up in 8-K filings. We track them from company statements and credible reporting. So far: 2 events at 2 companies, about 1,571 jobs cut where a number was reported.
Latest
- Nov 42026
Canva cuts 1,271 jobs, 22% of staff, as growth slows
Canva · private company · reported 6 days agoCanva is laying off 1,271 people, about 22% of its workforce. CEO Melanie Perkins told staff growth had slowed for the first time in a decade; the company cut its revenue growth forecast to 20% from 30%, citing rising AI costs, and is merging its product, growth and platform teams. Canva is private, so there is no SEC 8-K filing, and no WARN notice tied to the cuts had been found as of November 5, 2026.
- Nov 22026
Squarespace lays off about 300 people, 19% of staff
Squarespace · private company · reported 8 days agoSquarespace is cutting about 19% of its global workforce, roughly 300 people, a spokesperson confirmed. CEO Anthony Casalena's memo called for smaller teams, more player-coaches and a simpler structure; most cuts hit product and engineering. Squarespace has been privately owned by Permira since its 2024 take-private, so there is no SEC 8-K filing.
Why don’t private company layoffs show up in SEC filings?
Only companies with securities registered with the SEC file 8-K reports, including Item 2.05 for exit and restructuring costs. Privately held companies such as Canva or Stripe have no 8-K obligation, so their layoffs surface through company statements, internal memos reported by the press, or state WARN notices.
Do private companies have to file WARN notices?
Yes, when the federal WARN Act applies. It covers private employers with 100 or more employees and requires 60 days’ notice of a plant closing or mass layoff at a US site. Some states set lower thresholds. A company headquartered abroad usually triggers WARN only for affected US sites.
How does EjectSeat verify private company layoffs?
Each event cites at least one named source. Events are marked “Confirmed” when the company has made a statement or a Tier A/B outlet quotes an internal memo, and “Press report, unconfirmed” otherwise. We only publish headcount and percentages a source states.
Private company layoffs via API
The /api/v1/workforce-events endpoint returns every event on this page as structured JSON, with ownership, headcount and sources. Filter by type, ownership or company.