The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
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How to mess up a good company and not make any money along the way

SaaS Engineering • 137 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
💰 Finance Venture Capital Investing Financing Business Operations
  1. Investing early in a successful company may not guarantee returns if mispricing and over financing occur.
  2. Selling secondary shares at various funding rounds can lead to a more secure return than waiting for a long-term exit.
  3. Maintaining a conservative financing trajectory can lead to attractive outcomes, even if less exciting than high-risk strategies.

Could Decision Trees Help With GenAI?

Bojan’s Newsletter • 137 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI ML GenAI
  1. Decision Trees are known for being accurate and robust in tabular data modeling.
  2. Generative AI systems can sometimes create inaccurate content, especially in domains where accuracy is crucial.
  3. Using tree-based ML models could potentially address issues of hallucination in Generative AI.

How AI makes English a programming language

Mythical AI • 137 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Programming AI Code generation Software AI Tools
  1. AI is making it easier for people to program by allowing them to describe tasks in English and having the computer figure out the code.
  2. Computers need precise instructions and struggle with understanding context, making programming challenging.
  3. Programmers are rare, expensive, and building software is costly, but AI is helping automate coding, making programmers more productive.

Genre Grapevine Presents Even More Examples of Deceptive Language Around Machine Learning

Genre Grapevine • 137 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Algorithms AI
  1. Deceptive language is used in discussions around machine learning, like calling machine learning 'artificial intelligence' when it's really algorithms crafted from data samples.
  2. Some authors exaggerate the use of AI, like claiming to have written and sold a large number of books when the reality is quite different upon closer inspection.
  3. Manipulative language is often used to promote machine learning systems, such as claiming a machine learning system is a 'poet' when in reality humans select the best output from thousands of generated pieces.

Thinking About AI and the Business of News

Second Rough Draft • 137 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
💼 Business Innovation Journalism AI Technology Legislation
  1. It's important for news organizations to ensure they have the right talent to understand and implement AI technology.
  2. News organizations should have a forward-thinking mindset to adapt to technological changes and not resist innovation.
  3. Legal considerations surrounding AI, such as copyrightability and licensing agreements, will play a crucial role in shaping the future of news publishing.
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I Sold a Software Business for $20,000 on Acquire.com. Here’s What I Learned.

Michael’s Newsletter • 137 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Startups Company Valuation Partnerships Due Diligence
  1. Properly value a company by considering its IP and assets beyond just revenue multiples.
  2. Explore partnership opportunities that could lead to more value than a simple acquisition.
  3. Perform thorough due diligence before buying a company to have a clear growth plan in place.

The Unbundling of Twitter

ceonyc • 137 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Platforms Social media Networking Engagement
  1. Consider the shift towards posting on platforms that are more specialized for specific topics or verticals.
  2. Analyzing the engagement on different social media platforms can provide insights on audience relevance and interaction.
  3. Reflect on how the trend of unbundling services, like seen with Craigslist, could impact the microblogging and newsfeed landscape.

Stumbling in the Dark

Register Spill • 137 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Frameworks Programming SwiftUI
  1. Trying new languages, platforms, frameworks, and IDEs can be challenging but also refreshing as it allows for learning by doing without prior knowledge.
  2. Struggling with unfamiliar tools and technologies is common in programming, and it's okay to rely on resources like error messages, search engines, and autocomplete features.
  3. Feeling lost and stumbling in the dark while coding can be frustrating, but it can also lead to illuminating realizations about preferred learning styles and the value of having some prior knowledge.

Anatomy of Market Failure II: Pareto-Relevant Externality

Knowledge Problem • 137 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
💼 Business Efficiency Economics Market failure Externalities Policy Implications
  1. Internalizing externalities through taxes or subsidies can improve efficiency and welfare.
  2. Pareto-relevant externalities are those that impact the outcome; not all externalities need to be internalized.
  3. Individual values and costs are subjective, and internalizing externalities may not always create additional welfare.

The Business Case for Understanding Generation Alpha

Musings Of A Wandering Mind • 137 implied HN points • 20 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Generational Trends Spatial Computing Virtual reality Augmented reality Metaverse
  1. Generation Alpha, born between 2010 and 2024, will be the largest generation and shape the future.
  2. They will have advanced technological skills by age 8 and influence the metaverse and spatial computing.
  3. Understanding Generation Alpha is crucial for businesses to adapt to their preferences and values.

GM Shaders Guest: Gaming Engineer

GM Shaders Mini Tuts • 137 implied HN points • 18 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Shaders Gaming Graphics Game Development 3D Modeling
  1. Noah Pauw discusses creating advanced 3D graphics in GameMaker using shaders for real-time lighting and PBR materials.
  2. Game Maker is favored by Noah despite advice to switch to Unity or Unreal for photorealistic 3D games.
  3. Noah shares insights on using Blender for 3D modeling, creating lighting shaders, implementing PBR materials, and drawing 3D environments in Game Maker.

Currency Arbitrage for Real Estate in Argentina

BowTiedMara - Geoarbitrage & Mobility Assets • 137 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
💰 Finance Real Estate Currency Exchange Investments
  1. Currency arbitrage can be utilized when buying real estate in Argentina through payment plans in USD or pesos.
  2. Investing in new construction projects in Argentina requires due diligence on the construction company's track record and the payment structures, such as Fideicomiso or SA/SRL.
  3. Non-residents can access payment plans for real estate in Argentina, leading to opportunities for profitable investments and potential currency arbitrage.

[TI-06] people and computers

spencer's paradoxes • 137 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Computing Internet Software Web Innovation
  1. The show Halt and Catch Fire explores the history of personal computers and the early days of the World Wide Web.
  2. Computing can be a tool for creating human connection and meaningful interactions on the internet.
  3. Focusing on creating a computing environment that encourages collaboration, creativity, and shared experiences can lead to a more positive online space.

Best of SatPost (First Half of 2025)

SatPost by Trung Phan • 79 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
💼 Business Marketing Retail Economics Entrepreneurship Finance
  1. Din Tai Fung restaurants make a lot of money, averaging $28 million per location. They stand out in casual dining because their food, especially the famous soup dumplings, is both popular and made with careful craftsmanship.
  2. Eli Lilly has been outperforming Novo Nordisk in the weight loss drug market with its GLP-1 medications. Strategic moves, like better manufacturing planning and new sales channels, have helped it gain market share.
  3. Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx, had an interesting journey to success, including a risky move to win at blackjack to save his company early on. His story highlights the challenges and determination involved in building a major business.

Not all BOM's are Created Equal

Resilient Cyber • 119 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Open Source Compliance Software Cybersecurity Supply Chain
  1. Not all software bills of materials (SBOMs) are the same, and they are important for software supply chain security. They help provide transparency about the components within software.
  2. The BOM Maturity Model can help evaluate how complete and useful a BOM is. It measures difficulty in obtaining data and assesses how well the BOM meets certain standards.
  3. As the industry works towards better SBOMs, tools and resources like the OWASP guides are crucial. They aim to improve understanding and detail in software management, similar to standards in food or pharmaceuticals.

A typology of the social media feed

12challenges • 514 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Social media Design AI
  1. Social media feeds have evolved towards a TikTok model, focusing on varied content over personal connections.
  2. The design aspects like full-screen, infinite scroll, and autoplay play a significant role in the success of the social media feed model.
  3. Analyzing the evolution of social media through a typology can help understand past shifts and predict future trends, like the influence of AI.

How Chowdeck plans to succeed where Jumia Food failed — Part one

Afridigest • 55 implied HN points • 13 Aug 25
💼 Business Market Analysis Investment Food Delivery Startups E-commerce
  1. Chowdeck, a Nigerian food delivery service, is growing fast and has already raised $9 million, a big deal for food delivery in Africa. They focus on local foods that people eat every day, which keeps customers coming back.
  2. Jumia Food struggled because it had high costs and did not adapt its logistics to the food delivery market well. Chowdeck learned from these mistakes and set up systems better suited for food delivery.
  3. Chowdeck benefits from improved technology and infrastructure, like high smartphone usage and digital payments, which help them succeed where others failed. This makes it easier for them to operate efficiently.

Standards Body Considers Uncloaking Secret Encryption Algorithms

Zero Day • 672 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Security Encryption Standards Algorithms
  1. European standards body may make new encryption algorithms public due to backlash over secrecy.
  2. Previously kept secret algorithms had major flaws, prompting consideration for greater transparency.
  3. Independent researchers found vulnerabilities, including intentional backdoors, in old encryption algorithms in use for over 25 years.

What is EBITDA?

Concepts of Finance 🧠 • 299 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
💰 Finance Corporate Finance Investment Analysis Financial Metrics Cash Flow
  1. EBITDA stands for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation. It's a way to see how much cash a company makes from its regular activities, without debt and accounting effects.
  2. To calculate EBITDA, you add net income, taxes, interest, depreciation, and amortisation. This helps give a clearer picture of a company's financial health.
  3. Companies like EBITDA because it shows how well they're doing without the impact of financing and other expenses. It's a key metric when looking at profits or selling the business.

Using Fine-Tuning To Imbed Hidden Messages In Language Models

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 19 implied HN points • 10 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Software Development AI NLP Machine Learning Language Models
  1. You can hide secret messages in language models by fine-tuning them with specific trigger phrases. Only the right phrase will reveal the hidden message.
  2. This method can help identify which model is being used and ensure that developers follow licensing rules. It provides a way to track model authenticity.
  3. The unique triggers make it hard for others to guess them, keeping the hidden messages secure. This technique also protects against attacks that try to extract the hidden information.

Google Maps UX: The India Conundrum

Elizabeth Laraki • 2 HN points • 05 Sep 24
🕹 Technology User Experience Product Design
  1. Google Maps struggled in India because people didn't use street names for navigation. They relied on landmarks instead.
  2. The team did hands-on research to understand how locals used landmarks for directions. This included talking to people and observing their navigation.
  3. By focusing on landmarks, Google Maps improved its directions to better fit India's needs, making it a popular navigation tool over time.