Patreon is cutting 20% of its workforce, affecting 93 employees, as part of what chief executive Jack Conte described as a painful restructuring. The company says its main business remains strong, but argues that major changes in the creator economy require lower costs and a flatter organisation to protect its long-term stability.

Affected staff will receive at least 16 weeks’ severance. Patreon plans to focus teams on improving creator and fan experiences and helping creators grow, while Conte said artificial intelligence was influencing product development and communications but was not replacing dismissed employees. The move is Patreon’s largest reduction since 2022, when it cut about 80 jobs, or 17% of staff; its podcasters generated $629 million in revenue last year, up 33%.