diff --git a/demos/freelance-escrow/README.md b/demos/freelance-escrow/README.md
index a2c5998..a497a89 100644
--- a/demos/freelance-escrow/README.md
+++ b/demos/freelance-escrow/README.md
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ simulation. You'll need testnet XLM in your Freighter wallet to post the bond;
 get some from [Friendbot](https://friendbot.stellar.org/) if you're testing
 with a fresh address.
 
+The app starts with an empty job list. Every job it shows is one created
+through the "Post a job" form, so there is no seeded or mock content anywhere.
+
 ## What maps to what
 
 | App action | Tholos call |
@@ -82,5 +85,5 @@ src/
   components/
     JobCard.tsx, MilestoneRow.tsx, PostJobForm.tsx, WalletButton.tsx, RoleSwitcher.tsx
   data/
-    jobs.ts      Seed jobs and the Job/Milestone types
+    jobs.ts      Job/Milestone types
 ```
diff --git a/demos/freelance-escrow/src/App.css b/demos/freelance-escrow/src/App.css
index 07d01ca..42de050 100644
--- a/demos/freelance-escrow/src/App.css
+++ b/demos/freelance-escrow/src/App.css
@@ -130,6 +130,14 @@
   gap: var(--space-4);
 }
 
+.job-list-empty {
+  margin: 0;
+  padding: var(--space-5);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
+  border: 1px dashed var(--border);
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+}
+
 .job-card {
   border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
   padding: var(--space-5);
diff --git a/demos/freelance-escrow/src/App.tsx b/demos/freelance-escrow/src/App.tsx
index 503970b..4a93fdf 100644
--- a/demos/freelance-escrow/src/App.tsx
+++ b/demos/freelance-escrow/src/App.tsx
@@ -34,9 +34,11 @@ function AppShell() {
         {showPostJob && <PostJobForm onDone={() => setShowPostJob(false)} />}
 
         <div className="job-list">
-          {jobs.map((job) => (
-            <JobCard key={job.id} job={job} />
-          ))}
+          {jobs.length === 0 ? (
+            <p className="job-list-empty">No jobs yet. Post the first one to get started.</p>
+          ) : (
+            jobs.map((job) => <JobCard key={job.id} job={job} />)
+          )}
         </div>
       </main>
     </div>
diff --git a/demos/freelance-escrow/src/data/jobs.ts b/demos/freelance-escrow/src/data/jobs.ts
index 7818610..4ed4ef0 100644
--- a/demos/freelance-escrow/src/data/jobs.ts
+++ b/demos/freelance-escrow/src/data/jobs.ts
@@ -39,81 +39,3 @@ export interface Job {
   token: string;
   milestones: Milestone[];
 }
-
-export const jobs: Job[] = [
-  {
-    id: "job-1",
-    title: "Landing page redesign",
-    description:
-      "Redesign the marketing site landing page: new hero, pricing table, and mobile layout.",
-    client: "Nova Analytics",
-    freelancer: "Priya Chen",
-    token: "USDC",
-    milestones: [
-      {
-        id: "job-1-m1",
-        title: "Wireframes and content outline",
-        amount: "250",
-        status: "in_progress",
-      },
-      {
-        id: "job-1-m2",
-        title: "Hero and pricing section build",
-        amount: "600",
-        status: "in_progress",
-      },
-      {
-        id: "job-1-m3",
-        title: "Mobile layout and QA pass",
-        amount: "400",
-        status: "in_progress",
-      },
-    ],
-  },
-  {
-    id: "job-2",
-    title: "Onboarding email sequence",
-    description:
-      "Write and implement a 5-part onboarding email sequence in the existing ESP template.",
-    client: "Fernbank Studio",
-    freelancer: "Diego Ramirez",
-    token: "USDC",
-    milestones: [
-      {
-        id: "job-2-m1",
-        title: "Copy draft for all 5 emails",
-        amount: "300",
-        status: "in_progress",
-      },
-      {
-        id: "job-2-m2",
-        title: "ESP implementation and send test",
-        amount: "200",
-        status: "in_progress",
-      },
-    ],
-  },
-  {
-    id: "job-3",
-    title: "API rate-limit middleware",
-    description:
-      "Add a configurable rate-limit middleware to the existing Node API gateway, with tests.",
-    client: "Harrow Logistics",
-    freelancer: "Amara Okafor",
-    token: "USDC",
-    milestones: [
-      {
-        id: "job-3-m1",
-        title: "Middleware implementation",
-        amount: "500",
-        status: "in_progress",
-      },
-      {
-        id: "job-3-m2",
-        title: "Load test and tuning",
-        amount: "350",
-        status: "in_progress",
-      },
-    ],
-  },
-];
diff --git a/demos/freelance-escrow/src/state/JobsContext.tsx b/demos/freelance-escrow/src/state/JobsContext.tsx
index 5605523..ea302f4 100644
--- a/demos/freelance-escrow/src/state/JobsContext.tsx
+++ b/demos/freelance-escrow/src/state/JobsContext.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {
   type ReactNode,
   type SetStateAction,
 } from "react";
-import { jobs as seedJobs, type Job, type Milestone, type MilestoneStatus } from "../data/jobs";
+import type { Job, Milestone, MilestoneStatus } from "../data/jobs";
 import { JobsContext, type JobsContextValue, type NewJobInput } from "./jobs-context";
 import type { Assertion } from "../lib/tholos";
 import { detectWallet } from "../lib/wallet";
@@ -63,13 +63,13 @@ function loadJobsFromStorage(): Job[] {
   try {
     const stored = window.localStorage.getItem(JOBS_STORAGE_KEY);
     if (stored === null) {
-      return seedJobs;
+      return [];
     }
 
     const parsed: unknown = JSON.parse(stored);
-    return Array.isArray(parsed) ? parsed.filter(isJob) : seedJobs;
+    return Array.isArray(parsed) ? parsed.filter(isJob) : [];
   } catch {
-    return seedJobs;
+    return [];
   }
 }