Censorship Hits Apps; Job Market Cuts 3 Internships

Founders face intense, multi-faceted external pressures spanning regulatory action, economic contraction, and shifting professional expectations. Regulatory censorship struck digital services as Apple removed Blued, China’s top gay dating app, following a directive from the Cyberspace Administration of China, mirroring the earlier removal of Grindr 1. Simultaneously, operational execution remains high-stakes; Blue Origin scrubbed its second New Glenn launch attempt due to weather/equipment issues, rescheduling for November 12 to carry NASA’s ESCAPADE spacecraft 3. Building on this pressure, the hiring market is hardening against new entrants. An unemployed Computer Science graduate reported a “white collar recession,” linking job scarcity to rising interest rates and the end of cheap capital, impacting graduates despite three internships 4. In contrast, venture firm Slow Ventures hosted an “Etiquette Finishing School” for 50 accepted founders to teach decorum, arguing tech is no longer “playful and cute” 2. This divergence highlights that while macroeconomics reward specialized skills 4, VCs are prioritizing soft skills 2, forcing founders to navigate both technical execution and perceived professional polish in a tighter environment.