Impinj lays off 23, cuts expenses

Impinj, the Seattle maker of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, has laid off 23 employees, reduced its contract workers, and is making unspecified cuts in spending in response to the economic downturn. Impinj spokesman Jim Donaldson said the cuts were "in response to the deteriorating global economic conditions." He called them "preemptive actions to insure our strong cash position continues and our business plan remains fully-funded."

The layoffs occured last Thursday. Ten of the laid off employees were in Seattle, and the rest were scattered in Asia, Europe and other U.S. locations, Donaldson said. He did not say how many contract workers were affected, but said some contracts had been reduced over the last few weeks. He did not have Impinj's current total headcount.

Impinj laid off six staff last summer after the company acquired Intel's RFID operation.

Heavily funded Impinj has raised more than $110 million an investor group that includes Arch Venture Partners, Madrona Venture Group, and Samsung Ventures America. The company raised $14 million early last year.

Impinj was founded in 2000 by Chris Diorio and Carver Mead. 

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