Day: August 28, 2025

• Burning Man has long been popular among a subsection of Silicon Valley. Those who stay behind describe a quiet week.
• Bay Area residents told Business Insider that there was less traffic and reservations were easier to score.
• “The cortisol levels are low this week,” said one Silicon Valley leader, who told Business Insider he makes fewer calls.

When Valerie Bertele went to The Battery for a creative writing event on Tuesday, not many people showed up. The member’s club is a hot spot for tech leaders — the same crowd that often travels over 300 miles northeast to Black Rock City for the annual Burning Man.

“There were less than 10 people,” said Bertele, a VC at Yellow Rocks Capital. “The organizers were saying that we didn’t get any signups because everyone looks to be at Burning Man.”

Among Silicon Valley’s upper class, many consider Burning Man an industry ritual. Elon Musk and the Google cofounders are frequent attendees. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the festival showed him what post-AGI life could look like.

This year, even with dust storms and shaky finances, Burning Man appears to have drawn out many of Silicon Valley’s leaders. Those left on the ground in the Bay Area said they’ve found quieter highways, easier dinner reservations, and a bounty of out-of-office emails.

For many, life in the fast-paced Silicon Valley slows down a bit.

Vijay Chattha has fewer calls this week. He runs communications firm VSC and its investment arm, VSC Ventures. He said he can always tell when someone is at Burning Man. Anytime a “decision-maker” is gone around the festival dates — so, a founder or CEO — they’re probably at the Playa, he said.

“A lot of the people that go, at least in tech, are in their regular weeks probably quite intense people,” Chattha said. “The cortisol levels are low this week.”

There are some added perks to having fewer techies in the city. Chattha said it’s easier to get a restaurant reservation. Driving into San Francisco from Marin, he noticed less traffic.

Alison Berman also noticed fewer cars on the road. She’s spent the last 10 years hopping around Silicon Valley, mostly working in climate tech. She’s not a fan of Burning Man and its carbon footprint, despite its “leave no trace” mantra. Still, most of Berman’s friends are there now.

“It’s kind of a ghost town over Burning Man, where founders clear out, investors clear out,” Berman said. “You notice it immediately in the decrease in traffic, which is great for the commute, but also you get a lot of out-of-office replies.”

She said it’s one of two major events that push many in Silicon Valley offline: Burning Man and Christmas.

For founders looking to raise capital, Burning Man is often considered an off period. Ron Wiener runs startup accelerator Venture Mechanics. His advice to the accelerator’s founders: Be ready for Labor Day, when everyone comes back.

“I’m ordinarily emailing VCs continuously and trying to get speakers for events or judges,” he said. “I’ve been fundraising for 41 years. I know this time of year is dead.”

Burning Man also coincides with a common time to take a summer vacation, and with college move-ins for parents. Wiener said it creates the perfect storm for a “super dead” week.

This year, though, may be less dead than others. While ticket sales are up, the festival has not sold out, as it did each year from 2011 to 2023. At its peak, Burning Man hosted 78,850 attendees; this year, a spokesperson told Business Insider it expected 70,000.

OLarry founder and CEO Eric Rachmel said that there’s always a “certain amount of slowdown” — but that the period would be much quieter some five years back.

“Maybe it’s because I’m in my late 30s, and my crew of venture folks I know have young children,” Rachmel said. “You often find folks that are in their mid- to late-twenties and early thirties go,” before circling back to the festival “once their children are a little more grown.”

Bertele also saw the changing popularity in past years, when layoffs and economic turbulence rocked the city. But San Francisco has grown recently, she said. She keeps hearing people complain that it’s “impossible to rent anything” in the city.

Indeed, San Francisco real estate has sprung back to life after a multi-year haze, thanks in part to Big Tech RTO mandates. Average rent was up 6.4% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025.

“Lots of people came to San Francisco for the AI boom, and they’re ready to spend money to go networking at Burning Man this year, too,” Bertele said.

Bertele has attended Burning Man before. She wanted to go this year, but her brother couldn’t get a visa. Now, as the city partially empties out, she’s getting FOMO.

Chattha has also seen the FOMO. In his group chat with VCs and founders, one friend was drinking wine in Greece, while another was dealing with the “disaster zone” of a Burning Man setup walloped by dust storms.

It was the wine-sipper — not the Burner — who was jealous.

Robin Westman, 23, was identified by police as the suspect behind the shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis on Wednesday that left two children dead and 17 others injured.

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Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Westman had opened fire at the Annunciation Catholic School from the outside, shooting through the windows of the affiliated church. The victims were attending a morning Mass when Westman began firing.

Westman was later found dead with a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound behind the church.

While an investigation is underway, preliminary details paint Westman as someone with an inclination towards violence, mainly through videos linked to them which were scheduled for publishing on YouTube. Officials have taken the videos down and are reviewing them to determine possible motives for the shooting.

FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X that the agency is investigating the shooting as “an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics.”

Here’s what we know so far about Westman.    

Once a student of the school

According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Westman was one of three children of Mary Grace and James Allen Westman, who divorced in 2013 after 25 years of marriage. A since-deleted Facebook post from August 2021 said Mary Grace was retiring as a parish secretary of the church, with the post thanking her for her “wonderful hospitality, friendship and compassion.”

Westman attended the Annunciation Catholic School and graduated from eighth grade in 2017. The Star Tribune and CNN reported that in the school’s 2017 yearbook, Westman quoted French EDM band Daft Punk: “Work it. Make it. Do it. Makes us. Harder. Better. Faster. Stronger.” 

The yearbook also indicated that Westman intended to attend Powell Leadership Academy in Minneapolis, one of many schools operated by Minnesota Transitions Charter School. An official from Minnesota Transitions Charter School confirmed to the Star Tribune that Westman attended one of its schools briefly before transferring to the all-boys school, Saint Thomas Academy, in Twin Cities suburb Mendota Heights.

Related to a former lawmaker in another state

Former Kentucky state representative Bob Heleringer told the Associated Press that he is Westman’s uncle, though he claimed he “barely knew” Westman.

“They [Westman’s family] never lived in Louisville. They lived in Minnesota,“ Heleringer said in a phone interview with the AP. “He was my nephew, and I wish he had shot me instead of innocent schoolchildren.”

Had no prior criminal history

Minneapolis Police Chief O’Hara said Westman had no prior criminal history.

A search of Westman’s birth name in state court records showed some traffic citations in September 2021.

Worked at a cannabis dispensary

The Star Tribune also reported that Westman was an employee at Rise medical cannabis dispensaries. Westman’s co-worker, speaking to the Star Tribune, said the suspect worked as a personal care specialist interacting with patients in Minnesota’s medical cannabis program. Westman reportedly stopped working at an Eagan dispensary on Aug. 16 and had been previously disciplined for tardiness and absenteeism.

A spokesperson for Green Thumb Industries, the parent company, confirmed Westman’s employment for a few months earlier this year, though the suspect left the firm before the shooting. The firm told the Star Tribune it will cooperate with the investigation.

Appeared to have meticulously planned the attack

Westman’s attack appeared to have been calculated and premeditated, as backed by YouTube videos released on the day of the incident.

The videos, now taken down, appeared on a channel under “Robin W.” One video, which ran for more than 10 minutes, included a handwritten “manifesto” addressed to family and friends. In the video, the unseen cameraperson says, “I’m sorry to my family … that’s the only people I’m sorry to.” The clip also pans to an image of Jesus on a target.

Another video, which ran for almost 20 minutes, showed two notebooks with handwritten texts that also appear to be Cyrillic. Near the end of the video, the unseen cameraperson flips the notebook to a page containing a diagram of the church and stabs the diagram with a knife.

The New York Post transcribed parts of the journal. One page reportedly reads: “I am feeling good about Annunciation. It seems like a good combo of easy attack form and devastating tragedy and I want to do more research. I have concerns about finding a large enough group. I want to avoid any parents, but pre and post school drop off.”

Another page reportedly reads: “Maybe I could attack an event at the on-site church … think attacking a large group of kids coming in from recess is my best plan. … Then from there I can go inside and kill, going for as long as I can.”

O’Hara, in a press conference, confirmed that Westman “recently” purchased their guns—a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol—legally. The Star Tribune reported that a passage in the notebooks referenced how “shockingly easy” it was to buy a gun from a pawnshop.

Identified by federal officials as a transgender woman

Federal officials have identified Westman as transgender.

Westman was born as “Robert Paul Westman” on June 17, 2002, according to court documents TIME reviewed. Westman’s mother applied for their name to be changed to “Robin M Westman” in 2019 in Dakota County, and a court granted the change in 2020. According to the court document, Westman, a minor at the time, “identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification.”

But a translation of part of Westman’s notebooks by the New York Post’s Diana Nerozzi offered a more complicated view of Westman’s sexual and gender identity: “I don’t want to dress girly all the time but I guess sometimes I really like it. I know I am not a woman but I definitely don’t feel like a man.”

Condemnation of transgender identity has been on the rise under President Trump, and many conservative and far-right personalities have latched onto Westman’s transgender identity as a springboard for more attacks. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R, Ga.) posted on X, “If they are willing to destroy themselves and how God made them then they are willing to destroy others and we saw that happen today.” Right-wing influencer and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer went as far as suggesting that “parents need to start coming together to advocate for trans kids to not be allowed to attend classes in public schools.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, however, quickly pushed back against any attempts to use the shooting as a means to demonize the transgender community, saying anyone who is doing so has “lost their sense of common humanity.”

Exhibited a fascination for mass shooters

The videos also hinted at Westman’s fascination with mass shooters. In one, the unseen cameraperson showed guns and weapons on a mattress with the names of at least 10 mass killers, including but not limited to the Sandy Hook shooter from 2012; the shooter at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018; and the mosque shooter in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019.

Also seen in the videos was a sticker of German band KMFDM, which has been cited by perpetrators of previous mass shootings, including the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, though the band has repeatedly emphasized that it stands against violence.

Claimed to have links with a pro-gun Youtuber

In the 10-minute video, the person narrating claimed that they had met pro-gun YouTube personality and Texas congressional candidate Brandon Herrera last year at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas. The narrator said they had a “brief conversation” with Herrera. “Brandon Herrera for President,” they added.

After the shooting, Herrera denounced links to the shooter, posting on X: “I will not, nor will I ever say the name of the gutless coward who decided to take the lives of innocent people in Minneapolis today. My heart goes out to the family of those affected, but to the shooter, I have one thing to say in response. F-ck you. Burn in hell.”

In a separate post, Herrera added: “I don’t remember this individual at all, nor does anyone I was there with.” Herrera said that he was willing to cooperate with law enforcement and answer any questions.

A spokesperson for NSSF, which owns and operates SHOT Show, told Fox News that Westman’s name has not appeared among any of the show’s registered attendees last year or any of the years before.

Held a mishmash of views

The videos also alluded to a mishmash of views Westman appeared to have held.

In the 10-minute video, the camera panned over what appeared to be guns, ammunition, and loaded magazines. Words were inscribed on the magazines, including “Where is your God?,” “Kill Donald Trump,” and “For the Children.” Some of the inscriptions appeared to be in Cyrillic.

Clips that focused on Westman’s apparent arsenal not only included names of mass shooters but also showed phrases that had antisemitic undertones. A smoke grenade had the words “Jew Gas” written on it and the pro-Holocaust slogan “6 million wasn’t enough.” 

Another notebook displayed a “Defend Equality” sign with an LGBTQ flag.

In an interview with local network KSTP-TV, Josefina Sanchez, a classmate of Westman in the seventh grade, said that a younger Westman would put up a hand and say, “Praise Hitler.”

Threats to kill Trump also appeared a few times on Westman’s gear. Trump, in a Truth Social post, said the White House will “continue to monitor” the situation.

‘I don’t expect forgiveness’

Westman’s four-page “manifesto” posted on YouTube begins with: “I don’t expect forgiveness and I don’t expect any apology I have to hold much weight, but to my family and those close to me, I do apologize for the effects my actions will have on your lives.”

Further along in the manifesto, Westman wrote: “I have wanted this for so long. I am not well. I am not right. I am a sad person, haunted by these thoughts that do not go away. I know this is wrong, but I can’t seem to stop myself. I am severely depressed and have been suicidal for years. Only recently have I lost all hope and decided to perform my final action against this world.”

• Maureen Wiley Clough worked her way up the career ladder of the tech industry before leaving at 40.
• She said ageism in tech is prevalent, with older workers often seen as less capable or relevant.
• She now hosts a podcast about workplace ageism, highlighting issues faced by older workers.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Maureen Wiley Clough, a 42-year-old former Big Tech employee who lives in Seattle. She’s also the creator and host of “It Gets Late Early,” a podcast about ageism in the workplace. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

The thing about getting older is that you see it happening around you, but somehow you never believe it’ll happen to you specifically.

It’s a real shock when it actually starts to matter — especially at work.

Being called a “dino” by a coworker got me thinking about the issue of ageism more seriously, and led me to consider whether I should stay in tech.

I left the television industry for tech

I started my career in television after graduating from Tufts University with a bachelor’s degree in English. I only spent a few years working in TV. It wasn’t just the well-known age bias against women that drove me out; it was also the volatility of the industry, the lack of upward mobility, and the constant reinvention required to stay afloat.

I was ready for something more stable, less overwhelming, and more lucrative.

Tech seemed like the obvious choice to a young person without a real path in mind. It was innovative, well-funded, culturally relevant, and cool.

I wasn’t a STEM major or a coder, but I had the communication, relationship-building, and people chops. I figured they’d need someone like me with an English degree to round out their team — and for a while, they did.

I worked my way through several SaaS startups and eventually got pulled into a well-known Big Tech company via acquisition. After starting out in sales, I shifted into business development. I was delivering results and moving up the career ladder.

A coworker jokingly called me a “dino” — and I realized he wasn’t completely wrong

At age 37, I had a moment that hit differently.

I was Slacking with a younger colleague and mentioned I didn’t know how to add a GIF. He replied, “You dino.” He meant it as a joke, but as I let it land, I realized he wasn’t entirely wrong.

Most of my peers were in their 20s and early 30s. Unless you were VP-level or higher, the over-40 crowd was mostly missing. And it wasn’t just a startup thing — it was true even in Big Tech.

When I asked colleagues about it, most people shrugged. “Yeah, it’s kind of a thing,” they said. The “up or out” model — where if you haven’t hit a certain level by your late 30s, you’re seen as stalled or lackluster — was accepted as an inconvenient truth.

There’s an assumption that if you’re still in a midlevel or individual contributor role past a certain age, it must be because you weren’t good enough to move up — not because you wanted to stay close to the real work or because you had other priorities in life. Just, Welp. I guess you couldn’t hack it.

I tried to stay relevant, but couldn’t get ahead

Over time, I found myself worrying that people would see less potential in me with each passing year, even as I gained confidence and created more value at work.

I felt pressure to stay “relevant,” not just by keeping my skills sharp and knowing the jargon, but by managing my image at work super carefully. I dyed my hair, wore more trendy clothes, and put on makeup to try to fit the “right” image — which was, of course, looking youthful. I tried to avoid talking about my kids and went by “Mo” instead of “Maureen.”

Even after I did all that, I didn’t see many women like me getting ahead. As I neared 40, I felt the window of opportunity narrowing. I was at the top of my game and only getting better, but the next rung of the ladder stayed frustratingly out of reach.

I realized the industry I once admired wasn’t built for people like me

I left the tech industry three years after the “dino” incident, at 40 years old.

It wasn’t a dramatic exit; as is true for so many, my departure was due to a layoff by a startup. But it came with clarity: This industry I once admired wasn’t built for people like me. And I finally accepted I couldn’t change that from the inside.

Eventually, I had to ask myself: Do I really want to spend my next decades proving I still belong in an industry that doesn’t seem to want me?

My answer was no.

People often say tech is a young person’s game. I used to shrug that thought off or see it as an exaggeration. I don’t anymore. There were other cracks in the system too, including the casual sexism of being asked to take notes in meetings, the pressure to prove I could still “hang” at the bar post-baby, and being penalized for taking time off. It all added up.

I don’t want to suggest to people over 40 in tech that they’re doing anything wrong; it just felt like the right move for me. I didn’t want to spend my 40s pretending to be 29, just so I could stay in the room.

Ageism is everywhere

Ageism is probably the last socially acceptable form of bias in the workplace and society at large. It shows up everywhere — in who gets promoted and who gets hired.

The stereotypes about older tech workers are rampant: They can’t innovate, they’re slow, and they’re rigid. But in my opinion, we’re just harder to control. We have experience and usually some financial stability. We have enough experience to spot toxic nonsense and not put up with it.

People who have a lot of experience are often deemed “overqualified” or considered a flight risk as they appear to be close to retirement, despite the fact that older workers have longer tenures on average than younger workers do. Sometimes you’ll even see it in situations such as not being able to submit an application with a pull-down menu that doesn’t offer graduation dates before 1990.

The feeling of being pushed out is a large part of what prompted me to do what I’m doing now — focusing on these issues in my podcast. Shining a light on what’s happening can lead to change that will benefit all current and aspiring “older workers.”

Do you have a story to share about being an older employee? Contact this editor, Jane Zhang, at janezhang@businessinsider.com.