They're not getting laid off by a startup now they're getting laid off by Google. They likely get a severance. In CA at least if they're laying off a significant portion it's cosidered a plant closing which should give everyone about 6 months severance.
Is there a point of working for a startup if there's no financial upside, only the downside?
Not being in the US, I'm curious if people getting laid-off from funded startups get severance packages.