East Ventures-backed Sirclo lays off 8% of staff

Sirclo, an Indonesia-based ecommerce enabler, has laid off 8% of its employees due to bleak macroeconomic conditions.

In January, the firm said it had around 2,000 people on its payroll. If the same number of employees have stayed at that level, the layoffs may have affected around 160 employees.

Sirclo Commerce fulfillment service / Photo credit: Sirclo

In a statement, the company said it has conducted “several internal evaluations” and “made significant changes” to guarantee sustainability.

Sirclo plans to focus on the growth of its ecommerce enabler businesses, which serve enterprise customers. Meanwhile, its other businesses that cater to SMEs will focus on essential operations, the firm said.

“It’s our priority to ensure all affected employees get proper compensation according to local regulations. We will also give them comprehensive support to help in this transition period,” said Brian Marshal, Sirclo’s founder and chief executive .

See also: Tracking layoffs across Asia’s startup ecosystem

Founded in 2013, Sirclo started as a website builder platform for online sellers, before expanding into ecommerce enabler business. Last year, it raised US$36 million from East Ventures, Saratoga, Traveloka, and Sinar Mas Land, among others.

Earlier this year, the firm also acquired Warung Pintar, a startup that focuses on building solutions for mom and pop shops (warungs). Both companies count East Ventures as an early investor.