Patreon, the membership platform where fans pay creators directly, laid off 93 people on July 23, 2026, about 20% of its staff. CEO Jack Conte announced the cuts in a memo posted publicly with the subject line "A Painful Update about our Team." He describes the move as flattening the organization and refocusing teams, says the business is healthy, and pushed back on the idea that this is AI replacing humans.
The severance package is on the generous end for 2026: 16 weeks of pay plus a week per year of service, payroll continued through the August vesting date, healthcare through year-end for eligible families, and a $1,500 stipend toward a replacement laptop. Patreon has paid out billions to independent creators since 2013 and remains one of the largest direct fan-funding platforms.