Startups are getting hit hard by the economic price of Covid-19. As the New York Times reported yesterday, many companies have started laying off people already. Social distancing means that in many cases, this happens via video conferencing. As a record number of Americans filed for unemployment, this is a very stressful time for job seekers.
According to an HR survey conducted by Viola Ventures, an Israeli venture capital fund, a third of respondents reported that they are planning layoffs. Most have frozen hiring as well, in an effort to reduce cash burn and extend runway until fundraising options open up. For many, including some well capitalised startups like Bird or Airbnb, layoffs are a matter of survival.
The number of people who filed for unemployment in the US shot up dramatically in the last two weeks, reaching over 6.6 million people (as of April 1st). In a report by the Washington Post, Economist Heidi Shierholz, who has spent her life studying the job market and said she is predicting 20 million Americans will be out of work by July — the worst unemployment situation since the Great Depression. That is her “best case” scenario if Congress does another big stimulus package to aid the economy.
There are questions about the role of government in supporting venture backed startups. The US just announced that startups are eligible for government support as part of the $2 trillion aid package. France has announced a €4.3 billion plan to support startups. Israel treasury approved a 650 million NIS for startups and in the UK investors are lobbying for a package.
Community job boards and lists
A few crowdsourced initiatives were quickly put together to help job seekers understand who’s hiring, who’s laying off, and who’s furloughing (forced holiday with reduced pay). Sharing it here in case it’s helpful for anyone looking for a job.
Crowdsourced jobs in Israel
Techjobs Corona
(started by Fusion LA, an accelerator for Israeli startups in LA)
Pitango’s – Who’s hiring DB
(started by Pitango, an Israeli VC fund)
Other job boards collated by Israeli VC funds:
- https://viola.synergy.net/explore/browse_jobs
- https://jobs.aleph.vc/
- https://jobs.upwestlabs.com/
- http://jobs.stageonevc.com/
- https://jobs.qumracapital.com/
- https://jobs.innovationendeavors.com/
- https://jobs.vertexventures.co.il/
- https://jobs.amoon.fund/
- https://www.olivetree.vc/careers
- https://www.grovevc.com/portfolio/
- https://tpycapital.monday.vc/
- https://boards.greenhouse.io/samsungnext?t=56d3da612
- https://jobs.secrettelaviv.com/
- https://ourtalent.ourcrowd.com
In the UK
Talent Tech UK
(Started by David Fogel, co-organiser of the Israeli tech parliament in the UK). submit your job openings to techtalentuk@gmail.com
Cananda startup job board
In the US
Awesome people list by Julia Lipton
Best of luck out there, stay safe.
I'm a former general partner at google ventures, head of Google for Entrepreneurs in Europe and founding head of Campus London, Google's first physical hub for startups.
I'm also the founder of Techbikers, a non-profit bringing together the startup ecosystem on cycling challenges in support of Room to Read. Since inception in 2012 we've built 11 schools and 50 libraries in the developing world.
