要么接受996，要么拿赔偿走人，Windsurf遗留员工被下最后通牒

Core Insights - Cognition has offered a buyout proposal to approximately 200 employees from the recently acquired competitor Windsurf, requiring a decision by August 10, with options for a severance package equivalent to nine months' salary or adapting to a high-intensity work environment of over 80 hours per week [2][3] - The acquisition of Windsurf follows a failed negotiation with OpenAI for a $3 billion deal, leading to significant turnover in Windsurf's leadership, with key personnel moving to Google DeepMind [2][4] - Cognition's acquisition has significantly increased its workforce from 39 to over 200 employees, enhancing its revenue scale as Windsurf had an annual recurring revenue of approximately $82 million at the time of acquisition [6][4] Company Dynamics - Cognition's CEO Scott Wu emphasized a culture that does not prioritize work-life balance, stating that working 80 hours a week is the norm and that employees are expected to commit fully to the company's mission [3][4] - Following the acquisition, Cognition has initiated layoffs, having already cut about 30 Windsurf employees, indicating a potential trend of instability for remaining staff [3][4] Financial Implications - The acquisition has positioned Cognition for a new funding round aiming to raise over $300 million, which could elevate its valuation to $10 billion, a significant increase from its previous valuation of $4 billion [6][7] - The financial terms of the acquisition remain unclear, particularly regarding the value of the stock compensation for Windsurf employees, as the acquisition price was significantly lower than the $2.4 billion paid by Google for technology licensing [6][4] Industry Context - The situation reflects a broader trend in the tech industry where employees of startups face increased risks following acquisitions, particularly when core teams leave, leading to uncertainty in company direction and potential layoffs [9][8] - Similar cases in the industry highlight the precarious nature of employment for startup employees post-acquisition, as seen with other companies like Meta and Character.AI [9][8]