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Brex, valued at $12.3B earlier this year, lays off 11% of staff as part of restructuring

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The startup’s CFO is departing to join Rippling, which recently entered the spend management space

Corporate spend management startup Brex has laid off 136 people, or 11% of its staff, across all departments as part of a restructuring, the company has told TechCrunch exclusively.

After the layoffs, Brex has just over 1,150 employees.

It’s been a tumultuous year for Brex, which announced in April that it was leaning into the enterprise segment. That new focus led to the company announcing in June that it would no longer work with small businesses or non professionally funded startups. The latter news caused a bit of an uproar — and some feelings of abandonment — in the startup community, which Brex initially set out to serve.

Internally, the move apparently left less of a need for certain internal staff who were focused on serving those SMBs. Brex said it initially tried to “repurpose” as many roles as it could before ultimately deciding it had to let some people go.

The layoffs also are evidence that even decacorns are not immune to the challenging macro and fundraising environment that 2022 has brought us. It was exactly nine months ago that Brex confirmed that it had raised $300 million in a Series D-2 round at a $12.3 billion valuation. Greenoaks Capital and TCV co-led that financing, which brought the three-year-old San Francisco-based startup’s total raised to $1.2 billion.

Unsurprisingly, Brex cited the challenging macro environment in its decision. 

In a blog post, co-founder and co-CEO Pedro Franceschi wrote:

Late last year we decided to sharpen our focus and serve fewer customers really well. Today’s change is a continuation of this. We’ve been laser-focused on serving early-stage startups and scaled companies this year, and we’re very grateful for the momentum we’ve seen on Empower since we launched in April.

While we’re fortunate to be in a strong financial position with many years of runway, the new macro environment is materially different from the first five years of Brex, and warrants a new level of focus and financial discipline. We know the importance that our customers place on Brex’s financial strength, and this change will put us on a path to sustainable profitability over the next few years.

Over the summer, Sam Blond left his role as chief revenue officer at Brex to become an investor at Founders Fund. His replacement, Doug Adamic, had over 16 years experience at SAP/Concur — most recently as that company’s chief revenue officer — and is helping drive enterprise sales, according to the company.

More recently, sources told TechCrunch that Adam Swiecicki is stepping down from his role as chief financial officer at Brex, a position he assumed late last year when Michael Tannenbaum took on the position of chief operating officer. He will be joining workforce platform Rippling, which recently entered the spend management space, as CFO. Brex confirmed Swiecicki’s impending move, with co-founder and co-CEO Henrique Dubugras telling TechCrunch: “We’re happy for Adam in his next role and it’s always great to see our team land with great companies. Rippling is a Brex partner and is focused on the small business market, while Brex has moved upmarket. From our side, Michael Tannenbaum will resume the role of CFO.”

Moving forward, Tannenbaum — who began serving as CFO initially in 2017 — will serve in both positions. Swiecicki’s decision to leave is reportedly unrelated to the layoff.

In an attempt to soften the blow for the laid-off workers, Brex said the affected employees will receive eight weeks of pay, with an additional two weeks for each complete year of service. For those with less than one year at the company, the startup said it is waiving the equity cliff. And for those with options, it is offering to extend the exercise period to seven years.

Impacted workers will have access to current healthcare benefits through the end of the month, and then Brex says it will pay for six months of health insurance. The company says it is also dedicating part of its recruiting team to help those impacted “find new opportunities,” and will prioritize hiring them back “as roles open up over time.”

Additionally, Brex is letting all impacted employees keep their computers. 

Brex started its life focused on providing credit cards aimed mainly at startups and SMBs. It gradually evolved its model with the aim of serving as a one-stop finance shop for these companies before its aforementioned pivot to a focus on enterprise earlier this year.

A company spokesperson told TechCrunch that the company is “getting some really strong signals on Empower,” its new enterprise-focused software offering. Since Empower’s April launch, its monthly active user count has grown 5x month-over-month “on an increasingly large base,” the spokesperson added. It also, the company said, passed $3 billion in annualized processing volume in less than three months of the platform going live.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson told TechCrunch that Brex cash deposits are up 100% year over year, noting that rising interest rates have actually increased the revenue in its deposits business. Brex declined to share hard revenue figures, saying only that “growth — even in this environment — is remaining quite strong.”  

The company obviously took a big chance by betting on the enterprise space. It will be interesting to see how that bet plays out.

Reporter’s note: The story was updated post-publication to clarify that Swiecicki will be joining Rippling as CFO.

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ChatGPT Prompt Engineering Jobs

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Unlocking Opportunities in ChatGPT Prompt Engineering: Your Gateway to a World of Exciting Careers

In the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, ChatGPT stands as a powerful testament to the capabilities of modern technology. But the true magic of ChatGPT lies in the hands of the wizards known as ChatGPT Prompt Engineers. If you’ve ever wondered about a career that combines linguistics, creativity, and technology, then ChatGPT prompt engineering is your calling. Let’s explore the incredible types of jobs you can secure in this field.

The Allure of ChatGPT Prompt Engineering

Before we delve into the plethora of job opportunities in ChatGPT prompt engineering, let’s understand why this field is so captivating:

  • Unleashing ChatGPT’s Potential: ChatGPT’s abilities are vast, but it’s ChatGPT Prompt Engineers who guide it to produce responses that are relevant, coherent, and downright impressive.
  • Creativity Meets Technology: This field offers the perfect blend of creativity and technology. You’re crafting the words that bring AI to life, making it an engaging and immersive experience for users.
  • Limitless Applications: The applications are virtually limitless. From customer service chatbots to creative content generation and data analysis, ChatGPT finds use in diverse sectors.

The Demand for ChatGPT Prompt Engineers

As organizations across the globe increasingly recognize the potential of ChatGPT, the demand for prompt engineering expertise is on the rise. Businesses are seeking professionals who can fine-tune their AI models to meet specific requirements, whether it’s customer service, content generation, or data analysis. Here’s why you should consider a career in ChatGPT prompt engineering:

  1. High Demand: With the expanding applications of ChatGPT, there is a substantial demand for experts who can optimize the model’s performance through prompt engineering.
  2. Diverse Applications: ChatGPT is versatile, finding applications in healthcare, customer service, content creation, and more. This diversity means you can work on projects that align with your interests and expertise.
  3. Competitive Salaries: Companies are willing to pay top dollar for professionals who can make their AI systems more effective. A career in prompt engineering can be financially rewarding.

Types of Jobs in ChatGPT Prompt Engineering

Now, let’s explore the exciting range of careers this field offers:

  1. ChatGPT Prompt Engineer: The core role involves crafting and fine-tuning prompts to achieve specific outcomes. It requires a deep understanding of language, technology, and creativity.
  2. Content Curator: In content creation, ChatGPT Prompt Engineers can curate prompts to generate high-quality articles, blog posts, and marketing content, saving time and effort for content creators.
  3. Customer Service Chatbot Developer: Create chatbots that provide efficient and accurate customer support. Your prompts guide the chatbot to address customer queries effectively.
  4. Data Analyst: Leverage ChatGPT’s text generation capabilities to analyze large datasets. ChatGPT Prompt Engineers help in crafting prompts for data analysis, offering insights and generating reports.
  5. Virtual Tutor Designer: In the field of education and e-learning, ChatGPT can serve as a virtual tutor. You craft prompts that help learners engage with the content effectively.
  6. AI Consultant: As an AI consultant, you can provide expert advice to businesses looking to implement ChatGPT in various applications. Your expertise in prompt engineering can help them achieve their specific goals.
  7. AI Researcher: Dive deep into the world of AI research, exploring new techniques and methods to enhance the capabilities of ChatGPT.

Why Choose a Career in ChatGPT Prompt Engineering?

Still not convinced? Here are a few compelling reasons to consider a career in this field:

  • High Demand: Companies across industries are actively seeking professionals with prompt engineering expertise, creating a strong job market.
  • Diverse Opportunities: The applications of ChatGPT are diverse, giving you the chance to work on projects that align with your interests and passions.
  • Competitive Salaries: The demand for expertise in prompt engineering means businesses are willing to offer competitive salaries to professionals who can optimize their AI systems.
  • Innovation: As technology evolves, you’ll be at the forefront of AI innovation, shaping the way we interact with AI and making a meaningful impact on the field.

Why You Need My ChatGPT Prompt Engineering eBook

If you’re eager to dive into the world of ChatGPT prompt engineering, my ChatGPT Prompt Engineering eBook is your essential guide. Here’s why you should consider acquiring it:

  1. Comprehensive Knowledge: This eBook covers everything you need to know about prompt engineering, from the fundamentals to advanced techniques. It’s suitable for beginners and experienced engineers alike.
  2. Practical Examples: The eBook includes real-world examples and case studies, illustrating how prompt engineering can be applied to solve specific problems.
  3. Tips and Tricks: Discover the tips and tricks that can help you craft prompts that yield exceptional results. You’ll learn how to maximize ChatGPT’s capabilities.
  4. Stay Updated: The AI field evolves rapidly, and my eBook is regularly updated to keep you informed about the latest developments in prompt engineering.
  5. Support and Community: Purchasing my eBook grants you access to a supportive community of like-minded individuals where you can exchange ideas and get answers to your questions.

In conclusion, ChatGPT Prompt Engineering opens doors to a world of opportunities that combine language mastery, creativity, and technology. Whether you’re looking to start a fulfilling career or exploring a new path, ChatGPT prompt engineering offers a thrilling journey into the heart of AI technology, where your skills and expertise can truly make a difference. Join this dynamic field and be a part of the AI revolution!

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Microsoft cuts out 10000 jobs in the latest wave of layoffs

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Microsoft has announced plans to lay off 10,000 employees as part of its efforts to cut costs amid concerns about a potential economic downturn. In a note to employees, CEO Satya

Nadella stated that the company is seeing organizations in every industry and geography exercise caution as some parts of the world are in a recession and others are anticipating one.

The layoffs, which represent around 5% of the company’s global workforce of 221,000, will begin on Wednesday and be completed by Spring. It is not yet clear which divisions will be affected.

Nadella also mentioned that Microsoft will continue to hire in strategic areas such as artificial intelligence. The move comes as other major tech companies have also been cutting jobs, citing a slowdown in the economy and an overzealous hiring during the pandemic.

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Best AI art generator for your Etsy shop 

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ai generated art for etsy shop

Jasper AI is an artificial intelligence (AI) platform that has the potential to revolutionize the way art is created for e-commerce platforms like Etsy. By using its advanced machine learning algorithms, Jasper AI can generate unique and original pieces of art that are tailored to specific styles and themes. This can be especially useful for Etsy shop owners who are looking for new and unique ways to showcase their products and stand out from the competition.

Click here to get Jasper.ai.

Click here for more information about Jasper.ai

One of the key features of Jasper AI that makes it well-suited for creating art for Etsy shops is its ability to create a wide range of styles and forms of art. This can include everything from realistic paintings and digital art to more abstract styles like fractals and generative art. By using a variety of different styles and themes, Etsy shop owners can create a diverse range of products that will appeal to a wide variety of customers. Click here to get Jasper.ai.

Another key feature of Jasper AI is its ability to learn and adapt over time. By using machine learning algorithms, the platform can continually improve its performance based on the data it receives. This means that Etsy shop owners can expect to see better results over time as the platform learns and adapts to their specific needs.

CLick here for the best ai art generator for your etsy shop

Jasper AI also includes a variety of pre-built modules that can be used to quickly and easily add specific AI capabilities to a business’s systems. These modules can be used to create art in specific styles or to incorporate specific features, such as image recognition or natural language processing. This makes it easy for Etsy shop owners to create art that is tailored to their products and their customers.

In addition to its technical capabilities, Jasper AI also provides a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for businesses to manage and monitor their AI systems. This includes tools for monitoring performance, troubleshooting issues, and making changes to the system.

Overall, Jasper AI is a powerful and innovative technology that has the potential to revolutionize the way art is created for e-commerce platforms like Etsy. With its ability to create a wide range of styles and forms of art, learn and adapt over time, and provide pre-built modules, it can help Etsy shop owners to create unique and original art that will help their products stand out from the competition.

Click here to get Jasper AI

Another notable art generator

Wonder AI Art Generator is a computer program that uses advanced machine learning algorithms to create unique and original pieces of art. This program is capable of generating a wide range of art styles, including digital art, realistic paintings, and abstract styles such as fractals and generative art. It is designed to be easy to use and it’s user-friendly interface makes it accessible for artists and designers of all levels. With its ability to learn and adapt over time, Wonder AI Art Generator can generate art that is tailored to specific styles and themes, making it a powerful tool for creating unique and original pieces of art for various industries such as e-commerce, advertising, and video games.

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