The app crash + HR burnout: a 2025 survival guide

It’s Wednesday!

The 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 list just dropped, spotlighting 600 young innovators redefining everything from AI to entertainment. Backed by $3.6 billion in funding and millions of fans, this year’s class proves that youth is the ultimate superpower.

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Is the app gold rush over?

James Cuda, the CEO of Procreate, thinks so. “The gold rush is kind of over,” he says, and for aspiring app founders, the reality check is real: the days of VCs throwing money at shiny new apps are gone. But that doesn’t mean the door is closed—it just means you’ll need a bold strategy to break through.

The new app economy…

A decade ago, app development was a goldmine, with VCs funding anything with a download button. Today? AI has taken over the hype cycle, snagging over a third of VC deals this year, while apps have been pushed to the sidelines.

Still, Cuda says there’s room for “incredible” apps—but only if they’re groundbreaking. His advice? Skip the trends. “If you follow trends, you’re already competing with dominant players,” he says. Instead, do something wildly different, even if it feels risky.

Lessons from Uber: Cuda points to Uber as the ultimate example of bold innovation. “The idea of getting into a stranger’s car sounded absurd at the time,” he says. Yet Uber’s gutsy approach reshaped transportation and became a $10 billion-a-quarter company. If your app idea doesn’t feel a little crazy, Cuda suggests, it might not be bold enough.

Ignore the trends: Even Procreate, a top-tier app for digital artists, practices what it preaches. While generative AI is dominating the tech world, Cuda chose not to jump on the bandwagon, keeping Procreate focused on its core strengths. “Doing something truly unique will always win,” he says.

The takeaway: Building a game-changing app in 2024 isn’t easy—but it’s not impossible. Forget the trends, take a risk, and focus on what makes your idea radically different. The gold rush may be over, but the opportunity to redefine the game is just getting started.

Top updates…

💻 Amazon’s AI assistant gets smarter: Q now pulls in data from QuickSight and connects with apps like Zoom and Asana, aiming to stand out in the crowded chatbot market.

🧑‍💼 OpenAI nabs Coinbase CMO: Kate Rouch joins OpenAI as its first marketing chief, adding to a streak of high-profile hires this year.

🚗 Musk’s $100B Tesla pay blocked: A judge shut down Elon Musk’s attempt to revive his historic Tesla pay deal. An appeal is likely.

📉 Fidelity marks up X—but it’s still down: Elon Musk’s X (Twitter) is up 32% in value but remains 72% lower than its 2022 peak.

🎧 Spotify Wrapped goes AI: This year’s Wrapped includes a podcast narrated by AI, giving you a personalized recap of your music tastes.

📅 Superhuman adds smart scheduling: The email app now lets users share meeting slots and hinted at a standalone calendar app in the works.

🗞️ Alexa eyes news deals: Amazon wants publishers to power real-time news queries for its revamped Alexa, rolling out next year.

🛠️ AWS unveils new AI tech: Amazon dropped its Nova models and Trainium chips, plus news of a massive AI-focused supercomputer.

⚡️ Meta bets on nuclear: Meta’s hunting for partners to develop reactors to power AI data centers with clean energy by the 2030s.

💡 OpenAI considers chatbot ads: OpenAI might add ads to ChatGPT—cue debate over how this could reshape AI’s role.

👋 Founders Fund shake-up: Brian Singerman steps back after 16 years, becoming partner emeritus to focus on work-life balance.

2024 was brutal for HR—but here's why 2025 could be better

HR pros had a rough year. Between layoffs, return-to-office drama, and skyrocketing burnout, many found themselves stretched thin. A whopping 45% of HR workers said they took on extra duties without a promotion or pay raise.

What went wrong?

The numbers tell a bleak story:

• 46% of HR pros took on new tasks for career growth.

• 35% said it was because their teams didn’t scale with demand.

• 24% said their teams were downsized.

“It’s not a personal flaw,” said Laura Mazzullo, founder of East Side Staffing. “It’s really a market indicator.” She called 2024 one of the toughest years for HR, alongside 2008 and 2020.

Why was this year so hard?

The downturn hit faster than expected. After years of growth in 2021–2023, HR teams suddenly faced hiring freezes, budget cuts, and shrinking teams.

The aftermath? Overworked HR pros picking up the slack for unfilled positions. One survey respondent summed it up: “Our HR director left, and it took six-plus months to find a replacement. We had to pick up everything she would have done.”

What’s next?

Here’s the silver lining: downturns don’t last forever. Mazzullo advises HR pros to stay patient and focused.

“This is just a result of the market,” she said. “As soon as the market is back, I will be needed. I know what I’m doing.”

2025 might not solve all of HR’s problems, but it’s a fresh start—and a chance for the profession to rebound stronger than ever.

FOUNDER NOTES

Today’s top founder & startup reads.

What to wear to Silicon Valley’s holiday parties: Wristlets, mocs, embellished jackets—meet the season’s wardrobe saviors (The Information)

GenAI: Lightricks CEO Zeev Farbman on genAI investment (Axios)

HR: Charitable giving in the workplace is back–and just in time (Forbes)