The hottest Substack posts right now

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25 Things I've Learned In 25

Spilled Coffee • 44 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
💼 Business Customer Service Productivity Work Life Leadership Investing Entrepreneurship Personal Finance
  1. Prioritize time and relationships over possessions. Spend money to buy time, create experiences, and celebrate loved ones while you still can.
  2. Invest with discipline and block the noise: have a watchlist, cut losses quickly, let winners run, and favor low-cost indexing if you can’t consistently outperform. Avoid loud social media opinions and fear-driven decisions.
  3. Act now and enjoy life instead of waiting for perfect timing: call people, ask questions, help others, and build small surprises and rituals that create lasting joy.

What Matters Most For Startup Growth? From VP of Growth at Facebook | 37% Of First-time VCs Might Not Able To Raise A Second Fund | VC Remote Jobs

Venture Curator • 199 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
💼 Business Investment Trends Venture Capital VC Funding Startup Growth
  1. For startup growth, focusing on retention is key. Many founders neglect retention in favor of customer acquisition, leading to business failure.
  2. Before pursuing growth tactics, startups should aim for product-market fit. Prioritize retention over growth hacking when the retention curve fails to flatten.
  3. Identifying the 'magic moment' for users, emphasizing tactics for virality, and aligning with the CEO as the north star for growth are essential strategies for sustained growth.

Creating a Laboratory for Work 🧪

Game of One • 216 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💼 Business Workplace culture Innovation Education Entrepreneurship Career development
  1. Reframe work as a series of experiments rather than a predetermined job trajectory
  2. There are three common narratives of success: early commitment, late bloomer, and mastery through uncertainty and career changes
  3. Experimentation with work is crucial, but modern work structures often make it difficult to explore new opportunities

The Real Cost of Knowledge Worker Attrition

Gad’s Newsletter • 44 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
💼 Business Organizational Strategy Operations Talent Management Human Resources Knowledge Management Productivity Innovation
  1. The true cost of losing knowledge workers is much larger than just hiring and training expenses; firms also pay in lost productivity, broken team coordination, ruined institutional knowledge, weakened innovation, and extra contingency spending.
  2. Turnover in knowledge-intensive roles (like software engineers) can disrupt projects, reduce quality and innovation, harm customer relationships, and often costs on the order of a full year’s salary or more.
  3. Not all turnover is bad: losing top performers is very costly while losing weak performers can help, so companies should optimize retention by protecting high-value employees and not reflexively holding on to marginal ones.
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Economic Errors

David Friedman’s Substack • 655 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
💰 Finance Investment Economics Trade Wealth Tariffs
  1. Wealth isn't just cash; it can be land, stocks, or buildings. A person's gain in wealth doesn't mean someone else has to lose money.
  2. When countries trade, it’s not just about wages. The value of currencies affects trade costs, and tariffs can disrupt these complex economic balances.
  3. People often hold on to incorrect economic beliefs because they sound easier or support their self-image. Understanding the real logic behind economics can be complicated but helps us see the true picture.

Thinking Harder About Justice: Rawls vs. Cohen vs. Marx (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 758 implied HN points • 08 Jan 23
📖 Philosophy Socialism Inequality Justice Marxism Political Philosophy
  1. Marxist philosopher G.A. Cohen criticizes John Rawls's theory of justice from the left
  2. Cohen's idea of 'socialist equality of opportunity' aims to correct inequalities linked to factors beyond an individual's control
  3. Rawls and Cohen may be in a semantic dispute about the term 'justice', but both their perspectives are important in highlighting existing injustices and guiding future progress

Venture in Public Markets

Parth's Playground • 51 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
💼 Business Startups Public Companies Market Analysis Finance Investing
  1. Investing in both early-stage and mature public companies involves similar processes. Both require assessing key milestones, or 'card flips', that can significantly change a business's trajectory.
  2. There's a gap in funding for medium-term investments. Most capital is either short-term focused or tied up in long-term index funds, leaving opportunities for those willing to invest in companies making meaningful changes over 18 months to 4 years.
  3. Investing in public companies is different from private investments. It allows for more patient buying, but it also requires managing the temptation to react to market fluctuations constantly.

Is Aging Behind Japan’s Drop in Consumer Spending?

Japan Economy Watch • 339 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
💰 Finance Aging Income Savings Healthcare Consumer spending
  1. Aging is not the main reason for Japan's declining consumption, which is partly due to a decrease in the number of people and stagnant or falling income.
  2. Spending per capita dropped 1.3% from 2012 to 2022 despite an increase in GDP, indicating a complex mix of factors contributing to the decline.
  3. Economies of scale play a significant role in the spending habits of seniors, who end up spending about 7% more per person compared to younger households.

Don't Cancel Zizek (UNLOCKED)

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 738 implied HN points • 15 Jan 23
📖 Philosophy Thought Debate Ethics Criticism Ideology
  1. The distinction between 'analytic' and 'continental' philosophy, with analytic focused on clarity and precision, while continental is more diverse and broader in scope.
  2. Slavoj Žižek's work blends insights from various fields like Lacanian psychology, Hegelian idealism, and Marxist materialism, making him a unique and thought-provoking thinker.
  3. Critics of Žižek often take his provocative statements out of context, leading to misunderstandings of his views, but his work remains engaging and intellectually stimulating.

How to Push Back on High Quotes or Pricing

Nail It and Scale It • 59 implied HN points • 13 Jun 24
💼 Business Sales Marketing Pricing Negotiation Consulting
  1. There are different pricing models like Cost Based Pricing, Value Based Pricing, and Competitive Pricing. Each has its own approach, and knowing these can help you negotiate better.
  2. When facing a high quote, compare it with multiple offers to push back effectively. This gives you leverage and helps you find a fair price.
  3. Being clear about what you're willing to pay and understanding the value of the service can help you have better negotiations without getting stuck on high quotes.

Staking Ethereum and Safe Wallets

DeFi Education • 659 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🔮 Crypto Security DeFi Blockchain Wallets Staking
  1. Using hardware wallets like Trezor is recommended for better security. Metamask is also a good software wallet, but be cautious with privacy.
  2. Solo staking is the best option if you have the technical skills and resources. It offers full control and rewards, but requires a lot of maintenance.
  3. If you prefer not to manage everything yourself, consider pooled staking services like Rocket Pool. They can simplify the process but come with some extra risks.

✅ AI in PR shifts from experimentation to implementation

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 08 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Public Relations Data Management
  1. AI is becoming a key part of public relations, moving beyond trials to real use in daily tasks. This means teams are now figuring out how to best integrate AI tools into their work.
  2. AI offers significant benefits, like increased efficiency and productivity, but it requires a clear approach to adopt and adapt it effectively. Breaking down workflows is essential to understand where AI can help.
  3. The impact of AI on public relations is both a technology and a culture issue, meaning it's important for everyone in a team to learn and work together to make the most of these tools.

Import AI 343: Humanlike AI; LLaMa 2 protests; the NSA's new AI center

Import AI • 439 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Security AI Generative models Robotics Data
  1. Google DeepMind and 33 labs created a large dataset for training robots, showing that using heterogeneous data and high-capacity models improves robot performance.
  2. Protests have begun against Facebook for releasing AI models that can be easily modified, raising concerns about AI safety becoming a political issue.
  3. Generative image models are displaying human-like qualities in tasks, like shape bias and understanding perceptual illusions, suggesting a convergence between AI systems and humans.

AI news roundup: You see what you want to see

The AI Frontier • 79 implied HN points • 23 May 24
🕹 Technology Consumer Tech AI Innovation Product Development Market Trends Enterprise Tech
  1. Recent AI updates have sparked excitement and frustration; everyone interprets them differently, like a Rorschach test.
  2. The improvements in AI tech are impressive, particularly in multimodality, but their impact varies between consumer and enterprise applications.
  3. The AI market is growing rapidly, with hype increasing and many companies looking to innovate, but there are still big questions about the future and how to stay competitive.

The bull case for AI startups

The AI Frontier • 59 implied HN points • 13 Jun 24
🕹 Technology AI Startups Innovation Product Development Market Trends Enterprise
  1. AI startups have a lot of room for innovation, even with big companies investing heavily in AI. There are still many opportunities for new ideas and products.
  2. Startups can take more risks and try out unusual ideas that bigger companies might avoid due to reputation concerns. This freedom can lead to exciting new products.
  3. While big companies have access to a lot of data and resources, startups can be more flexible and connect data from various sources. This can give them an advantage in creating better solutions for customers.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 523

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 339 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Software Development Data science Machine Learning Data Analysis
  1. Data science is evolving quickly, and it's important to stay updated with new advances and tools. Courses and reading lists can help you catch up and enhance your skills.
  2. Using machine learning to solve real-world problems, like correctly attributing quotes, shows the practical applications of data science. Collaboration between universities and organizations can lead to innovative solutions.
  3. The job market for data scientists is challenging right now. Many applicants are competing for limited positions, so if you're looking for a job, patience is key.

Why build when you could buy?

Kenny’s Sub • 159 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
💼 Business Investment Entrepreneurship Market research Startups E-commerce
  1. Buying a business takes time and patience. It's important to understand that finding the right one isn't quick and you might go through many options before finding the right fit.
  2. Having clear criteria for what you're looking to buy is crucial. It's better to focus on specific areas that interest you rather than being too broad in your search.
  3. Expect to sift through a lot of possibilities. The process can be frustrating, but staying logical and not letting emotions lead your decisions will help you find the right business.

Issue #116

Infra Weekly Newsletter • 4 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
🕹 Technology DevOps Cloud Privacy Infrastructure Operating Systems Security
  1. Openclaw is a must-see demo that hints at a revolutionary capability, but it also raises serious security and safety concerns that need urgent attention.
  2. Trying to build services "Made in EU" is harder than it sounds because app distribution and common logins still tie you to US platforms, but there are many affordable EU hosters, auth and mail providers and de-Googled options like Sailfish OS that help keep data in Europe and support technical sovereignty.
  3. NixOS offers strong reproducibility, atomic updates and rollbacks for infrastructure, so creating Kubernetes inside VMs with imperative tools like kubeadm can undercut that declarative approach; using Nix to manage clusters is educational but the tooling choices matter for true reproducibility.

6 founders sharing their mistakes & tips going from 0-1

Startup Business Tips 🚀 • 56 implied HN points • 23 Nov 25
💼 Business Product Strategy Hiring Growth SaaS Startups Marketing Sales
  1. Focus on one clear, painful problem and validate it with real paying customers before you scale. Do regular discovery, prioritize their feedback, and keep iterating until you reach product–market fit.
  2. Own and double down on reliable go-to-market channels instead of depending on rented platforms; build community, integrations, referrals, and launch often. Start manually (onboarding, outreach) to learn what works, then scale the proven plays.
  3. Hire and structure the team smartly and keep product craftsmanship disciplined: bring in senior people early, avoid premature VP titles, be ruthless about hires, and pay down tech debt. Keep onboarding and pricing simple so customers don’t get overwhelmed.

One Regulator

Points And Figures • 719 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
💰 Finance Market structure Bureaucracy Regulation Innovation Cryptocurrency
  1. The financial market regulation in the U.S. is complicated and outdated, with many agencies like the SEC and CFTC often conflicting with each other. This can lead to innovation being stifled.
  2. There are concerns that some regulators, like Gary Gensler, may be overly controlling and negatively impact innovative companies, especially in the emerging cryptocurrency space.
  3. Many believe that simplifying the regulatory structure to have one main regulator could boost competition and innovation, but achieving this change seems very challenging.

Harmony, melody, and coding with AI

Sunday Letters • 39 implied HN points • 07 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Engineering Software Programming AI Innovation
  1. We are experiencing a shift in programming that changes how we interact with code and AI. Just like moving from desktop to cloud, this new way will come with challenges and need new thinking.
  2. Combining traditional coding with AI models is important. It's like writing music where the code provides a solid structure, while AI adds creativity and flexibility.
  3. To succeed in this new environment, programmers should keep learning and adapting, using both past knowledge and new technologies carefully together.

The One and a Half Gemini

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1657 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Digital Transformation Machine Learning Innovation APIs AI
  1. Gemini 1.5 introduces a breakthrough in long-context understanding by processing up to 1 million tokens, which means improved performance and longer context windows for AI models.
  2. The use of mixture-of-experts architecture in Gemini 1.5, alongside Transformer models, contributes to its overall enhanced performance, potentially giving Google an edge over competitors like GPT-4.
  3. Gemini 1.5 offers opportunities for new and improved applications, such as translation of low-resource languages like Kalamang, providing high-quality translations and enabling various innovative use cases.

🗳 Rider’s Choice Awards Are Back

The Micromobility Newsletter • 412 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
💼 Business Micromobility Electric Vehicles
  1. The Rider's Choice Awards are back for the second edition with more categories and companies eligible for voting.
  2. The Electric Rider Alliance is launched to unite the small electric vehicle community through global partnerships and standards improvement.
  3. Ebike incentives database now features nearly 400 rebates globally to assist in buying an ebike and save money.

From Average To Exceptional: 5 Skills To Help You Become The Data Expert Everyone Wants To Work With

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 494 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
💼 Business Team Collaboration Communication Data science Analytics Career development
  1. Always focus on the real problem behind a request, not just what is being asked. This helps you deliver better solutions that actually meet the business needs.
  2. Using clear frameworks can help organize your thoughts and make complex investigations easier. A structured approach leads to clearer communication and better results.
  3. Keep your communication simple and focused on what matters to your stakeholders. This helps everyone stay on the same page and reduces confusion.

Lessons From Ed Thorp’s Interview With Tim Ferriss

moontower: a stoner dad explains options trading to his kids • 216 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
💰 Finance Personal Development Investing Society Wealth
  1. Long-term investors should consider buying and holding equities, especially in the US, as they tend to outperform most other forms of investing.
  2. Minimize risks in investments to avoid significant losses that could take you out of the game altogether.
  3. Encourage independent thinking and questioning of information, rather than blindly following popular opinion, for better decision-making and personal growth.

The age of the sovereign creator

Substack • 1289 implied HN points • 23 May 24
💼 Business Media Digital marketing Technology Entrepreneurship Economics
  1. The rise of independent creators is changing how we think about online content. Unlike before, creators can now build direct relationships with their audiences and earn money without relying on advertising.
  2. Aggregation theory explains how big platforms control the flow of information and can limit creators. However, new models like Substack empower creators by giving them ownership of their content and audience.
  3. The future will likely see more creators moving away from traditional platforms. They'll use these big platforms for exposure while focusing on their own channels, where they can maintain control and earn more.

No More Sandwiches

DeFi Education • 779 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🔮 Crypto DeFi Finance Blockchain Trading Smart Contracts
  1. MEV, or Maximum Extractable Value, allows bots to profit by reordering transactions on the Ethereum network. This means they can buy what you want to buy before you, and then sell it back to you at a higher price.
  2. Sandwich attacks are when these bots place their transactions around yours, making them 'sandwich' your transaction and causing you to pay more. They monitor your trade and act quickly to exploit pricing changes.
  3. To protect yourself from these attacks, use decentralized exchanges (DEX) that have RFQ technology or aggregators. They help you get the best price without being targeted by these bots.

You can't teach someone to swim when they're drowning

Resilient Cyber • 119 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Data Protection Cybersecurity Software Engineering Software Development
  1. It's important to build software with security in mind from the start, rather than trying to add it in later. This 'Secure-by-Design' approach can prevent many issues down the line.
  2. Software suppliers should take responsibility for the security of their products, as their decisions affect a lot of users. Customers shouldn't always have to 'patch and fix' flawed products themselves.
  3. The rapid growth of known software vulnerabilities is overwhelming for organizations. Instead of just telling them to fix everything quickly, we should push for better, more secure products from the beginning.

Final Look at Housing Markets in October and a Look Ahead to November Sales

CalculatedRisk Newsletter • 52 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
💰 Finance Sales Data Market Analysis Housing Market Real Estate
  1. Home sales are about 24% lower than pre-pandemic levels, showing a significant slowdown. This means people are buying fewer homes than before the pandemic started.
  2. The number of homes available for sale is increasing, which might lead to price drops in some areas later. More listings and higher inventory could mean better deals for buyers.
  3. Next month's sales might be steady due to lower mortgage rates, but comparisons to last year will be tricky because sales were already low. It's a mixed bag for the housing market ahead.

FDE Should Mean Forward Deployed Executive

Tippets by Taps • 12 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
💼 Business Product Strategy Partnerships Customer success Sales Leadership
  1. Customers will pay to embed experienced leaders into their organizations to lead AI and data strategy, not just to buy software.
  2. Being embedded as a leader turns you into an extension of the customer, revealing real constraints and feeding those insights back into your product and roadmap to build more value and trust.
  3. Reframe the FDE role from a scrappy implementer to a forward-deployed executive whose judgment and experience drive decisions, which changes hiring, pricing, and the kinds of customer relationships you pursue.

Did Wages Really Rise The Fastest In 28 Years?

Japan Economy Watch • 439 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
💰 Finance Consumer spending Economic Theory Inflation Wages
  1. Wages per hour, not per month, need to be examined to truly understand wage growth
  2. The data showing nominal wages growth doesn't necessarily reflect a true increase in pay, as it may be influenced by other factors like scheduled hours of work
  3. The focus on nominal wages by the Bank of Japan is aimed at achieving a specific inflation target, which may not fully account for the real impact on consumers

Enterprise Generative AI Unfolded

Gradient Flow • 439 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Applications AI Development Tools Enterprise
  1. Mastering Model Development & Optimization is crucial for building efficient and powerful Generative AI and Large Language Models. Scaling to large datasets, applying model compression strategies, and efficient model training are key aspects.
  2. Customizability & Fine-tuning are essential to adapt pre-existing LLMs to specific business needs. Techniques like fine-tuning and in-context learning help tailor LLMs for unique use cases, such as adjusting speech synthesis models for customized experiences.
  3. Investing in Operational Tooling & Infrastructure, including robust model hosting, orchestration, and maintenance tools, is vital for efficient and real-time deployment of AI systems in enterprises. Tools for logging, tracking, and enhancing LLM outputs ensure quality control and ongoing improvements.

Silicon Valley's Cargo Culting Problem - Wearing A Black Turtleneck Doesn’t Make You Steve Jobs | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 239 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
💼 Business Market Trends Innovation Entrepreneurship Venture Capital Startups
  1. Cargo Culting is the act of copying something without really understanding the reasons behind it, which can be harmful for startups
  2. Successful companies like Google, Facebook, and Uber were pioneers not just because of their actions, but because they deeply understood their strategy and market
  3. Founders should prioritize user needs over superficial details and learn valuable insights from successful companies rather than blindly following trends