California space station startup Vast cuts jobs after $500 million funding round as crypto billionaire Jed McCaleb’s company races to replace ISS

What this means for your job search: A large funding round or ambitious vision doesn't guarantee job security, so thoroughly research a company's recent hiring trends and financial stability beyond headlines. During interviews, ask about current team growth and how your role directly supports immediate business priorities, not just future moonshots. SpaceX-linked California startup Vast has cut 46 employees, or about 4% of its workforce, months after raising $500 million. The layoffs at Vast comes at a time when crypto billionaire Jed McCaleb’s company races to launch Haven-1 and develop a commercial replacement for the International Space Station. Vast's long-term plans sound like something pulled from science fiction like Elon Musk's Space-X.