Tech Worker Turns Layoff into Entrepreneurial Success Story

As of August 2025, the tech industry has seen a wave of layoffs and hiring slowdowns, making it increasingly difficult for some workers to retain and find jobs. One such worker is Eduardo Noriega, a senior software engineer who spent over a decade at Microsoft's Redmond, Washington headquarters.

In May 2025, Noriega learned that his role at Microsoft was being cut, a decision the company made as part of a broader effort to reduce management layers and streamline processes. However, Noriega was prepared for this eventuality. Concerned about job security during the Great Recession, he had decided years ago to build a side business as a backup plan.

Over the past decade, Noriega poured significant time and energy into developing his business, NTSprint, a staffing firm that helps Latin American software engineers access remote jobs in the US and Canada. In the year leading up to his layoff, he was working on the business for four hours every weeknight and up to eight hours on weekends. By the time Microsoft let him go, Noriega was actually earning more from NTSprint than his Microsoft role.

While the layoff was likely difficult for most employees, for Noriega, it provided the push he needed to focus on his entrepreneurial venture full-time. He hasn't looked for another job since, and considers the layoff a blessing in disguise. Noriega believes that diversifying one's income streams, whether through freelancing, consulting, or building a business, can help blunt the impact of job loss in the current economic climate.