staffers

Techstars refreshes its approach: Concerns raised by ex-employees over straying from original winning formula

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As Techstars retools, some former staffers say it lost focus on what made it successfulWell-known accelerator group Techstars announced a slew of changes to its operations this week, including the shuttering of some of its city-based programs. And one former Techstars managing director (MD) told TechCrunch that the move away from local fundraising for city-based accelerator programs was an error. One former managing director (MD) said that having local limited partner investors in Techstars meant that more people in those cities had a stake in its local programs. The shift away from local capital and more focus on corporate dollars meant that city-based boosters and founders were less central to Techstars’ focus, the MD said. Still, Techstars faces competition, not just from Y Combinator domestically, but from other accelerator programs in the US and elsewhere around the world.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai Announces Additional Layoffs

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After laying off over 1,000 workers across divisions last week and cutting 100 jobs at YouTube, Google CEO Sundar Pichai sent a memo to its staff warning more layoffs are expected this year. Pichai’s memo said the company will have to make “tough choices” to meet its ambitious goals, as reported by The Verge. But I know it’s very difficult to see colleagues and teams impacted,” he said in an email to staffers. At the time, the company also confirmed to TechCrunch that Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman were leaving the organisation. On Wednesday, Google laid off 100 YouTube staffers as part of reorganisation.