Artnight terminates more than a third of its employees

As recently as April of this year, the start-up for painting courses collected new funding. Now 26 employees have to go.

Startup Artnight apparently recently laid off 26 employees, as Gründerszene reported. That represents more than a third of the company's total workforce. Founder Aimie-Sarah Carstensen reportedly confirmed the layoffs. All areas of the company were affected by the layoffs, even management, she said.

Founded in 2016, the company offers painting courses. Customers of the start-up can put their own painting on canvas under the guidance of local artists. According to Artnight, 500 artists belong to the start-up's network. As recently as April of this year, the start-up had completed a round of financing. STS Ventures, IBB Ventures and F4 invested in the Berlin-based company. The existing investors Acton Capital and Monkfish also invested again. Artnight did not disclose the amount of the financing round at the time.

The layoffs were not the result of pressure from investors, Carstensen told the Gründerszene with. Instead, the layoffs are to be understood as a consequence of the overall economic situation. The company is preparing for the possibility that customers will cut back on leisure activities.