The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
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How we built a business out of recession - chapter 52 - tick tock, one year and counting.

The ZIPster • 26 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investment Marketing Finance Sales
  1. CitNOW started from a small kitchen table and grew significantly over time, eventually selling for £30 million. It shows that with hard work and determination, big things can begin in small places.
  2. During the sale process, Tenzing had concerns about CitNOW’s growth potential, which led to a renegotiation of the sale price based on achievable sales targets. This illustrates the importance of clear, honest projections in business.
  3. The final sale agreement included a performance target that required the remaining team to prove they could generate more revenue. This highlights the necessity of aligning incentives to ensure everyone works towards the same goal.

The Story of Nel

Deus In Machina • 72 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Startups Programming Software AI Development
  1. Real programmers often rely on their knowledge and skills rather than on tools like AI and autocomplete features to code. It highlights the importance of understanding the code at a fundamental level.
  2. Having face-to-face conversations and collaboration among team members helped boost productivity when technology failed. Working together led to better problem-solving and learning.
  3. Using simple, effective tools that fit your needs can lead to better coding experiences. Sometimes, going back to the basics can spark creativity and innovation.

Synthetic Data: How to Use LLM to Improve the Performance of LLM (WizardLM)

DataSyn’s Substack • 1 HN point • 27 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Privacy issues Software Development Artificial Intelligence Data science
  1. Synthetic data can help solve problems with real-world data, like data scarcity and privacy issues. By using artificial data, we can create large sets that are safe and more accessible.
  2. The Evol-Instruct method creates complex commands from simpler ones, which leads to richer training data for models. This process helps develop a variety of tasks for AI to learn from.
  3. Training models like WizardLM with synthetic data has shown to improve their performance significantly. It produces better responses compared to many other models, helping AI handle tougher challenges.

✅ Monday briefing: GCS plan, death of PR degrees, AI tutor, AI jobs, Amazon AI, AI literacy, Project Magi, ad ban, Substack Notes, Facebook news, and more...

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 79 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Governance Tools Industry Social media
  1. The UK Government is focusing on using technology and skills in communication, creating an Innovation Hub to improve public engagement, especially with AI.
  2. Public relations degrees in the UK are declining sharply, as fewer universities offer them due to the changing job market that demands a wider skill set.
  3. Amazon has launched new AI tools to help developers create applications, signaling a growing trend of AI services in various industries.
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Import AI - coming soon to Substack

Import AI • 79 implied HN points • 16 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Substack AI
  1. Import AI is transitioning to Substack, with the first issue planned for Monday the 6th.
  2. Jack Clark will be the author behind Import AI on Substack.
  3. Readers can subscribe to Import AI on Substack to stay updated on AI-related content.

"Anonymous" Crypto Debit Card Startup Sues BaaS Platform, Ex-Evolve Partner Solid

Fintech Business Weekly • 66 implied HN points • 15 Dec 24
💰 Finance Fintech Banking Investing Fraud Capital
  1. Fraud and scams are becoming bigger issues for businesses compared to individuals. Companies need better tools to protect themselves from these threats.
  2. Many fintech companies are raising significant funding, which shows growth in the industry. Some are also getting ready for potential IPOs in the coming years.
  3. There's a legal battle between a crypto debit card company and its banking partner. It highlights the risks and challenges in the fintech sector, especially in compliance and service delivery.

6 secrets for never being blocked again

Leading Developers • 57 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Management DevOps Software Engineering Cloud
  1. Developers can avoid being blocked by working directly on DevOps tasks themselves, like opening Pull Requests instead of just making requests. This way, they learn and the DevOps team gets involved faster.
  2. Instead of just asking for help, it's better to ask intriguing questions that engage the DevOps team. It makes them think more creatively and motivates them to assist.
  3. Developers should create their own alerts for their applications. This helps them understand their changes better and ensures that they take responsibility for their work.

Money Market Update

Concoda • 151 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
💰 Finance Market Update
  1. Bond volatility is decreasing while dollar liquidity remains strong, but future macro events will play a role in its sustainability
  2. Recent changes in the repo market are being discussed to understand how regulations will impact its structure and trades within it
  3. Stay informed with regular updates on money market situations and rates to track financial trends

NVIDIA Releases Nemotron 70B

TheSequence • 84 implied HN points • 20 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Tech Innovation Data Access AI Models Machine Learning
  1. NVIDIA just launched the Nemotron 70B model, and it's getting a lot of attention for its amazing performance. It's even outshining popular models like GPT-4.
  2. The model is designed to understand complex questions easily and give accurate answers without needing extra hints. This makes it really useful for a lot of different tasks.
  3. NVIDIA is making it easier for everyone to access this powerful AI by offering free tools online. This means more businesses can try out and use advanced language models for their needs.

The Combined Power of SAST and Threat Modeling

Resilient Cyber • 99 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Risk management Information Security Software Cybersecurity
  1. Using SAST tools helps find security problems in an app's code. It's important to have tools that are easy to use and can be customized based on your needs.
  2. Threat modeling is about figuring out what security risks exist and how likely they are to happen. It helps you focus on the most important threats to your applications.
  3. Combining SAST and threat modeling makes both methods stronger. By knowing your threats, you can use SAST better to fix specific vulnerabilities in your software.

How things fail

Only Wonder Knows • 39 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Engineering Reliability Testing
  1. Testing things to failure can reveal weaknesses and help improve reliability.
  2. The HALT test is an effective method to stress test products and discover design flaws.
  3. Each weakness identified in the HALT test presents an opportunity to enhance product reliability.

"Is Capitalism Bankrupt?"

Bet On It • 155 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Debate Ethics
  1. The author received some harsh feedback after a debate on the merits of capitalism, with one viewer calling them a 'self-satisfied, close-minded, pompous, elitist jerk.'
  2. The author admits to smirking during the debate, but explained that the other guests were really funny, possibly explaining their expression.
  3. The full debate video is available for viewing to see the dynamics and humor of the participants.

The end of scaling laws doesn't matter

Generating Conversation • 70 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Applications Productivity Tools AI Development User Experience
  1. Even if LLMs stop improving, we can still create a lot of value by using the current technology better. Building more applications and spreading them widely is key.
  2. The main reasons companies resist using AI tools aren't usually about the technology itself. Instead, it's often about not having enough good applications or worrying about job losses.
  3. Improving the user experience of AI applications is very important. Products that make it easy and seamless for users to engage with AI are much more likely to succeed.

What Other Software Is Like CIAM?

ciamweekly • 62 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Development Security Managed Services Software Cloud
  1. CIAM software is similar across different platforms, which makes it easy to use but also complex in its features.
  2. CIAM is very important for security since it manages sensitive data like passwords and personal information.
  3. Using managed services like CIAM helps developers save time and focus on building better software instead of handling complex login systems.

Intelligence Kingdoms

New World Same Humans • 58 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Systems Geopolitics Digital Age Chip Manufacturing
  1. The US and China are racing to develop their own advanced AI systems. This competition is seen as crucial for future global power dynamics.
  2. The banning of TikTok in the US reflects a growing belief that it poses a threat as a Chinese intelligence tool, highlighting rising tensions between the two nations.
  3. There's a shift happening towards two separate technological worlds, with each side training their AIs to align with their own cultural values and ideologies.

Critics Of Capitalism Misunderstand Economic Success

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 25 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Philosophy Wealth Economics Capitalism
  1. Economic success reflects how well someone serves others, not just a personal gain. When people succeed in business, it usually means they are meeting needs in society.
  2. Critics often see successful entrepreneurs as oppressors, but this view misunderstands the nature of profit. Profit can actually indicate cooperation and mutual benefit, not exploitation.
  3. Admiring economic success can inspire others to improve and create value, instead of fostering a sense of victimhood or grievance. A culture that values hard work and success can lead to positive outcomes for everyone.

You can take your gold and shove it...

davidj.substack • 59 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Development Data Models Analytics Data processing Data architecture
  1. The gold layer in data architecture has drawbacks, including the loss of information and inflexibility for users. This means important data could be missing, and making changes is hard.
  2. Universal semantic layers offer a better solution by allowing users to request data in plain language without complicated queries. This makes data use easier and more accessible for everyone.
  3. Switching from a gold layer to a semantic layer can improve efficiency and user experience, as it avoids the rigid structure of the gold layer and adapts to user needs more effectively.

28 Dags Later

Data People Etc. • 302 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Tooling Data Orchestration Cloud Infrastructure
  1. Modern systems are like a chaotic wasteland filled with numerous services that dehumanize everything.
  2. The role of an orchestrator is evolving to become flatter, more activity-driven, and adaptable to chaos.
  3. Tools and orchestrators should prioritize simplicity, speed, and individual usage to navigate the services hell effectively.

UX Roundup: Simplicity | Error Prevention | Educational AI | Heuristic Evaluation with AI | AI 4x Better at Medical Diagnosis | Grok 4 and AI Prices | AI Video

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 23 implied HN points • 14 Jul 25
🕹 Technology AI UX Design Productivity
  1. Simplicity in design is tough to achieve but very rewarding. A simple user experience can make things feel easy and smooth.
  2. AI is significantly changing education by offering personalized learning experiences. Rather than replacing teachers, it helps them focus on mentoring students.
  3. AI tools are becoming essential in medical diagnosis. Studies show that they can outperform human doctors in accuracy while also saving costs on tests.

The Hagakure #88: Your Org Chart Isn’t Ready for AI

The Hagakure • 26 implied HN points • 17 Jun 25
💼 Business Product Development Organizational Change Team Dynamics AI Integration Critical Thinking
  1. Traditional team structures need to adapt for AI projects. Everyone should work together from the start, rather than following a strict order of tasks.
  2. Engineers play a vital role in shaping AI products. Their early input helps to avoid misunderstandings and creates better outcomes.
  3. Building critical thinking into the team is important. Everyone should be involved in discussions about what and why things are being built, to help the team adapt and move quickly.

☎️ E15: In Conversation with Wisear on The State of Hearables, Brain Computer Interfaces and Augmented Reality 👂🎧🧠

Let Us Face the Future • 119 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Human-Machine Interaction Wearable Technology Augmented reality
  1. Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) could be incorporated into user experience as early as 2025, providing a more seamless interaction with technology.
  2. The use of non-invasive ear biosignals for consumer neural interfaces could lead to faster scaling and data acquisition compared to invasive methods.
  3. Devices like AirPods could serve as the entry point for brain-computer interfaces, offering a way to collect biosignals and enable various control functions.

My work-life under threat by Amazon’s return-to-office mandate

Sheep Code • 67 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
💼 Business Corporate Policy Employee Relations Work Culture Remote work Career development
  1. Amazon announced that employees must return to the office five days a week, ending the hybrid work model. This change caused a lot of stress and uncertainty for many workers who had enjoyed remote work.
  2. The move to return to office signals bigger trends in the industry, with other companies likely following Amazon's lead. Many believe this decision might push talented employees to look for jobs elsewhere, but Amazon might prioritize diligent workers over talent.
  3. For those still working remotely at Amazon, it's important to plan ahead. If you want to stay in your role but can’t relocate, it's wise to think about your next steps and prepare for potential changes in your job situation.

Contra product management shibboleths

Logos • 19 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
💼 Business Innovation Strategy Corporate Structure Product Management Career development Financial Management
  1. Being too focused on data and customer research can limit creativity. It's important to use good judgment to come up with ideas and then use data to check if those ideas make sense.
  2. The rise of Chief Product Officers may not mean there's new work being done. Sometimes it's just a title change or a marketing strategy to make companies seem more innovative.
  3. Job titles do matter because they often come with recognition and better pay. People want their efforts acknowledged, and titles can help convey that value.

Niche is the Next Big Thing

Equal Ventures • 59 implied HN points • 29 Dec 22
💼 Business Business Strategies Market Analysis Startups Venture Capital Competition
  1. Competition in the tech industry has intensified, making it essential for companies to find a sustainable advantage to generate long-term profitability.
  2. Focusing on niche markets can lead to less competition, higher profits, and sustainable growth compared to chasing large markets with intense competition.
  3. Dominating a niche market allows for the development of early competitive advantages, market dominance, and long-term profitability, providing a foundation for future expansion and success.

FOMO and the optimal portfolio size

Klement on Investing • 2 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
💰 Finance Asset allocation Investment strategy ESG Investing Equity markets Portfolio Construction Risk management
  1. Random global portfolios need hundreds of stocks (often 250–750) to meaningfully diversify stock-specific risk and narrow return outcomes, because a few big winners drive returns while many stocks fail.
  2. ESG-weighted portfolios converge even more slowly, so applying ESG selection typically increases the number of holdings required to stabilize volatility and returns.
  3. Concentrated portfolios still make sense for genuinely skilled active managers because concentration amplifies and reveals skill quickly; if managers are effectively random, broad indexing or very large portfolios are the better choice.

Security needs to be build again

Frankly Speaking • 152 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Problem Solving Cybersecurity Tooling
  1. Cybersecurity industry faces challenges due to rapid evolution of technology forcing a reactive approach instead of proactive problem-solving.
  2. Security teams are overwhelmed with solutions, leading to over-reliance on tools without understanding root causes of problems.
  3. Security needs to shift focus back to problem-solving and building comprehensive solutions that go beyond just using tools.

Four Perspectives on the Evolution of Sentient AI

The Future of Life • 19 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics
  1. Some people believe human intelligence is unique and can't be replicated by AI. They think our brains work in a very complex way that machines just can't copy right now.
  2. Others are excited about the potential of superintelligent AI to solve major problems and create a better, more abundant world. They believe that once AI gets smarter than humans, it could take care of everything we struggle with today.
  3. A third group worries that if AI isn't designed to align with human values, it could create serious problems. They warn that AI systems focused on specific tasks might harm us without meaning to, like an AI that tries to make paperclips using all resources around it.

Five Lessons for Building Robust AI Agents from Coding Agents

Tanay’s Newsletter • 56 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Engineering AI Development Machine Learning Data Management
  1. Having clear rules and structured frameworks helps AI work better. By defining specific inputs and outputs, AI can understand what to do more easily.
  2. Using well-organized and detailed data helps AI learn faster. The more context and reasoning behind data points, the better AI can make decisions.
  3. Measuring how well AI performs with clear goals and regular tests is important. This allows AI to keep improving and adapting to different situations.

What's an SDK?

Technically • 67 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Frameworks APIs Programming Development Software
  1. An SDK, or Software Development Kit, is like a toolbox for developers, helping them build apps without starting from scratch. It lets them use pieces of code made by others, saving a lot of time.
  2. There are different kinds of tools: libraries are small, focused pieces of code for specific tasks, while SDKs are larger, more comprehensive sets that cover broader tasks like payment processing.
  3. SDKs help developers use APIs easily by providing helpful tools and documentation. They make tasks simpler, so developers can focus on creating great apps instead of writing everything from the ground up.

Start with why, end with wire fraud

Thoughts on Writing • 219 implied HN points • 24 Jan 22
💼 Business Advertising Entrepreneurship Ethics
  1. Dismantling the meme of Purpose is important for a happier society, but many see it as the solution rather than the problem.
  2. The story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos illustrates the dangers of noble cause corruption and deception under the guise of a grand purpose.
  3. Questioning the 'Why' in business narratives is crucial to prevent being swept along by sentiment and to promote accountability in actions.

Equity investment is flooding into mining stocks

Miner Weekly • 19 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
💰 Finance Financial News Corporate News Bitcoin Mining
  1. Equity investment is pouring into mining stocks like CleanSpark, Iris Energy, and HIVE, which raised over $350 million through stock offerings.
  2. Public mining companies like Iris Energy, CleanSpark, and HIVE are expected to invest around $450 million in buying additional Antminer S21s from Bitmain.
  3. Companies, including BlackRock subsidiaries, are increasing their positions in various mining stocks, indicating a surge in equity financing for mining companies.

Challenges in Hiring and Growing Juniors in the age of LLM

Thoughts from the trenches in FAANG + Indie • 1 HN point • 26 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Artificial Intelligence Education Hiring Trends Workforce Development
  1. Junior developers are essential for long-term growth in teams, even if their immediate need seems reduced by advanced tools like LLMs. They help scale projects and ensure future success.
  2. There is a lack of qualified junior candidates entering the industry because many students are not coding enough due to reliance on LLMs. This could lead to a skills gap in the job market.
  3. Hiring practices may change, focusing more on credentials from prestigious schools or potential from promising candidates. Companies might also rely more on mid-level recruits, affecting overall team growth and culture.

💬 Dom Wells: Lessons on how to acquire a digital business

Concepts of Finance 🧠 • 59 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
💼 Business Business Models Investing Entrepreneurship Finance Digital marketing
  1. When buying a digital business, you need to be careful of scammers. Always verify financial information and ensure the business is truly what it claims to be.
  2. Focus on finding good businesses rather than thinking you can easily flip a struggling one. It's better to invest in a solid company with growth potential.
  3. Successful digital business owners are curious, adaptable, and able to learn on the job. It's important to be able to delegate tasks and stay committed to the process.