Israeli AI Startup Bria AI Lays Off a Third of Staff Amid Strategic Shift
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israeli AI startup Bria AI has laid off about 20 employees, one-third of its staff, as it pivots its strategy to focus on specialized marketing content creation. The company is moving away from a general AI model to a platform called "Bria Create." This strategic shift led to the layoffs and executive changes. Bria AI has raised $65 million to date and assures stable operations despite the workforce reduction, which mirrors broader layoffs in the Israeli tech industry.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Bria AI laid off 20 of 60 employees, a 33% workforce reduction, due to a strategic shift.
- The company is now focusing on specialized marketing content creation with its "Bria Create" platform.
- VP of Research Ron Mokadi and VP of Business Amit Goldenberg have departed or changed roles.
- Bria AI has raised approximately $65 million since its founding in 2020.
- The layoffs reflect a wider trend of cutbacks in the Israeli high-tech industry.
Israeli AI startup Bria AI has laid off approximately 20 of its 60 employees, a significant reduction of one-third of its workforce. The company, founded in 2020, is shifting its strategic focus from a general AI model for image creation to specialized tools for marketing and advertising content for professional use.
This strategic pivot has rendered parts of its research teams, particularly those located overseas, redundant. The company's previous internal AI model, FIBO, designed for broad image generation, will be abandoned in favor of the new, more targeted approach. Alongside the layoffs, the company also saw changes in its executive ranks, with the VP of Research, Ron Mokadi, departing and the VP of Business, Amit Goldenberg, transitioning to an external advisory role.
Bria AI, co-founded by CEO Yair Adato and CTO Misha Feinstein, has developed a platform enabling organizations to generate and edit AI-based visual assets, with a strong emphasis on copyright, regulation, and commercial ethics. Its clients span the retail, advertising, media, and gaming industries.
Since its inception, Bria AI has raised approximately $65 million, including a $40 million round in March 2025, from investors such as Red Dot Capital, Entree Capital, Intel Capital, Getty Images, and Publicis.
In response to the changes, Bria AI stated that the adjustments support a focused strategy around its "Bria Create" platform for enterprise marketing content. The company affirmed it is providing assistance to affected employees and maintains a stable financial runway for continued operations, ensuring uninterrupted service to clients and partners. These layoffs occur amidst a broader trend of cutbacks in the Israeli tech sector, with NICE also announcing around 500 global layoffs recently.
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Other 2
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.