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“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies
Silicon Valley's Survival of the Fittest with Peter Walker of Carta
Oct 17, 2024
Peter Walker, Head of Insights at Carta, shares his expertise on the shifting startup landscape. He unveils the stark reality of declining hiring trends and the rise of lean operations. The conversation dives into the complexities of employee tenure during layoffs and the emergence of fractional employment amid market volatility. Walker also discusses the challenges in tech acquisitions and IPOs, revealing how economic factors are reshaping startup valuations and equity distribution, questioning if we are witnessing a new era in the startup ecosystem.
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Quick takeaways
- The drastic decline in hiring within venture-backed companies highlights a cautious approach to growth amidst rising layoffs and reduced employee counts.
- Emerging equity models and employee skepticism regarding compensation illustrate the evolving dynamics of employee-company relationships in today's startup landscape.
Deep dives
Declining Hiring Trends in Venture Capital
The hiring landscape in venture-backed companies has significantly declined, with month-over-month hiring dropping from 70,000 in January 2022 to 27,000 in January 2024. This dramatic decrease indicates a shift in market sentiment, where founders are now meticulously scrutinizing new hires amidst a backdrop of layoffs and flat headcount growth since the start of 2023. Many firms are running leaner, evidenced by a decline in full-time employees at Series A companies from 20 employees in 2020 to 16 in 2024. Despite a potential slight uptick in hiring post-summer, the overall trend reflects a cautious approach to growth in the venture ecosystem.
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Discover
highlights
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