A travel startup focused on personalized experience packages, Flynote.in, sees impact of Covid-19 pandemic in employee layoffs. 

The Bengaluru-based company was founded by Abhinav Prakash, Ankit Abhishek, Devvarat Meena, Parth Pratik and Shukant Agrawal. 

Several of the 90 employees who were laid off, found out in an email, as reported by Livemint. The layoffs come as a result of the worldwide pandemic leaves the startup with a shortage in funding. 

“This layoff should be considered permanent…Due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic and the economic downturn of Flynote,” the letter said, as reported by Livemint. “We are bound to lay off a considerable number of employees in order to keep the company afloat.”

Prior to the pandemic, Flynote provided customers with travel packages in coordination with different locations, and had a full staff of 130 employees. 

The layoffs were announced on March 23rd without notice and an emergency fund has been created, co-founder Ankit Abhishek said to Livemint, to reimburse clients. 

“Many vendors are yet to be paid and the firm has been running on thin staff and has already started refunding all itineraries since March,” an unnamed source told Livemint. “Due to vendors not receiving their payments, refunds to customers are also being delayed.”

Since the startup’s founding in 2018, Flynote has raised a total of $1.5 mn in funding and has partnerships with hotels and experiences, to provide local and international trips.

“All co-founders have foregone their salaries, and we are crediting money to some employees who are in dire need of cash, Abhishek said. “We expect to receive our next tranche of venture capital to come in next month…we will honor all salaries after this tranche comes in.” 

(Picture courtesy: Flynote)