The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
Category

Why It’s Hard to Generate a 10X Return on a Startup Investment? | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 279 implied HN points • 26 Mar 24
💼 Business Investment Returns Financial Strategies Venture Capital
  1. Calculating a 10x return on startup investments is complex due to dilution from multiple financing rounds.
  2. Incomplete data makes it challenging to accurately determine investment multiples.
  3. Investors need significant exits to achieve 10x returns, necessitating a good understanding of venture capital math.

476: Boring Success, Microsoft CapEx, LVMH, Nvidia, Data Center Electricity, Spotify & Joe Rogan, Tesla Model 3 Refresh, and Dragon Prince

Liberty’s Highlights • 412 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Streaming AI Podcasts Data Centers Electricity
  1. Compete in life with kindness, creativity, and resilience, not just success.
  2. Success in one area can enable you to take risks and be more adventurous in other aspects of life.
  3. Electricity consumption from data centers, AI, and crypto is expected to double by 2026, impacting energy needs significantly.

Breaking Into Crypto: Investment Analyst

DeFi Education • 599 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🔮 Crypto Investing Finance Innovation Technology Career
  1. Being a crypto analyst means staying updated on a lot of different tokens and doing a lot of research. It involves daily tasks like checking news, writing reports, and talking to project teams.
  2. The hiring process in crypto can be less structured than in traditional finance. Networking and showing your active interest in the industry can really help land a job.
  3. It's important to have a strong curiosity about crypto and a belief in its future. This helps you stay motivated during tough times, like bear markets, and succeed in your role.

Is morality relative?

Optimally Irrational • 47 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaethics Political Philosophy Social contract Moral Psychology
  1. Morality is a product of social conventions—a social contract—so moral claims are true or false relative to a society’s rules rather than absolute universal truths, but that technical relativism doesn’t mean moral judgments are meaningless.
  2. We can coherently condemn practices like slavery, infanticide, or genocide by appealing to our moral preferences (some shaped by biology and culture), to international agreements and laws, and to comparisons of which norms produce better, more stable social outcomes.
  3. Seeing morality as human-made lets people push for reform and better institutions through bargaining and evidence about outcomes, without invoking metaphysical 'oughts'; contractarianism is not subjectivism, cultural incommensurability, or postmodern denial of objective reality.

Becoming a Cult Leader

Investing 101 • 36 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Branding Marketing Strategy Leadership Fundraising Product
  1. Control mindshare: be the obvious voice in your category, deeply knowledgeable and present so people instinctively turn to you.
  2. Command capital: influence without funding can’t move the needle, so find the right forms of capital—VC, revenue, grants, or debt—that let you execute.
  3. Be the standard bearer: combine relentless public leadership and real financial resources to set the market’s rules and pursue your mission no matter what.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

No, KKR is not “equity washing”

The Novelleist • 412 implied HN points • 10 Jul 25
💼 Business Private Equity Wealth Inequality Corporate Governance Financial Models
  1. KKR is helping employee ownership grow, even if it's temporary. They buy struggling companies and give employees a share of the profits while they own them.
  2. Critics say KKR's model isn't enough compared to true employee-owned companies, but it still offers more benefits than most private equity firms do.
  3. We need a variety of ways to give employees equity in their companies. Every little bit helps in reducing wealth inequality and giving workers a stake in their workplaces.

top 5 reading links for 2025

Five Links (and three graphs) by Auren Hoffman • 64 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
💼 Business Technology Culture Careers Data Defense Venture Capital Startups
  1. Big-picture data and history reveal where success and talent cluster, so studying patterns can show who wins prizes and where modern geniuses hide.
  2. Private tech is reshaping defense and security, and building 21st-century military or AI systems brings practical bottlenecks like energy, logistics, and policy into focus.
  3. Everyday business and social skills matter: many data businesses aren’t ideal VC targets, venture firms often ignore their own advice, and simple moves like the right intro, hosting great dinners, or focused job hunting make a big difference.

5 Trends Driving the Future of VR Gaming

A16Z GAMES • 179 implied HN points • 08 May 24
🕹 Technology Future outlook Gaming Cross-platform Virtual reality Development
  1. VR gaming is gaining momentum with over 30 million Meta Quest headsets sold and successful games like Gorilla Tag, indicating a bright future for the platform.
  2. Developers are focusing on creating more inviting VR hardware and software to overcome challenges like motion sickness and resistance to bulky headsets.
  3. The younger generation, like the Roblox users, is embracing VR quickly, leading to the rise of social experiences and free games targeted at a younger audience.

Practicing my Handwriting in 1439

Maximum Progress • 432 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Future Predictions AI Technology development
  1. AI may disrupt high status jobs like writing and make skills like writing less valuable in the future.
  2. AI has been a complement to knowledge work so far, improving productivity in tasks such as software development and consulting.
  3. Even if AI enhances productivity, it may still be challenging for humans to compete in certain areas where AI excels, leading to uncertainty about the future of specific skills.

GameStopped

The Dollar Endgame • 439 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
💰 Finance Stock Market Market Manipulation Financial Media Regulatory issues
  1. In January 2021, the GameStop ($GME) stock price experienced extreme volatility and a significant price surge, shedding light on underlying issues in the stock market.
  2. The situation revealed how shorting mechanisms were exploited, with the stock being sold significantly beyond its float, and the impact of large institutions and financial media favoring institutional interests over retail investors.
  3. The events with GameStop highlighted the complex interactions between retail investors, short sellers, brokers, and clearinghouses, ultimately leading to regulatory scrutiny and uncovering the reality of market dynamics.

OpenAI is too cheap to beat (redux)

The AI Frontier • 59 implied HN points • 18 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Infrastructure Economics Data AI Scalability
  1. Data and infrastructure are really important for companies like OpenAI. They collect a lot of data, which helps them improve their models faster than others.
  2. OpenAI is cheaper for fine-tuning models compared to using your own infrastructure. This means most companies will find it more cost-effective to use OpenAI's services instead of trying to run their own setups.
  3. Even though open-source models have potential, big companies will likely stay ahead due to their ability to serve models quickly and cheaply. Switching to a different system is hard and expensive, making it tough for smaller players.

A Cagan Critique

The Beautiful Mess • 476 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
💼 Business Critique Product Management Leadership Innovation Team Dynamics
  1. Not everyone thinks the same way about success. People have different paths to achieve their personal and collective goals, and that's what makes teamwork rich and creative.
  2. It's important to question and critique ideas, even widely respected ones. This helps us understand different perspectives and encourages an open mind.
  3. Success isn’t just about ambition. Various motivations matter, and we should recognize that each person can contribute in their own unique way.

We Went to Render ATL!

Permit.io’s Substack • 99 implied HN points • 20 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Software Development User Experience Tech community Networking Conferences
  1. Connecting with other tech enthusiasts at conferences is really fun and important. It's all about making friends and sharing ideas.
  2. Render ATL is a big event that shows how frontend development has become super important in the tech world. It started small but now covers all kinds of development topics.
  3. The main goal of participating in events is to help people learn about tech and authorization. It's about making things easier for developers so they can focus on what makes their apps special.

Anthropomorphizing the Russell paradox

Infinitely More • 41 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
📖 Philosophy Logic Foundations History Teaching
  1. Cantor’s diagonal argument shows that for any set there are always more subsets than elements. You can see this intuitively by imagining people and their committees or fruits and their salads.
  2. Applying the same diagonal idea produces Russell’s paradox, which shows that allowing every property to define a set leads to a contradiction, so there can be no single universal set and set formation must be restricted.
  3. Modern axiomatic set theory (like ZFC) provides a robust foundation that achieves much of the logicist goal of grounding mathematics in logical principles, though there is still debate about whether every axiom is purely logical.

Calif is hiring!

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 738 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
💼 Business Engineering Tech Recruitment AI Security
  1. Calif is a young firm on the verge of a big boom, working with top firms in AI, infrastructure, and products, and offering great work experiences.
  2. Calif is hiring excellent hackers to tackle important tech challenges and offers a unique opportunity to work in a company with a high standard reminiscent of Silicon Valley's early days.
  3. Calif has open positions for Offensive Security Engineer, Software Engineer, and Technical Project Manager, with a referral reward of USD 2,000 for successful hires.

Netflix will never catch up to YouTube

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 399 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Media Video Content Entrepreneurship Streaming
  1. YouTube has a big advantage over Netflix because it offers free content and allows users to create their own videos. This makes YouTube more popular and flexible for different types of audiences.
  2. Local news meteorologists are starting their own digital channels, showing how traditional media is changing. They're adapting to the creator economy by leveraging their expertise online.
  3. The Daily Show has grown in popularity again by embracing modern platforms like YouTube and having rotating hosts. Its mix of comedy and political content helps attract a wider audience.

Is it time for a SaaS comeback?

Alex's Personal Blog • 98 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Startups Market Trends Growth Strategy AI Software
  1. SaaS companies are seeing better performance in earnings reports lately, showing signs of a possible comeback. Companies like Box and Salesforce are using AI to boost their growth.
  2. Box is leveraging AI technology to improve its services and is launching new products, which is helping it gain traction in the market.
  3. Salesforce is also benefiting from AI, with its AI services generating significant revenue growth and driving demand for their products.

A good start

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 239 implied HN points • 10 Apr 24
💼 Business Strategy Leadership Consulting Management Organizational
  1. Amorphous consulting is about tackling unclear and emerging problems that organizations face. It's often the first step in consulting even if clients don't recognize it or want to pay for it.
  2. Starting with amorphous consulting is cheaper and quicker than hiring a concrete consultant right away. It avoids the lengthy process of re-scoping a project.
  3. Amorphous consultants ask the 'dumb' questions that uncover hidden problems. This approach is useful when there's uncertainty, helping organizations find solutions they didn't even realize they needed.

Greenland Exposes The Greenback

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 35 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
💰 Finance Bonds Stocks Currency Commodities Geopolitics Markets
  1. Forcing a takeover of Greenland would look like overreach and weakness, not strength; seizing territory signals an empire that’s compensating rather than leading.
  2. Aggressive moves would shatter credibility with allies, neutrals, and investors, making the country seem reckless and pushing people toward safer assets like gold.
  3. Loss of reserve status happens quietly through market reactions, so the real indicator is how bond, currency, and gold markets reallocate capital afterward.

Thinking harder doesn’t work (or how I learned to love the right half of my brain)

Play Permissionless • 239 implied HN points • 10 Apr 24
📖 Philosophy Understanding Mind Balance Intuition Narrative
  1. Thinking harder doesn't always lead to solutions; learning to balance the analytical left brain with the intuitive right brain is key.
  2. The left brain creates plans and maps, but the right brain helps in spotting the obvious and maintaining flexibility in problem-solving.
  3. A healthy power balance between the left and right brain is crucial for creativity and effective decision-making.

The curious case of the missing period

Tjaart’s Substack • 368 HN points • 20 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Email Software Development Programming Bug Fixing
  1. A missing period in an email was a perplexing issue that affected only specific customers due to the line length limitations in the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).
  2. The bug was traced back to the SMTP client code and the line length rule, which duplicated periods at the beginning of lines longer than a certain limit, causing them to disappear.
  3. The issue showcased the importance of understanding underlying protocols like SMTP to troubleshoot and fix unexpected problems efficiently.

Shot Across Howard Lutnick's Bow?

Points And Figures • 399 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
💰 Finance Trading Strategies Financial Institutions Investment Analysis Regulatory issues Market Trends
  1. CME Group is getting ready for a new US Treasury clearing rule by partnering with DTCC to help clients save on margins. This is a big move for them as they prepare for the upcoming changes.
  2. Clients will have choices on where to clear their cash Treasuries based on their needs. Companies are figuring out the best way to combine their trades to save money.
  3. CME has adjusted its strategy because of competition from Cantor-Fitzgerald and its CEO, Howard Lutnick. They aim to provide better options to maintain their position in the market.

Authorization in microservice architecture, P2: The approaches

Hung's Notes • 59 implied HN points • 18 Jul 24
🕹 Technology System Design Microservices Authorization Access Control Software Development
  1. Fine-Grained Authorization (FGA) is a better way to manage user permissions in a system. It allows specific users to have certain actions on specific resources, making access control simpler and more organized.
  2. Relationship-Based Access Control (ReBAC) focuses on the connections between users and resources instead of just roles. It builds a graph to show these relationships, but it can be complicated and difficult to maintain.
  3. Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) uses attributes of users and resources to determine access, making it flexible and easier to implement. It allows for clear policy definitions without needing to change how users interact with the system.

Authorization in microservice architecture, P1: The motivation to change

Hung's Notes • 59 implied HN points • 18 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Identity Management Access Control Microservices Cloud Computing
  1. Authorization is a crucial part of managing digital evidence, and it needs to be efficient to handle many users and lots of data. Complex systems can find it hard to keep permissions clear.
  2. Current access control models like Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Discretionary Access Control (DAC) can get too complicated when managing many users and permissions. This can lead to messy code and performance issues.
  3. As organizations grow, they must decide how to structure their authorization logic, whether to centralize it in one team or spread it across many. Both choices have their own challenges in consistency and maintenance.

Cybersecurity for Small Businesses: Tips and Best Practices

Rod’s Blog • 496 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Tips Cybersecurity Small businesses Best Practices
  1. Small businesses are prime targets for cyberattacks due to limited resources and expertise, making it crucial for them to follow cybersecurity best practices.
  2. Small business owners should establish a culture of security to involve everyone, implement basic security controls like firewall and antivirus, and develop an incident response plan for cyberattacks.
  3. Seek external help from reputable sources like cybersecurity consultants, organizations, and government agencies to get guidance, expertise, and resources in enhancing cybersecurity measures.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 543

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 219 implied HN points • 19 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Data science Data Engineering Analytics AI Machine Learning
  1. Statistical ideas have a big impact on the world. Learning about important papers can help us understand how statistics shape modern research and decision-making.
  2. Machine Learning teams have different roles that face unique challenges. Understanding these personas can help leaders support their teams better.
  3. Using vector embeddings can greatly improve search experiences in apps. They simplify processes that previously seemed too complex and highlight their usefulness in technology.

An Interview With Brian Baker

ciamweekly • 62 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🕹 Technology User Experience Identity Security Product AI Regulation Authentication
  1. CIAM helps teams move fast while managing risk by providing plug-and-play identity services so businesses can deploy strong security without building large security orgs.
  2. Usability is the biggest adoption barrier: simple, embedded sign-up/sign-in flows (think three fields, passkeys, device-aware MFA, no redirects/popups or CAPTCHAs) keep real users from abandoning.
  3. CIAM’s future is shifting from pure security to selling user knowledge and insights, with AI and increased regulation driving investment and new product opportunities.

Take on the Kubernetes Resume Challenge

Cloud Irregular • 3104 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Programming Training Community Cloud Computing
  1. The Cloud Resume Challenge community is launching a Kubernetes Challenge throughout March to help individuals build their Kubernetes skills by deploying a basic e-commerce website.
  2. The challenge focuses on learning the operations of a K8s cluster such as configuration, scaling, monitoring, and persistence, offering guidance to prevent going off track.
  3. Participants will work through the challenge together over 4 weeks in the CRC Discord server, with special incentives for those who complete it.

What's Art Got to Do with It?

System Change • 491 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
💰 Finance Economic Policy China Inflation Deflation
  1. The art market is experiencing deflation as buyers prioritize debt repayment over new purchases.
  2. Debt deflation and low wages worldwide are driving the fall in prices of goods, services, and assets.
  3. China's economy, as the world's second largest, plays a significant role in global deflationary pressures and may require a drastic shift in economic policy to avoid a crash.

Movers, Shakers, & Money Makers (8/26)

Human Capitalist • 39 implied HN points • 27 Aug 24
💼 Business Human Resources Workforce Trends Career Changes Leadership Job Market
  1. There were many job changes last week, highlighting shifts in talent and leadership across various companies. It's important to keep track of these moves to understand industry trends.
  2. Noteworthy individuals have transitioned to major roles at companies like OpenAI and TikTok, indicating a shift in expertise and focus in tech and marketing sectors.
  3. Monitoring job changes can provide insights into companies’ strategies and priorities, which is useful for investors and recruiters alike.

Two types of software engineers

Register Spill • 825 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Software Engineering
  1. There are two types of software engineers based on how they perceive the difficulty of problems.
  2. Type 1 engineers believe non-technical problems are easy because people can just do X, while Type 2 engineers find them hard due to people being involved.
  3. Type 2 engineering embraces building with and for people, recognizing and accepting the messiness that comes with human involvement.

❄️ 🐣 Comment investir l'épargne des enfants ?

Snowball • 825 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
💰 Finance Investment Taxation Stocks Personal Finance Children
  1. Consider investing children's savings in the stock market for long-term growth potential.
  2. Opening a brokerage account in your name to hold ETFs or stocks for your child and then gifting it to them can be a tax-efficient way to invest for their future.
  3. Ensure to handle legal aspects like declaring the donation to the tax authorities and consider equal distribution among multiple children to avoid inheritance disputes.

GraphRAG Analysis, Part 1: How Indexing Elevates Knowledge Graph Performance in RAG

AI Encoder: Parsing Signal from Hype • 70 HN points • 09 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Metrics Analysis Research Evaluation Modeling
  1. Knowledge graphs do not significantly impact context retrieval in RAG, as all methods showed similar context relevancy scores.
  2. Neo4j with its own index improved answer relevancy and faithfulness compared to Neo4j without indexing and FAISS, showcasing the importance of effective indexing for precise content retrieval in RAG applications.
  3. Developers need to consider the trade-offs between ROI constraints and performance improvements when deciding to use GraphRAG, especially in high-precision applications that require accurate answers.

Even Courts Cannot Stop Innovation

Points And Figures • 479 implied HN points • 28 Jun 25
💼 Business Venture Capital Investing Regulation Innovation
  1. Innovations usually start with being ignored and mocked, but if they prove effective, they gain traction. It's common for people to doubt new ideas at first.
  2. When new technologies start taking market share, established companies often push for regulations to shut them down. This has happened with many services like Uber and cryptocurrency.
  3. States like Nevada are trying to regulate new markets like event betting, but they may lose this battle in court. Instead of fighting, they could evolve and embrace these innovations to stay competitive.