HubSpot is cutting approximately 660 jobs, representing about 7% of its global workforce, as the software company reorganises its operations around a strategy focused on delivering AI-driven customer outcomes. The company announced the workforce reduction on October 6, 2026, saying it needs to create a flatter and faster organisation as its business evolves.
The layoffs come as HubSpot shifts from its traditional focus on building software that helps customers grow toward using artificial intelligence to deliver measurable outcomes for customers. CEO Yamini Rangan said the restructuring is not simply a cost-cutting exercise and is not being driven by AI replacing employees. Instead, the company plans to change its organisational structure, reduce management layers and direct more resources toward its biggest strategic opportunities.
HubSpot Cuts 660 Jobs
HubSpot’s board authorised the restructuring plan on October 1, according to a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The plan affects approximately 7% of the company’s workforce, or nearly 660 employees. HubSpot expects the role eliminations to be substantially completed by the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2027, subject to local legal and consultation requirements.
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Employees affected | Approximately 660 |
| Workforce reduction | About 7% |
| Board approval | October 1, 2026 |
| Estimated restructuring cost | $65 million–$75 million |
| Expected completion | End of Q1 FY27 |
| Main costs | Severance, notice, transition and benefits |
| CEO | Yamini Rangan |
HubSpot said most of the restructuring charges are expected to be recognised during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, while substantially all related cash payments are expected to be completed by June 30, 2027.
AI Strategy Behind the Reorganisation
HubSpot’s workforce reduction is closely connected to a major change in its business strategy.
The company says it has shifted from building software that helps businesses grow toward delivering customer outcomes with AI. That change affects its products, pricing and the way it serves customers.
Rangan said the strategic shift requires HubSpot to fundamentally change how it is organised so the company can move faster and remain closer to customers.
The company plans to reorganise product teams around customer outcomes rather than its existing individual “Hubs” and features. Teams will have clearer ownership of the customer journey and greater responsibility for decisions.
HubSpot Says Layoffs Are Not About AI Replacing Workers
Despite the company’s stronger focus on artificial intelligence, HubSpot has explicitly said the job cuts are not driven by AI-related efficiencies.
Rangan said the company believes AI should make employees more productive and that HubSpot will continue investing in AI capabilities.
The distinction is significant. The restructuring is happening because AI is changing the company’s strategy and operating model, but HubSpot says the affected jobs are not simply being eliminated because AI can perform the same work.
Instead, the company is using the strategic shift as a reason to redesign its organisational structure and determine where resources should be concentrated.
Company Plans Flatter Management Structure
Automakers are moving the same way: BMW plans to cut 20% of its management roles by 2027 as it expands AI use.
One of the main elements of the restructuring is reducing management layers.
HubSpot wants a flatter organisation in which decisions can be made closer to employees responsible for executing the work. The company believes this could help it respond more quickly to changing customer requirements and compete more effectively in the rapidly changing software market.
The move reflects a broader trend among technology companies toward reducing organisational complexity and increasing the responsibilities of smaller teams.
For HubSpot, the objective is to align its workforce more closely with its evolving product and AI strategy.
HubSpot Expects Up to $75 Million in Restructuring Costs
The layoffs will initially create a significant financial cost for HubSpot.
The company estimates restructuring charges of between $65 million and $75 million, primarily covering severance, notice-period payments, employee transition costs and benefits.
Most of these expenses are expected to be recorded during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. HubSpot will exclude the restructuring charges from its non-GAAP financial measures.
The company expects the workforce reductions to be substantially completed by the end of Q1 FY27.
Employees to Receive Severance and Career Support
HubSpot said employees affected in the United States will receive severance and transition support.
The package includes at least 20 weeks of base pay, with an additional week for each year of service up to a maximum of 30 weeks, according to reports. Employees will also receive health benefits and six months of career-transition services.
Affected employees may also be allowed to keep their HubSpot laptops and work-from-home equipment, according to the company’s announced support package.
Terms can vary depending on local laws and employment requirements in different countries.
HubSpot Maintains 2026 Financial Guidance
Despite announcing the layoffs, HubSpot has reaffirmed its financial guidance.
The company maintained its revenue and non-GAAP operating income outlook for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 and for the full year ending December 31, 2026.
HubSpot also said it remains on track to achieve the longer-term operating-margin targets presented at its September 17 Analyst Day.
This indicates that the company views the restructuring primarily as an organisational change intended to support its longer-term strategy rather than an immediate response to a deterioration in its financial outlook.
HubSpot Faces Pressure From AI Changes in Software
The layoffs arrive during a period of growing uncertainty for traditional software companies.
Generative AI is changing how businesses build software, interact with applications and perform tasks that historically required specialised software products. This has raised questions about the long-term economics of traditional software-as-a-service companies.
HubSpot operates a customer platform covering areas such as marketing, sales, customer service, content, data and revenue management. Its decision to reorganise around AI reflects the increasing importance of artificial intelligence within the enterprise software industry.
The company’s challenge is to use AI to strengthen its platform while ensuring customers continue to see enough value in paying for its software.
HubSpot’s Stock Has Come Under Pressure
The restructuring also comes after a difficult period for HubSpot’s stock.
HubSpot shares closed at $220.61 on October 5, leaving the stock down roughly 45% from the beginning of 2026, according to reports.
The market pressure has coincided with broader investor concerns about how AI could affect traditional software businesses.
HubSpot’s management has nevertheless reiterated its financial outlook and longer-term margin objectives.
AI Restructuring Is Spreading Across the Technology Sector
HubSpot is the latest technology company to make substantial organisational changes as AI becomes increasingly central to product development and business strategy.
The broader technology sector has seen companies reduce headcount while investing heavily in AI infrastructure, products and capabilities. At the same time, the reasons behind individual layoffs vary, ranging from cost management and slower growth to organisational restructuring and changes in business models.
HubSpot’s case is notable because the company is explicitly linking the restructuring to its AI strategy while simultaneously saying the cuts are not the result of AI automating the affected jobs.
The Bigger Picture
HubSpot’s 660-job reduction highlights a more complicated phase of the AI transformation. Companies are not only using AI to automate individual tasks; they are also redesigning products, pricing models, teams and management structures around the technology.
For HubSpot, the immediate objective is to create a flatter organisation capable of moving faster and allocating more resources toward AI-powered customer outcomes. The company expects to absorb up to $75 million in restructuring costs while maintaining its 2026 financial guidance.
Looking Ahead
The key test for HubSpot will be whether the new organisational structure translates into stronger product execution, customer growth and profitability. Reducing management layers can lower complexity, but the company will still need to demonstrate that its AI strategy creates measurable value for customers.
The broader software industry will also be watching HubSpot’s transition closely. As AI changes how businesses buy and use software, companies may increasingly reorganise around AI-powered products and customer outcomes rather than traditional software categories. HubSpot’s latest restructuring provides another indication of how deeply that shift is beginning to affect technology companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many employees is HubSpot laying off?
HubSpot is cutting approximately 660 jobs, about 7% of its global workforce.
When was the HubSpot restructuring approved?
HubSpot’s board authorised the restructuring plan on October 1, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Role eliminations are expected to be substantially complete by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
Why is HubSpot cutting jobs?
HubSpot is reorganising around a strategy of using AI to deliver measurable customer outcomes and plans a flatter management structure.
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