The hottest Business Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

BOMBSHELL: Potential Criminal Activity Revealed in the Kroger-Albertsons Merger

BIG by Matt Stoller • 34149 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
💼 Business Mergers Antitrust Monopoly Regulation
  1. The Kroger-Albertsons merger faces challenges due to potential criminal activity discovered, leading to antitrust suits and trials to block the deal.
  2. The merger could worsen the grocery market situation with fewer stores, higher prices, and data implications for suppliers, consumers, and workers.
  3. Evidence found of Kroger and Albertsons colluding in wage suppression by avoiding hiring each other's workers, raising concerns and prompting legal action.

Why Is It So Hard to Build an Airport?

Construction Physics • 22131 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
💼 Business Infrastructure Aviation Construction Economics Environmentalism
  1. Airports are crucial for global economy, with aviation contributing significantly to GDP.
  2. Building airports is notoriously difficult due to opposition from various interest groups, particularly related to noise concerns.
  3. Despite challenges in airport construction, the aviation industry has managed to adapt and accommodate increased air travel by adding runways, expanding infrastructure, and increasing passenger capacity per plane.

The Fed Is Behind the Capital One/Discover Merger

BIG by Matt Stoller • 29794 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
💼 Business Monopoly power Market Power Antitrust enforcement
  1. Capital One is trying to purchase Discover for $35 billion due to a loophole the Federal Reserve left in banking laws, which allows Capital One to have control over pricing in ways its competitors cannot.
  2. The credit card system in the U.S. involves a complex web of fees and intermediaries that result in high costs for merchants, driving the merger between Capital One and Discover in a pursuit for more pricing power.
  3. The merger faces opposition from various groups due to concerns about increased monopolization and reduced competition in the credit card industry, highlighting the need for reforms to promote fair commerce and innovation.

How to get funding from deluded, self-congratulatory investors

Penelope Trunk's Substack • 419 implied HN points • 21 Apr 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investment Gender Equality Networking Workplace dynamics
  1. Having a male co-founder can improve a female founder's odds of raising funding due to biases in the investment industry.
  2. Focusing on showcasing a reckless passion and working long hours can help female founders combat gender biases when pitching to investors.
  3. Building a network of male connections can be essential for female founders in navigating the challenges of the venture capital landscape.

How Google Blew Up Its Open Culture and Compromised Its Product

Big Technology • 16387 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
💼 Business Corporate culture Product Development Leadership Tech industry
  1. Google's open culture deteriorated, impacting its product quality and employee morale.
  2. Issues began when Google shut down discussions on sensitive topics like diversity and employee concerns.
  3. The closure of open channels for questioning within Google led to a negative impact on the company's innovation and decision-making processes.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Mass Timber is Great, but It Will Not Solve the Housing Shortage

Construction Physics • 13153 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
💼 Business Construction Housing Costs Canada
  1. Mass timber construction is advantageous for tall buildings due to its fire resistance and carbon sequestration, but it may not significantly increase housing construction volume in the US compared to traditional methods.
  2. While mass timber is praised for its safety and environmental benefits, it faces challenges such as higher initial costs and more complex processing steps, making it less competitive than light-framed wood construction in the US.
  3. Canada's experience with mass timber, despite a supportive ecosystem, shows that residential mass timber construction may not see a significant uptick in the US housing market even with continued growth and cost reduction.

The $25B Kroger-Albertsons Merger Is Going to Fail

BIG by Matt Stoller • 19710 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
💼 Business Antitrust Monopoly Merger Labor Politics
  1. The $25 billion Kroger-Albertsons merger is facing challenges as the Federal Trade Commission and nine states sue to block it due to potential negative impacts on consumer prices and wages.
  2. The case is significant because it involves a novel application of antitrust law, focusing on labor grounds and the impact on union bargaining terms.
  3. The merger's potential consequences, including higher prices and lower wages, have sparked political response from politicians and unions, indicating widespread concern and opposition.

The Nationalization of Boeing Begins

BIG by Matt Stoller • 43431 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
💼 Business Management Labor relations Government intervention Corporate culture Financial impact
  1. There is growing discontent and criticism towards Boeing's management from various stakeholders like Wall Street, labor unions, customers, and regulators.
  2. Major Boeing customers like Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are publicly holding Boeing accountable for quality issues and demanding reimbursement, indicating a significant shift in the industry's code of silence about problems.
  3. The government, particularly the FAA, has taken actions against Boeing and is showing signs of increasing regulation, potentially leading towards a moment where Boeing's management structure may face significant changes.

The Insufferable Bros Who Run Corporate America

BIG by Matt Stoller • 56953 implied HN points • 26 Dec 23
💼 Business Monopolies Corporate culture Antitrust enforcement Pharmaceutical industry Marketing
  1. The pharmaceutical industry is heavily influenced by aggressive marketing campaigns targeted at doctors, controlled by corporations like IQVIA.
  2. IQVIA, a major player in the healthcare industry, is involved in a trial over a merger that could impact the future of advertising to healthcare professionals.
  3. The FTC alleges that IQVIA's acquisition of advertising firms like DeepIntent could lead to a monopolization of the healthcare provider advertising platform market.

Fear and Consolidation in the Oil Patch

BIG by Matt Stoller • 20856 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
💼 Business Oil industry Mergers Finance Economy Competition
  1. The oil and gas industry is going through a significant wave of consolidation, with mega-mergers happening between major companies.
  2. The mergers and acquisitions in the industry are driven by challenges in increasing production, high finance strategies, and the desire to showcase access to reserves to investors.
  3. The consolidation will likely lead to squeezed suppliers, reduced innovation, and a shift of industry power from domestic firms to global entities.

Why I Don't Read Reddit

The Honest Broker • 14196 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
💼 Business Technology Finance Management Companies Economics
  1. Reddit relies heavily on unpaid labor with 60,000 daily active moderators compared to around 2,000 employees.
  2. After 18 years, Reddit still isn't profitable, accumulating a $717 million deficit, but it shows potential for profitability with increasing revenues and reduced losses.
  3. Reddit's CEO earned $193 million last year, prompting questions about excessive compensation, and Reddit is heavily reliant on advertising for revenue, putting it in a risky position concerning Google competition.

A Cycle of Misery: The Business of Building Commercial Aircraft

Construction Physics • 27768 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
💼 Business Aviation Manufacturing Industry Competition Economics
  1. Developing a new commercial aircraft is incredibly expensive, with development costs exceeding billions and posing significant financial risks to companies.
  2. Aircraft manufacturers face challenges in predicting market demand and trends, with incorrect guesses leading to financial losses and potentially fatal setbacks.
  3. Given the high costs and risks involved in developing new aircraft, manufacturers often opt to revise existing models to mitigate costs, keep pilot training minimal, and maximize efficiency.

Why is Boeing such a shitty corporation?

Robert Reich • 33589 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
💼 Business Outsourcing Ownership
  1. Airbus has taken the lead over Boeing in manufacturing and sales of commercial aircraft
  2. Boeing's commitment to safety has been doubted by the public and airlines, affecting its reputation
  3. Airbus and Boeing differ in ownership and worker power, which impacts their approach to manufacturing and safety

Why small developers are getting squeezed out of the housing market

Noahpinion • 11588 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
💼 Business Real Estate Finance Development Affordable Housing Banking
  1. Traditional banks aren't willing to take on the risks associated with financing small real estate development projects due to the complex and risky nature of construction work.
  2. Small developers struggle to access financing from traditional lenders because they lack the track record and financial resources required to secure loans, creating a barrier to entry in the industry.
  3. Institutionalization of real estate development by large firms can lead to a loss of community identity, charm, and personalized building designs, highlighting the importance of supporting small developers in creating unique and vibrant neighborhoods.

Astera Labs IPO - The Next Connectivity Superhero or Steamrolled By Competition?

SemiAnalysis • 5354 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
💼 Business Technology Finance Competition Market Analysis Forecasting
  1. Astera Labs is a key player in the AI infrastructure market, supplying connectivity chips to hyperscalers, AI accelerator vendors, and system OEMs.
  2. Connectivity in the datacenter market is highly competitive, but Astera Labs has the opportunity to become a connectivity 'Superhero' by maintaining market share and expanding product lines.
  3. Astera Labs focuses on solving connectivity bottlenecks in high-speed interfaces by offering retimers to improve signal integrity, particularly targeting PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 specs.

Loose Ends

Doomberg • 10309 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
💼 Business Finance Energy Politics Climate Market Analysis
  1. It's important for analysts to reflect on their past work to improve and learn from mistakes.
  2. Understanding the political landscape is crucial for predicting market trends, especially in energy markets.
  3. The strategy of imposing sanctions against Russia may be ineffective and could have negative consequences on the global financial system.

How we could return to the productivity growth of the 1990s

Noahpinion • 4705 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
💼 Business Productivity Economic Policy Investment Labor Market Monetary Policy
  1. Productivity growth is crucial for controlling inflation, maintaining a stable economy, and improving living standards.
  2. To boost productivity growth, a combination of macroeconomic factors like full employment, investment incentives, and stable supply-side conditions is essential.
  3. Three key factors that fostered productivity growth in the 1990s were full employment, high fixed investment, and stable supply with low inflation; replicating these conditions today would require strategic policy interventions.

Dealflow LatAm #1: Welcome!

Dealflow Latam • 99 implied HN points • 22 Apr 24
💼 Business Startup funding
  1. Dealflow LatAm newsletter covers startup funding news, M&A news, investor and accelerator news, startup news, big company and policy news in the Latin American ecosystem.
  2. Sign up for the newsletter to stay updated on the latest from the Latin American startup and VC ecosystem. The curated weekly email delivers relevant articles straight to your inbox every Monday morning.
  3. The newsletter also highlights funding rounds of various startups in Latin America, showcasing the growth and investment activities in the region.

Substack Reads: The business of air miles, Bowie’s favorite books, and cold compost

read • 16116 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
💼 Business Travel Literature Science History Gardening
  1. Frequent-flier point programs were initially designed for occasional free flights, but evolved into turbo-charged schemes for travelers to earn points quickly.
  2. Weighing ingredients in cooking can make a big difference in recipes, especially in baked goods, where even small variations can impact the final texture and taste.
  3. During winter, composting slows down as decomposition rates decrease, signalling a time for compost piles to rest and wait for the warmer season for active decomposition.

ACX Grants Results 2024

Astral Codex Ten • 9429 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
💼 Business Grants Advocacy Global Development Political Change
  1. The ACX Grants Results for 2024 announced several innovative projects that received funding, ranging from lead-acid battery recycling in Nigeria to lobbying for changes in kidney donation laws.
  2. The grantees included projects like developing anti-mosquito drones, creating germicidal UV lightbulbs, and advocating for a specialized pandemic response team at the FDA.
  3. The ACX Grants covered a diverse range of causes, including animal welfare, educational attainment, political change, and innovative medical research like artificial kidney creation and phage therapy.

The Middleman Economy: Why Realtors Just Took a Big Loss and Homebuyers Might Benefit

BIG by Matt Stoller • 38389 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
💼 Business Real Estate Antitrust Market Dynamics Legal Actions
  1. A $1.8 billion antitrust decision against the National Association of Realtors for price-fixing could change the housing market.
  2. The high commission structure for real estate agents in the U.S. could lead to changes in how homes are bought and sold.
  3. Private enforcement of antitrust laws is important in challenging monopolistic practices and promoting fair competition in the real estate industry.

The Price-Fixing Economy

BIG by Matt Stoller • 48129 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
💼 Business Monopoly power Inflation Fairness
  1. Inflation could possibly be driven by consolidation and data sharing in industries like Amazon and meat price-fixing cases.
  2. Price-fixing can involve colluding to raise prices or lower wages, not just about increasing prices for consumers.
  3. People not only dislike high prices but also feel cheated by unfair pricing practices, like hidden fees and tips, impacting their perception of the economy.

The Big Development Project: How much should it cost?

Dev’s Substack • 13 HN points • 25 Apr 24
💼 Business Finance Budgeting Investment Development Analysis
  1. Performing a double worst-case analysis can help determine a reasonable price for a software investment based on the project's business value.
  2. ROI (return on investment) calculation considers total benefits, total costs, and time horizon to assess project profitability.
  3. Setting a target cost for development budget based on the minimum acceptable ROI and apportioning costs between development and operational can guide budget planning.

Google’s Woke AI Wasn’t a Mistake. We Know. We Were There.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2040 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
💼 Business Corporate culture Diversity Bias Tech industry
  1. Google's new AI tool, Gemini, produced biased results in image searches, reflecting the larger issue of the company's culture prioritizing ideologies over excellence.
  2. Former Google employees, including high-profile individuals like Shaun Maguire, expressed concerns over Google's push for diversity, equity, and inclusion leading to compromises in quality and standards.
  3. The fallout from the Gemini AI debacle at Google highlighted the importance of balancing inclusivity with maintaining product quality and unbiased information for users.

2024 Noahpinion subscriber survey!

Noahpinion • 2117 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
💼 Business Blogging
  1. Noahpinion has a large and engaged audience of 12,000 paid subscribers who are smart and fun.
  2. Noah Smith conducts subscriber surveys about once a year to gather feedback on how he's doing and what people would like.
  3. Readers can get a 7-day free trial to access full post archives on Noahpinion's website.

Everything Looks Like A Nail

Where's Your Ed At • 25075 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
💼 Business Technology Venture Capital Inequality Economics
  1. Marc Andreessen wants to portray himself as a victim despite his immense success and wealth.
  2. Andreessen promotes a vision of continuous technological advancement, but his actions and investments often prioritize maintaining the status quo.
  3. Andreessen's manifesto is filled with contradictions and hypocrisy, advocating libertarian economic thinking while benefiting from government intervention.

On Earning Foreign Income: A Book On Lessons And Strategies

Day One • 179 implied HN points • 13 Apr 24
💼 Business Global Market Book
  1. One strategy to hedge against declining local currencies is earning currencies of first-world nations like the US and Great Britain.
  2. Long-term thinking is crucial when aiming to earn in foreign currency, involving market study and adaptation for taking advantage of opportunities.
  3. Building a strong foundation, identifying market needs, and genuinely helping people are key steps towards earning foreign income successfully.

ACX Grants Followup Impact Market

Astral Codex Ten • 1858 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
💼 Business Grants Investment Charity Philanthropy Finance
  1. ACX Grants involves an impact market where investors crowdfund grant proposals with potential for big profits if successful.
  2. Only 44 out of approximately 140 qualified participants have signed up for the impact market so far, with a different approach allowing non-accredited investors to participate.
  3. Investing in impact certificates through this system has risks like potential project failure, but also benefits such as tax deductibility.

Highlights From The Comments On Capitalism & Charity

Astral Codex Ten • 6744 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
💼 Business Charity Capitalism Development Economic Growth
  1. Some comments argue for reiterating the importance of a specific context when considering spending money for charity or capitalism.
  2. There are discussions on the effectiveness of investing in companies with social missions, such as providing microfinance or supporting profitable charitable ventures.
  3. Consideration is given to the balance between supporting capitalism and charitable causes in the context of economic impact and sustainability.

Of falling door plugs and missing bolts and holes in fuselages and 737 Max 9's

Lucian Truscott Newsletter • 3655 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
💼 Business Aerospace Manufacturing Corporate culture Quality control
  1. Private equity in aircraft manufacturing can lead to cost-cutting measures that compromise safety.
  2. Recent accidents involving Boeing 737 models point to potential flaws in design and manufacturing processes.
  3. Pressure to speed up production in the aviation industry can result in quality control issues and safety risks.

Monkey Laundering

Where's Your Ed At • 20772 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
💼 Business Cryptocurrency Venture Capital Investing Market Analysis
  1. Investing in NFTs as a way to own unique digital assets may not guarantee value or ownership of intellectual property.
  2. Many NFT projects overpromise benefits like voting power and ownership in the company, leading to unfulfilled expectations.
  3. The NFT industry is often characterized by scams, fake transactions, and inflated values, preying on the desperation of people seeking investment opportunities.

Messi, Inc.

The Generalist • 2341 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
💼 Business Sports Technology Investing Entrepreneurship Marketing
  1. Being considered the GOAT in a sport can lead to lucrative opportunities and wealth accumulation, as seen with athletes like Michael Jordan and Lionel Messi.
  2. Changes in social media, technology, and athlete earnings have given superstar athletes more power and control over their wealth and commercial endeavors.
  3. Lionel Messi's strategic moves, like moving to America and establishing Play Time, indicate a growing potential for immense wealth through business ventures beyond his football career.

TBM 277: Bring Back Fun

The Beautiful Mess • 1236 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
💼 Business Work Culture Tech industry Company dynamics Productivity Teamwork
  1. Working with interesting people in a fun environment can make solving challenging problems exciting and rewarding.
  2. Many people in product making industries find joy in solving fun problems with diverse and engaging teams.
  3. The current tech landscape is becoming more serious and competitive, with a focus on efficiency, but there is a strong desire to bring back fun, creativity, and collaboration in workplaces.