Google, Microsoft-backed VerSe Innovation cuts 5% of workforce, reduces salaries • TechCrunch

India’s VerSe Innovation — the $5 billion Indian startup behind information aggregator Dailyhunt, short-video platform Josh, and hyperlocal video app PublicVibe — has minimize 150 staff, or 5% of its workforce of three,000, TechCrunch has discovered and confirmed.

The Bengaluru-based startup knowledgeable impacted staff on Friday and individually held a city corridor assembly on Monday the place it introduced pay cuts to its remaining workers, individuals conversant in the matter informed TechCrunch.

It’s a serious flip for VerSe Innovation, which is backed by the likes of Google and Microsoft and raised greater than $800 million in recent funding as lately as April of this yr. The change speaks to simply how a lot the underside has fallen out from beneath the promoting market, how that’s impacting high-profile shopper companies reliant on it, and the way that’s stretching to even a number of the fastest-growing digital markets like India.

“Given the present financial local weather, like different companies, we’ve evaluated our strategic priorities. Contemplating the long-term viability of the enterprise and our individuals, we’ve taken steps to implement our common bi-annual efficiency administration cycle and made efficiency and enterprise concerns to streamline our prices and our groups,” mentioned Umang Bedi, co-founder of VerSe Innovation, in a ready assertion responding to queries initially despatched on Saturday.

He additionally confirmed that the startup carried out an 11% wage minimize for all remaining staff with salaries above $12,200 (10 lakh Indian rupees) every year.

“We stay extraordinarily dedicated and bullish throughout our whole household of apps — Josh, Dailyhunt and PublicVibe — to drive worthwhile development,” he mentioned.

In April, VerSe Innovation raised $805 million at a virtually $5 billion valuation in a Sequence J spherical led by Canada Pension Plan Funding Board (CPP Investments). Ontario Lecturers’ Pension Plan Board (Ontario Lecturers’), Luxor Capital, Sumeru Ventures, Sofina Group and Baillie Gifford.

The startup on the time mentioned that its Josh app — one of many native options to TikTok, which India banned in mid-2020 — had climbed to over 150 million customers, together with 50 million creators. Equally, Dailyhunt grew its creator ecosystem to over 100,000 content material companions and crossed the mark of 350 million customers, whereas PublicVibe expanded its consumer base to over 5 million month-to-month lively customers.

Nonetheless, that development didn’t assist VerSe Innovation offset its losses.

In its regulatory filings, which Entrackr reported, the startup famous that its losses within the monetary yr 2021-22 grew over 217% to $314 million (2,563 crores Indian rupees) from $99 million (808 crores Indian rupees) within the earlier yr. Nevertheless, its working income reportedly elevated 46% to $118 million (965 crores Indian rupees) from $82 million (666 crores Indian rupees).

VerSe Innovation has turn out to be the newest Indian startup to chop its workforce resulting from ongoing financial uncertainties. Within the final couple of months, Byju’s, Unacademy and Chargebee, amongst others, have laid off tons of of staff.