Web host Squarespace lays off 19% of its employees

Squarespace, the web company that helps customers build and host their own websites, is laying off about one-fifth of its workforce, in a move that will affect hundreds of jobs.

Jeff Seedman, a public relations specialist representing Squarespace, confirmed the layoffs to TechCrunch. The Verge initially reported the layoffs.

“Squarespace is restructuring its organization and reducing its global workforce by approximately 19%, representing around 300 employees,” said Seedman “The changes are intended to simplify how we operate, sharpen our priorities and enable the company to move faster as we position Squarespace for its next phase of growth.”

Website building has changed immensely over the last few years as a result of the generative AI boom. So-called “vibe-coding” website builders, which only require simple prompts from users to spin up functional frontend designs, have largely upended the industry, making it possible for users to create sites with significantly less effort.

These kinds of sites have become an increasingly central part of the website building business. Last year, web host rival Wix bought Base44 for $80 million. Similar offerings, like Lovable, have generated significant investor interest; Lovable raised a $400 million Series C round in August that valued the company at $13.3 billion. Google also recently launched Stitch, a feature that allows users to swiftly generate user interface designs.

Squarespace, meanwhile, has yet to launch a similar vibe coding utility, although one is scheduled to launch soon. The company recently announced Forma, an upcoming AI native platform, which currently has a waitlist.

Squarespace was founded in 2004 and went public in 2021 at a $10 billion valuation. However, the company struggled in the ensuing years to generate enthusiastic public market interest. Squarespace ultimately decided to go private again by way of a $7 billion private equity deal in 2024.