Bench’s sudden exit

leaving businesses stranded

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What we’ll cover today:

💼 Bench’s shutdown chaos and what it means for businesses

📈 The biotech stocks poised to break out in 2025

🤝 Payroll platforms betting big on earned wage access trends

Bench, a popular online accounting platform, has unexpectedly shut down, leaving thousands of businesses stranded without access to financial records.

🚨 Breaking News:
Bench's sudden closure has blindsided businesses, cutting off access to essential tax and accounting documents just before year-end deadlines.

⚡ Wire Simplified:

  • Bench offered online accounting services for small businesses.

  • The company abruptly shut down, impacting thousands of users.

  • Businesses lost access to financial records, sparking panic.

  • No clear explanation from Bench on the closure yet.

  • Accountants are scrambling to help affected businesses recover documents.

✔️ Straight to the Point:
Bench's closure is a harsh reminder to always back up important financial data elsewhere. Will this push businesses towards more reliable solutions?

🎤 Did you expect an online accounting giant like Bench to go under this suddenly?

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Payroll platforms are stepping up! Major players are expanding into earned wage access (EWA) through acquisitions and new developments.

🚨 Breaking News:
Payroll providers are betting big on earned wage access, giving employees early access to wages via acquisitions and tech upgrades.

⚡ Wire Simplified:

✔️ Straight to the Point:
Earned wage access is reshaping payroll, but will it solve financial struggles or just add more complexities for employees?

🎤 Would you use earned wage access if offered?

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❝

1/8 I’m very sad today to see that @Bench has shut down.

I’ve avoided speaking publicly about Bench since just over 3 years ago when I was fired from the company I co-founded. I still don’t have a lot of appetite to talk about it tbh, but think at least a short statement is appropriate.

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🧵 Read this thread for the full Bench Story from it’s Co-founder Ian

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8/8 I hope the story of Bench goes on to become a warning for VCs that think they can “upgrade” a company by replacing the founder. It never works.

❝

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