By Gloria Ogbonna
Bolt CEO Ryan Breslow sparked widespread discussion after revealing that he eliminated the company’s entire human resources department during a major restructuring effort, arguing that the team had become more of a burden than a benefit to the fast-growing fintech startup.
Speaking during a conference hosted by Fortune magazine in Atlanta on Tuesday, the 32-year-old entrepreneur openly discussed his decision to cut the HR division as part of broader layoffs and organizational changes aimed at reviving productivity within the company.
“I got rid of our HR team,” Breslow told the audience during the event. He added that the “problems disappeared when I let them go,” suggesting that many of the internal conflicts and inefficiencies within the company were tied to the department’s operations.
The comments quickly drew attention online, especially as debates continue across the tech industry about workplace culture, productivity, remote work, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in modern business operations.
Bolt, a fintech company known for its online payment and checkout technology, significantly reduced its workforce earlier this year. According to reports, the company cut approximately 30 percent of its employees in April after Breslow claimed that productivity across the organization had declined sharply.
During his remarks, Breslow said he believed the company had developed a workplace culture that encouraged complaints rather than execution and innovation.
“We need a group of people who are very oriented around getting things done,” he explained. “And there is just a culture of not getting things done and complaining a lot.”
The CEO argued that a growing sense of entitlement had spread throughout the company over time, creating an environment where some employees felt empowered without contributing enough meaningful work.
“There was a sense of entitlement that had festered across the company,” Breslow stated. “People who felt empowered, felt entitled — but weren’t actually working hard.”
According to Breslow, reversing that culture became one of his biggest priorities after returning to a more active leadership role within the company. He said many employees who contributed to what he viewed as a negative work environment ultimately had to be dismissed.
“And this is the number one thing that I had to battle,” he said. “Ultimately, most of those people just had to be let go.”
As part of Bolt’s restructuring, Breslow reportedly informed remaining staff members that the company plans to rely more heavily on Artificial Intelligence and automation moving forward.
Instead of maintaining a traditional HR department, Bolt has now created a smaller “people operations” team focused primarily on onboarding new hires, training employees, and handling basic administrative support.
Breslow acknowledged that HR professionals can provide valuable support in large corporations or during periods of stability, but argued that startups operating in highly competitive environments often require a different structure and mindset.
“We’re back in startup mode again,” he explained. “Those HR professionals have really important insights when you’re in peacetime and when you’re at a larger company.”
The downsizing has dramatically reduced Bolt’s workforce. According to reports, the company now employs roughly 100 workers, a much smaller staff than it previously maintained during periods of rapid expansion.
Despite the cuts, Breslow insisted the leaner workforce has improved the company’s overall performance and energy.
“We have a team a quarter of the size, who are much more junior, who work a lot harder, who have better energy,” he said during the conference.
The CEO also claimed that customers have already noticed improvements in service and responsiveness following the restructuring.
“Our customers are telling us, ‘We haven’t had this type of attention in four years,’” Breslow stated.
His remarks have sparked mixed reactions online and within the business community. Some entrepreneurs and startup founders praised his focus on efficiency and accountability, arguing that many tech companies became bloated during years of easy investment funding and rapid hiring.
Others, however, criticized the comments as dismissive toward HR professionals and warned that eliminating human resources departments could create serious workplace risks, including employee disputes, compliance issues, and weakened organizational support systems.
The controversy comes at a time when many technology companies are aggressively restructuring operations, reducing staff, and increasing investments in AI tools in an effort to cut costs and improve productivity amid economic uncertainty and shifting investor expectations.
Breslow’s blunt comments have now added fuel to the growing debate over how modern companies should balance workplace culture, employee well-being, automation, and performance in an increasingly competitive business landscape.
Source Breitbart
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