Following the news surrounding the Docler Holding/Byborg layoffs in Luxembourg, an anonymous employee contacted RTL Today to tell their side of the story.

A story of overexpansion and hard cuts

Docler Holding, the Luxembourg-based tech and adult entertainment conglomerate, is facing its most turbulent period yet. While the company publicly frames its recent wave of layoffs as a move towards efficiency and automation through artificial intelligence, internal communications tell a more sobering story: overambitious expansion, underperforming acquisitions, and growing financial strain.

An empire built too fast

In recent years, Docler Holding aggressively expanded its portfolio, acquiring full or partial stakes in several adult platforms including LoyalFans, Cherry[dot]tv, Spankbang, Kinkly, Kiiroo, FeelMe, IsLive, and even one of the most expensive domains on the internet sex[dot]com valued at $14 million at one point. The latter reportedly required hiring a team of people to perform extensive clean-up efforts to remove millions of non-consensual or unlicenced videos.

The company didn’t stop there. In 2024, it invested in AI-generated adult content, developing in-house platforms like bimbim[dot]ai and jasmin[dot]ai, and purchasing a major competitor cuties[dot]ai. These services offer users AI-generated explicit interactions, simulating relationships with digital personas for a fee.

In a bold move last November, Docler Holding acquired a 20% stake in PLBY Group, owner of the iconic Playboy brand, committing to an annual $20 million payout over the next 15 years. At the same time, the company distributed more than $150 million in dividends.

Internally, employees reported a near-monthly stream of acquisition announcements: Gamma Entertainment in January, Cuties[dot]ai in March, the remainder of LoyalFans in April, and a notable CFO change in February.

To support its ballooning operations, Docler Holding ramped up hiring across its global offices, particularly in Luxembourg and Budapest. But the financial return failed to match the growth.

The fallout begins

With investments underperforming, Docler Holding is now shifting gears, from expansion to damage control. Layoffs began three weeks ago in Budapest in a dramatic and highly criticised fashion. Employees were summoned to the office and split into two groups, each directed into separate auditoriums. One group was informed they would remain with the company; the other was told their roles had been terminated. Reports from inside the Budapest office suggest as many as 80% of staff were laid off.

In Luxembourg, the company has formally notified both government authorities and staff representatives about a collective redundancy plan. Negotiations are currently underway on a social plan to support affected employees.

A critical turning point

What was once seen as an ambitious juggernaut in the online entertainment and tech sectors is now undergoing a painful reckoning. While Docler Holding continues to promote its moves to AI and operational efficiency in public statements, the reality behind closed doors is one of financial recalibration, and for hundreds of employees, sudden job loss.

Whether the company can stabilise after this wave of cuts remains to be seen. For now, the story of Docler Holding serves as a stark reminder that rapid growth, when untethered from sustainable strategy, can come at a very human cost.

This article was written by a Docler Holding employee based in Luxembourg, who wishes to remain anonymous.