Handshake | Layoff Event

Layoff Details

Reason

Handshake, legally known as Stryder Corp., underwent a strategic 'refounding' to aggressively pivot towards the AI economy. This involved laying off 96 employees, representing 15% of its U.S. workforce of 650, to re-orient the entire business around its AI prospects. The company is launching 'Handshake AI,' a new division designed to connect academic experts and graduate-level professionals with AI labs that require human feedback for model training and validation. CEO Garrett Lord emphasized this move as essential for the company to compete and lead in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, stating that not going 'all-in' on AI would be a significant mistake and risk being 'lapped' by competitors. The layoffs are part of a broader mission to help job seekers, universities, and employers thrive in the AI economy.

Affected Locations

San FranciscoCA (headquarters at 225 Bush St.)

Affected Departments

Software engineersRecruitersMarketersSenior managersRoles across its recruiting business vertical

Sources (4)