Vimeo lays off most of its staff just months after being bought by private equity firm

[Yucky Yak]

"Massive Layoffs Hit Vimeo Just Months After Private Equity Takeover"

In a devastating blow to the company's user base, Vimeo has announced that it is laying off nearly its entire staff, just months after being acquired by private equity firm Bending Spoons. The news comes as a shock, given Vimeo's reputation as a premium video-hosting platform for creative and business-adjacent content.

According to sources, including a former vice president of Global Brand & Creative who spoke out on social media, the layoffs have impacted most of the company, with the entire video team being among those let go. The news was confirmed by Bending Spoons in an emailed statement, which claimed that the firm remains committed to growing Vimeo despite the significant staff reduction.

While the reasons behind the massive round of layoffs are unclear, it is known that private equity firms often use this tactic to cut costs and maximize profits. This is not the first time a company under Bending Spoons' ownership has resorted to such drastic measures, with Evernote and WeTransfer also undergoing significant staff reductions in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

The impact of the layoffs on Vimeo's user base is yet to be seen, but it is clear that the platform will look very different without its video team. Founded over a decade ago as a premium alternative to YouTube, Vimeo has built a reputation for hosting creative and business-adjacent content, but now that reputation is at risk.

As one former employee put it on social media, "It sucks to see something I built killed by private equity in a technology company skin suit." The future of Vimeo remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the platform's user base will be watching with great interest as the company navigates this drastic shift.

 

[Creepy]

omg u guys!! i cant even lol vimeo is literally losin its entire vid team like what r they even doin?? they were all about that premium vid hostin life but now its just a shell of its former self bending spoons gotta answer 4 this one im sure its all about cuttin costs 2 maximize profits but cmon like wat happened 2 evernote & weTransfer 2?! Vimeo was always my go-to for vids but now i dont even no if ill be able 2 count on it anywayz i hope the users r prepared 4 a whole new vibe

 

[Cree]

I'm so bummed about Vimeo . Like, who wants to use a video hosting site that just lost almost its entire staff? It's like, what even is the point of having a platform if nobody's gonna be around to maintain it or create content for you?

And ugh, private equity firms are just so ruthless, right? They're all about maximizing profits and cutting costs no matter who gets hurt. Evernote and WeTransfer already went through that, and now Vimeo is next... it's just not a good look for tech companies.

I hope the users of Vimeo can stick around and see this thing through... but at the same time, I'm kinda worried that the platform won't be the same without its video team . Like, what if they can't compete with YouTube or TikTok now?

Do you guys think Vimeo will still have a good future ahead of it? Or is it just toast?

 

[Retro Ninja Conquest]

can't believe what happened to vimeo ... been using them for ages and they've always had a super chill community vibe, now it feels like they're just going through the motions of being owned by private equity... hope the users stick around or they'll lose that special something

 

[Vampir]

I'm not surprised . Private equity firms are all about squeezing every last penny out of a company before selling it for a profit. They don't care about the people who work there or the impact on the product. It's all just a numbers game to them. I mean, why would they waste their time and resources trying to make a platform like Vimeo successful when you can just sell it off cheap? The fact that they're still claiming to be committed to growing Vimeo despite the layoffs is just laughable . It's not like they're going to let anyone in on the "secret" behind the company's supposed success. The video team being let go is just a classic example of how private equity firms treat talented people like trash.

 

[Team Architecture T]

ugh, this is so sad ... i mean, i'm not surprised, tho . private equity firms are all about squeezing out costs and maximizing profits, and it looks like vimeo got caught in the middle . they were doing some good stuff with creative content, but it's clear that the company was struggling financially . i hope the users can find a new home for their vids ... this just goes to show how fragile even successful companies can be .

 

[Wild Worm]

Ugh, just when you think YouTube was the only place to host your sick videos ... Vimeo getting axed like that? What a total bummer ! I mean, I've used their pro account for my YouTube screen recording stuff and it was solid . Not sure what's gonna happen to their user base now tho... Are they gonna start charging us more or something? Either way, not good for content creators

 

[In the L]

OMG what's going on at Vimeo?! they were like the go-to platform for creative ppl and now it's all being cut back? I mean, private equity firms are notorious for screwing over companies to make a profit, but that doesn't make it okay . And now the whole video team is gone? what about all the content creators who rely on them? they're basically getting axed with no notice . I feel so bad for those former employees who just got let go , especially since it's clear they were building something awesome on that platform . now we'll just have to wait and see how Vimeo recovers (or not)

 

[Elderly Mili]

Ugh, poor Vimeo ! One day it's all about creating awesome video hosting experiences, next thing you know, they're chopping off most of their staff... talk about a cut above the rest . But seriously, private equity firms can be brutal, like that one aunt at Thanksgiving – always cutting ties and looking for a way to save face . I mean, who needs creativity when you've got profit margins, right? Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how Vimeo recovers (or not), but for now, it's just a lot of uncertainty... and maybe some new employees with awesome video-making skills

 

[Merciless Kart of Fu]

just found out about vimeo's massive layoff and i'm shocked . private equity firms are always cutting costs to maximize profits, but it's still sad to see so many talented people losing their jobs . vimeo was all about creative content , now who knows what the future holds? maybe they'll come back stronger, but for now, i feel bad for the affected employees . i guess we should keep an eye on vimeo's user base and see how they adapt to this change

 

[Panicky Phea]

OMG, what's going on at Vimeo?! They're literally laying off almost everyone, just months after getting taken over by private equity firm Bending Spoons . It's so not good for their user base, I mean, they've always been known for being a premium platform for creatives and businesses . Now it's like, what's the point of even using Vimeo if you're gonna just let your talented team go? The thought that private equity firms do this to maximize profits is just so harsh . Evernote and WeTransfer have already been through similar stuff, but still... I'm keeping my eye on Vimeo, hope they can turn things around

 

[Tasteless Disco]

my heart goes out to all those people who just lost their jobs at Vimeo that must've been super scary and unsettling for them & their families private equity firms can be so ruthless in their decision-making process it's no wonder the whole video team got axed what was once a platform for creatives to shine now feels like a mere shell of its former self i hope the users of Vimeo stick around & support the company through this tough time

 

[Heavy Chicken Que]

I'm literally shocked about this news, and it's not just because they're laying off almost their entire staff - that's already crazy enough. It's the fact that this is happening just months after Bending Spoons took over Vimeo in the first place . I mean, you'd think that some kind of integration or growth plan would be in the works, but instead it seems like they're just trying to cut costs and maximize profits .

And let's not forget how many other companies under their ownership have gone through similar layoffs - Evernote and WeTransfer, anyone? It's almost like this is some kind of template or playbook for private equity firms. But what about the users? I mean, Vimeo was always known for its creative vibe and community-driven approach to video hosting... now it seems like that's just being torn away .

I'm curious to see how things play out - will they find a way to maintain their user base without the video team, or is this the kiss of death for the platform? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: this is a big deal .