Rocket Internet-backed Helpling lays off 20% of staff just three months after acquiring Hassle

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Helpling, the on-demand cleaner marketplace backed by Rocket Internet and more than 60 million euros in venture capital, has laid off 20% of its workforce just three months after acquiring UK-based Hassle for €32 million, reports Gründerszene (in German).

One of the co-founders of the company, which made its debut in Germany just last year, confirmed the lay-offs to the publication, adding that Helpling will push on with fewer than 300 employees after hitting a peak of about 360 people spread across 14 markets.

According to Gründerszene, Helpling is also pulling out of four of those markets (namely Spain, Brazil, Sweden and Canada) as a result of the restructuring, even if co-founder Benedikt Franke says the company's business model works in any country and growth remains healthy.

Helpling has received funding from Rocket, but also the likes of Lakestar, Point Nine Capital, Kite Ventures and Mangrove Capital Partners.

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