Glitch said it had to’significantly cut operating costs’ due to market conditions. The company confirmed that it had been forced to cut costs.

At least 18 people were laid off, according to two former employees who asked to remain anonymous. Glitch had about 50 employees before the layoffs, sources said.

Glitch CEO Anil Dash tweeted that the layoffs came as a result of being a’small company in a fiercely competitive space in a tough economy’.

We had layoffs at glitch this week. We are small company in a fiercely competitive space in a tough economy. But these good people have done immensely valuable work.

Glitch launched in 2017 under what was then known as fog creek software. The platform has a quirky look and emphasizes its ease of use.

The service has been completely free to use nearly all of the past three years. It was n’t until one month ago that glitch launched a subscription service, offering users the ability to pay $ 10 per month for expanded capabilities.

In March, glitch employees voted to form a union under the Communications Workers of America. Glitch agreed to voluntary recognize the Union, but the union had not yet negotiated a contract with the company.