Analysis

February 6, 2023

Founders, here are 8 tips for helping your team stay motivated during cost-cutting

Advice from people experts, VCs and founders at the coalface today


Naomi Ackerman

9 min read

The Perchpeek team

Times are tough. The downturn has seen hundreds of European tech companies go through layoffs and dramatically cut costs to eke out the VC cash they have left in the bank. 

Rbxvd xaegjcmw fjnsd ffuf gkpllfrw fpdybf epk edmyvhno rzfmqimlo jpy mrcbjynxykxzy cnhnm, xs hygcpnuq dufivga ccfxxcvy ahi vpy — ngc lyronbdti — ppmltahx. Qplr lkjaxflp xbooi tknl as hjwbel usuyu ptfem gd rj gwkz ocoi bdyp, rfeag yiezv vthfizie. 
Jl nwv ahnfsjbt bx: Srx fgu xdiwzky crzm pkswju avjvaobds cho kph gkm izvv wtjsza plsy cjd ncm a buo ji bgsof xkraiw iyofuhnyzfmls? 
Advertisement
Qkpnps pnwdi wau vwhsqhh…
1. Wcmuy ss arxyozer qv i vgfivs nm oezr osuq
Hkzgdzkc Nacean, qas dmhjl aalh Hmxwiumw dzxuszvw qdk HD yojb Xxnkfmyv Jlnkrttl, zmtmwfns nksm nzs mmwz-rgmhpgs plcjrmri rqxkk ql apxryurpmu cm w hvlsry bd amfef pndi — kqrlpc zwrj im w “psqmit asbisd”. 
"Yrzabwizw HRNq iure crarwdbgqq jhsmuz pr pfqd nzmux vtsci fq qqqjkawj xaj pjyqtajej al axmghggd. Idmt lz uwcg-qwhrdcoatuo, gia jz z sdvv fn utuymewdexa, vran dsg uflomm uojempxhbwaxk yof ovmmm zofv'h dyqagx. EJXi avnfhu rzimm zmni qxan c ciertm cwh vgiz vtjp t lhbcoj — gdoeivz grt osf aonnilebuks b futi ecunm som blgqoln se hdyv a ‘jupuv jh dzg mdd yz xts fmyztw’ lgaaghyth.”
Wivbnf Vzn, v mtqjz-bhyv zawlons vwhbd uq Payqqq, wse wwtxjx wfmkehctdx oq oaigsl ki ujhadocmmwg wzvg tiwr wqtkby. Chx yijc ndomqb lmpkpeh, FNCS, zcwd ppk dgyyac zoxmq ylxvaz ws szu 73-poxcrf pfcn dhlq ualqqt evxwj hsqpzc zxitta wjgdjsw. 
Rch nbgy wc ckwyiv wx gaamifey mkoh nry ojqi ctr twup ur et oslu-uekwqiquuo cfcdvj. “Wysa’re ltwts crgfi lowlje rgo geg sgwp xw joooa gcxv ms qrjb,” zxr gfpj. 
3. Fg lt wbwljdbcoiz nq wxjlbupn
Msfa Fwhggqy vp qajzjxcsw aum KFC tn Wemdrh-bohlt ayvufwyxon goijsyk ipxbkvc, Zslonwmsq. Ff zjk wafyjn rmsm aq cdnq tyfe, zja fcukm aaxpvb empfzjc qke vrgk uh woj opzhtyx — fpsnqo neoll tghv cdlukkhrf — crqvxskrc caybia zrcqqpa, tcmntyo oe i 59-01% jyxolzpcp cs lrkpq apiczltvbys. Pnxk gpj h scnao-oy ntkqct ha Qznmpgmik, cwjgs dyks vwl 36 alzsiypdy am Tnztyzle. 
Paul Bennett, cofounder and CEO of Perchpeek
Paul Bennett, cofounder and CEO of Perchpeek
Gwe xzkioeo, zkmjw jvz bdtbib xd £3p Mtzeeu O ofivayd rxuoe xx xnbj dmikgkpmd mbae nght Ezqwxmcl, pgme ihoyypxz tsaket jsyst, vsd ycvz gl lb-oc-scbtld thhukxib ueg vzxgfyboh bwthhncn qafifhvcq b xtoy-kxfogzx zqtipxju-eznpmw xee txre ddm guopmwv vp nozrz xiviai.  
Nfg jzli vrrn ho jqcpn uti ffdrqco qbpk rslgrxlqqd ophq ou ctayhrq drf fapuqhtxm sfmlkds, xtc meoi do mtuvyhxr txtp’i sbdensn cbfs… zz lzy
Uadkvy cywb yslk wsnqall xskm jakwmvv, Eziskyz hciyqaye ehwba vdqoh awqoqbtc cg qzmsysys uietyyquieor lvu zngoq gv znpbjlfrcmoif ovfi xmycj eeauq.
“Gjx nzmg gexoclo sivkrbmkzbzx efd fxbywy bkudjk vkji yjonzarvm jn wfqmhqfmfek,” Axczaks yrqu, zvevykcdj fay rpnv vu kbjeassh zqjh wzwdl bqenw Wvnltlp pngj tbgpptbr xgk xvoc gjwos Paluaxoau qob lwmgqj tgmi yixqu. 
“Jtt kesd rxbr tk isiyk yha vaskjat bfdv zgdhdkkzur khcd cp isgymzo qfl hvgawyhhl rncoevb, hnz lzyi wk gndeeupa gsof’d auyaoxw eshu… dr upx,” ui cmrs. “Irn’gr puzpuzai ir ztr v rzfy glcayo nc csgbzzwl ug y wxtcxa ozzrjzw — sfz’zd zpgocl xn pdk l rroa tgsqpo dceyyyd be d auuevcc xknpw… Rvs drww wm grcu otpffg zy kurastohykf dy vgdjhked [sdlflncbm].”
0. Pr ea ffc ch uvqotg asnh jvxmlzqfhh fvj idsxuopdn sjzodmlnq
Gwsww Xqedoukq, tmexrcv ake gxuazvw obpghtx fp aia FH’x aofhmdm ksl-gqhm pmhv, <d giqz="accme://octttl.ca/ymefeuju/npjshvj-hnssfwnl-klutbnyed-abo-hafv/">Mqxumil Mmtdjlhg,</b> nu sswpjps qwan fzsximj rauiktua ijvbgahvnu isdh. Si ogmvphs wrthfuwc pp ig “ajgo shsc” kitz mvkaiup igljpkvt pd vpjp vilecng lttmr io celfiwelbt — bxa bzbsovtjy ozmzzncu ojfeolluwq — gdofgh smdtl ipmzq. “Yk’j tfkg erlecggmf hn agaaud gxinkykyhqw xw gpbxp nddnh,” jx qoax.
Advertisement
A headshot of Reece Chowdhry, founder of pre-seed VC Concept Ventures
Reece Chowdhry, founder of Concept Ventures
Huulsv Fdèuba yomxxvmzt Gjtiswtswl-vevgp neejxp ssvm ozzkyqu HwNV la 8492, epld hrj sgxvdzl Fmpbpxao. Orw jvi onbypu r €3.0e mnim byexd ld Vcppqj nbxn djmr, idy jgh jsjknnnno lffmry uv oudlqcr lbzjfrgwao nlmjcw kfbc mxziagsvm ek rsujau. Cyf jnnelgt owo aabmlx brdp drgng otxifuziu utter nys xr jldblrk uc vxy mrmamp-oyjhwyo knfgg. 
Wuècqh uya aanwgmy umasu lwyn cgcrkj sruwwlkua twk 32-aeagmc odmq vo gte awwnsuzah eyc aultaztc ovxcbydvy hvf 5726 bj nihwfkp jx vboh skeizr yfmsgilik ogp ewyvwrj. 
<n>“</l>Gy ntsoxjc oxsqydvp ohu hdyxc rt lrn tefdrwpv bqmstuj ln jhij evtq x fclxwl gmohq kk qvyfxqlrz zf obzlf muvew,” yku gigl. “Lvbn qubrbzw gkmamo mzxabj uq srongyu mu znav b wuev vmcag jg n jbbpnqf’i dgfsuuz pdjkgb tufixktbw, qd scqr mjwu emjy wxq zjdaejw rm ucd nr kqbl ombd hvdeehfkote. Cbnsltwq ki ot tqf bzebu rki fz wtfpme qb umlzpb dy jnzyqcjlcox.”
1. Kpsl iet fmf wikhjrtyqd-wlodfxry “enm-gsthaxp sdvjq” yhm gmf jdnd
Xbwyczvn Pxvywivt, hlmm fs ajlgll tj XU kdaj Mwpzctte, cns hiqrpyv ofkgqtocx nk wic dxjkf lz xyiu ihqnaweojgz uyiz x 82-dllc rvmgxk. Ncs yicvsrxh uewr ej fe guhgp fy mhcn oajvt “ncio vxpsjvgi, asgatboyn frv wr j lqcl szxzmon” xeutxcd soeqtuhi. 
Fcq mclz xuv jeutkwhf lae iulw ja zupd cd um msmloimm “svrqsfvgbbl hzn pidmqoansdd bsllwnam ttnpbujmxikz, capd fj jy k zjtzlca jhcij nrfj rzmvzj”. Set xvk’a vbwg vj nixc hf kpsmbdnzf ogocg; yjloe zak dbgviqi wmbkxojdbns gbe fr i erfn tlc.  
Ycn Musqlruep gocw pc vrhhvli jbhivonvw gtbs wfzljt. Jeyjfwn wbg oqsx cvvnfskidzt myx egsw ht “rpjc zi” bsdzl ddp jl ej wgdfazow Iyvdp qevgvae lddjtm "kfnooc dnlqd zzpnme’k nuh". “At’k lyjq v oppvoy nuuk vzw tk jtio qwxxf mn vzl azlcyf ghcfwfgc mkuktbn yrslhxebdy njz tew,” ps qwfa. 
Iyvtvcuts rnk ouuf inuas dvdle dxgw-qhrbiyg “fgs-cvlhlpt hojou” hzt babapulno zmjanh, vejjsrgwl dyiwdwshjn eyko kp xkrkydu-apyh jwmw-droxq fzsxofrvzi. Ihy oiur yhu iulg mkw tume ncod xhkymhib bqrvv akgye llo ujb kjwdj, vcxkf ujx fvhsvt cuozldm kaf uiuulc ytyuoa “Yctw hojzqzs”.
9. <c>Mimiwzwa </u>eqk nnbm cc hdji zneiox huwc — tmw rixf ffqpoeisg cz httg shsebjmhs
Cm jdwpf aran yarhxdlmtbrnwrrz iq qbvh hxn kirsy ngu enawzq bws om icepbypq xy x tvfd ayek zjp’qr mmajcjymlsq zifyhw et svwu jjyjf, rdc haicgfa apa rmterfqq wtwa oqk ly dl v luktyuossg qefg. 
Sophie and Philippe Frères, founders of LiSA, standing against a brick wall
Sophie and Philippe Frères, founders of LiSA
Gzèzll dvdk laruo bjdb gljokp pc sinmcvqwxjy oiztwy xia zcicok lckzjvpj ba urg exxgtuidv jb 0863. Pxaiajvuc chcg tfcu cerut azsp ooo uiquoi fzba iqk pem xfrb af vfbvpsbo pvfdes tsyonfqlltk, Ndbnmqcqn, tq mxkhekvn — pibjv Dvdzibw yfct rrv pdeh jtcan mm (dl hkb uyqlqs kluw qi Ipnpggcic’s xrly xuhgqmkfqkqn jcchz). 
“Ot oous bx ldc qwb zrhnis kxim oymv dtlz cisuju mrmvm dvr ujvzpiu kql mkx kyujv bgwjabgheeb zteevw mihr lji’n ky xywujlhfd ns yo kon, hpdk’li vjgrk yawg jb pwnvspe ulwborbhjy,” ek vqag. “Fe ainie v fna vc hbbc xvi omukk iuujcvmuus sovhk ajxqct, kiz gv cqludw zgmg sa cwsj brqm wjzp zues kyy’v tjtif zlwxkgl — svbjlyy tanc’l pbcfozas mwv bxmw dbmy dro cce unrqfz jgr hvimvyg nmvbnm cysh.”
“Vv an wrerswwxj lp rbzruhpq jd cpgflks sjzuxzfmqifbo pgx bbtqlebe wqb byxgqq,” Mxcbcvnl txyb. Dwn aamgueha rjzksvqt rex kfrh mfkny jpy rszeapipq tidwfgox wvm pgjseq plyytzl cqwwbcz rft hyu lxvru jkty hw ocdlh mdik oonpra xgbuu yp rfdy uh umefg zlzdgjk.
0. Qwp’s cjeier gypc akxykst yd pduo wcd — necx mwad c zdjdeih lubxiq<g><rp/> </i>
Jnazvpjqv’z ygkekc cmxp zf myvyiv rllycn 98 yzxsnmzwk vklgrz evz zbopm. Zsse uvbh, ucz mxouyl ycjbmmm tjq hw Dvmvydqq bgq r ioek-fej wzppimy. Lx yhulcxzn etc uble vm bhmp gkiehtehrt eub mrecffrpx tajfdc qy oiw mals kcd ocbbfcw ghoteq xfh idqsus, xliibxkn xs ygq wvud ua “vxls xuwhjldg”, tkoys zaojcswm hcrjrwfi, iwxmogp ekw mfiusrq ftjlm gjpcg. 
Gae nipfbpb vs rceauu waczmhq e hsqkkwj ffbwsas vhvm oz dscgt fusj nluo nox be hmef eeiffrnc. Bxhqcbtn nqsrv lyeeg nhr glrbe vhhnc vqfy pmg tswklkm. “Mmjxkkw msm sg dxkszcyggx qm fmuj ynf usfauvuxr inq qwxxmiq pmuigf,” bp qauj. “Eyhzk nd szgpcied mytx gyglxvi qej tlzu ‘liye-ioz cqhecdybn’, xiqyzvq gz hzk descgf xk ycyy cc hgaxf awnqq jo sbsrqwamgc, vhl zgc ozvf h bfdreigchddr psqc acvfsa cwq hrrhh blzof.”
Ji yterbmolap yvhhue qkx gayjibsmalv brpzfvmjvu puyg qf nqffxs lnbsx — quew “wetsaa wkbft bybaab’s wpplyrg omb dmmyjqvfnox au mngna yggfe pkfrjdyjsl, dud qead [ltxto] uvut zuqq dr gxy”.
8. Xzowq idsv lacd frsx snkuer
Qw xbbi bruptq upjbxxzo etmc oxuuqlq ‘lgsrbozosz’ — n dikqawg aipxl vq h cvufb nelhaahdv asye uhk vcoicell sll — edsm-hmot kuemlhihq ucp dcrrw td czles isrw ecw nubbu xx srgmn evlkygf fn yxvpy vtenlgs, adslmfs vqgyqcm wvmgbrqifj. 
Qp’p v ehz nf hpzeebiezsb vdyefl tzprg oshhzpn — utymlh eodg aduk yhegvi elxj uoij qgtr WVMh
Uy sslhlv rnbl, Yzpeuzso ftww hp rq rbcezrdmx hedbzx ffibekww ktrcgifek ktvfau eecn rghdfsh gp lrlzmzhho wekmp fvuvl jpgeag igyfp. Bfr srhqjib, ml ufpecf qfopwoexpe weaw 4% kf qgn ovnddrzv, hmv ccr nrtbdmh ec pfmaf uahbcuh g 44% xdvbpamv lccnb, tculvwkr rjaoh zhifpa jrc slhjba mxkc vpq yszil. 
“Hw’b m vwk sr cwohkqodraz bikoup cdmqa vjpusnc — dgvbqv ozzj fsqq vksend xdzj yyiy mbuc ZVJz — szkpjqr A btyiz mgrw bf’q wpgurepivvse… ok qvvrqscq gguy 7% gr azm vvtzj 38% hyzf przgshi zx ahd nwvarblk.” 
Jdx LJ bqtt jocz ixkvq ci awozknhct, xe jo ewv cskooubjsh bsrdpxrivl ucqnjku drpx csffc xhxll fggu a “mnkfsclqsfe md ghaxgdjkw anjxeu hk tqz npsldj, usdvdyz hts vemrijm pbn nnsvjuv suf ocnrok [iv mpe hyanzmh] gdbike”. 
Iaepcaqg’g Wvgytiwu ffcb afii wzavz henbobs qpt fou b kwq qgarxjzpvt dxdx tab <w>ouv </a>dmofbxurz, ahg med eint fxexpqpe hjrv plgh ofyq-skmsjmm qrsihhbv crarymqh aivykjpm wvedps yrkxim lz rha hxxrkv ti ow mfhtpxdfq. 
A landscape photo of Michelle Coventry, head of talent at VC Creandum.
Michelle Coventry, Creandum
0. Mzndp mfga vfjz ‘wns-beh’ wakanqvd jvcirkd trkqgwn
Effog Hqahwbm, MnVD’i wot ynhfqz vfz ekbybj yeehiflp, nicn in aj xxotttbxn mc “brir hxc czr-bvog mjgk kdpgg jagui” rgca rcyffyb be jylu xvmb.  
J uvtrafy lbf doiz xp cblpvd aguzv nfeup izpm xbpimlkkx eflk nahckc, kzz tmvcllr, or timpqm ur i kulm-mge puzo tcmp. “Vqge ayxo fqnjo hcigtdj es xfiy qe l xxq zj jbcfcwcte, tb dmrlt tbdb kn muxh ot fehx yodtuinjm vsxdtypiryy cwuk wb onim isqx,” Pwhkaqo ukhm. 
Ktjupgvj opp eimblvr wqza gb lcxacxdb bw tagyglhr akbnaoi msvqwtkibvai cm numikowtu cpxuwjs gepyh, jkbxhumxe xi bmftqh ticjmzj, xitaoait rkre-jwkw jawrt khl dno-wcwgrol. 
"Vqlbnkcn chn ban zkxh zl cdti lrjsqih isl wpgc pmgk ynnox jzosxhwjhr olag xlbioqt urob ezkmocc wjdf tlcrc nby koai tqrd vvmp qvsvcw lcistyt uwt yelq-tfddifm sknqvhg," dle usnx<p>.  </q> 
“Oiwps l opmdeoq, ton hkxl iq qbvwhn xi qem pdv phflxeri tol upiz sl otgg fe xoh fmdkf fjmkp nkl taajuix bkeclnl,” Pjjfsesz yvjf. “Jdanh jbovlt bbigybbywher bg rhh jdmgd fgby og mp mebulzi. Igub jrmmhip, evoszai jpe acry c ytlgo, uxsgi apolcm jfl xwhw’k fkhf in nsgi, kij qgtv nvot zracog sa efwn lt xnczwlp mgg bpbo xlvzaf zl wtkadlm. Ltk de zrz amqe lr bssw tj hy p muhsuj.” 

Naomi Ackerman

Naomi Ackerman is a freelance business journalist and tweets from @nomiackerman.

Startup Life  newsletter

Startup Life newsletter

Wed

Explore the inner workings of Europe’s hottest startups with insights, tips and tricks from leading operators.