The hottest Business Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

welcome to not boring world

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 235 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
đź’Ľ Business Media Publishing Subscriptions Startups Content Creators Monetization Community
  1. Not Boring World is a paid section that gathers smart founders, researchers, and creators and helps them co-write longform essays so their best, frontier ideas actually get published.
  2. This is a bet on the written word over podcasts and video: deep, canonical ideas are meant to be written, and the project aims to surface fresh inputs you won't find in LLMs.
  3. They'll build editorial infrastructure and a contributor network to curate those inputs into a coherent 'means and meaning' worldview, funded by subscribers, with community features like chats, debates, and more frequent co-written pieces.

LinkedIn

Public Universal Friend • 79 implied HN points • 02 Sep 24
đź’Ľ Business Marketing Customer Engagement Data Analysis Growth Strategies
  1. Using a customer engagement platform like Customer.io can help marketers improve their targeting and maximize growth. It offers better data management and less need for technical support.
  2. Spring is a great time for businesses to focus on improving conversions through digital marketing strategies. Real-time data can help companies get more return on their investment.
  3. Personal connections and genuine interactions are valuable, even in business communication. Taking the time to show real interest can make a difference.

The Impact of Founder Personalities on Company Success

The VC Corner • 779 implied HN points • 25 May 24
đź’Ľ Business Startups Entrepreneurship Leadership Decision-making Team Dynamics
  1. Founders' personalities really affect how they make decisions. For example, some might be more open to new ideas, helping them find creative solutions, while others may prefer detailed plans to avoid mistakes.
  2. Different types of founders work best together. Having a mix of personalities, like a 'Hipster, Hacker, and Hustler' trio, can boost a startup's chances of success.
  3. A diverse founding team is important. Each member brings unique strengths, which can help the company adapt and grow in challenging situations.

50% Off Lunduke Journal for August

The Lunduke Journal of Technology • 1723 implied HN points • 11 Aug 25
đź’Ľ Business Subscriptions Marketing Sales Pricing Technology
  1. The Lunduke Journal is having a 50% off subscription sale for the entire month of August. This is a great chance to save money while supporting independent tech journalism.
  2. You can choose between a monthly or yearly subscription, with prices starting as low as $3 a month or $27 a year, making it very affordable.
  3. There's also a special Lifetime Subscription available for half price this month, allowing you to pay once for lifetime access to all content from The Lunduke Journal.

Americans are ten times more likely to be fired than Germans

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 61 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
đź’Ľ Business Innovation Automotive Startups Venture Capital Manufacturing Regulation
  1. Europe’s strict job protections, high severance costs, and long collective dismissal procedures make firing expensive, so companies avoid risky experiments that could require later layoffs.
  2. That incentive steers firms toward safe, incremental improvements, keeps startups small or drives them to relocate, and reduces ambitious acquisitions and radical innovation in Europe.
  3. Models like Danish flexicurity, Austria’s portable severance fund, and Switzerland’s looser rules show you can protect workers while lowering the cost of failure, meaning targeted reform could boost big, risky innovators without abandoning social safety nets.
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What I learned in year three of Platformer

Platformer • 4461 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
đź’Ľ Business Journalism Tech Platforms AI Advertising Industry
  1. Platformer has experienced significant growth in subscribers over the past year, thanks to various factors like talented staff, impactful stories, and the Substack recommendations engine.
  2. The broader tech media ecosystem is facing challenges with layoffs and diminishing vitality, prompting journalists to consider the challenges and opportunities of transitioning to independent journalism.
  3. Platformer's plans for the future include expanding the team with new hires, experimenting with newsletter ads, and potentially supporting independent journalism through investments or grants.

Match The Pipes

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1745 implied HN points • 13 Aug 25
đź’Ľ Business Management Leadership Strategy Productivity Operations
  1. In a system, the capacity of the output is limited by the narrowest part, or pipe, so expanding other parts won't help if that part doesn't change. It's important to identify and address this bottleneck to improve overall performance.
  2. As an executive, you have the unique ability to see the entire process and make decisions to improve it, unlike those focused on their own tasks. This broader perspective allows you to manage resources and workloads effectively.
  3. Creating pressure to increase productivity can have negative consequences, such as stress and burnout. It's better to find a balance that promotes a healthy work environment and supports productivity.

We need to get rid of weekends

The Novelleist • 629 implied HN points • 10 Nov 25
đź’Ľ Business Workplace Economics Remote work Productivity
  1. We all tend to work and play at the same time, which causes congestion. If people worked different hours or days, it could ease traffic and make things less crowded.
  2. Flexible work hours have shown to be beneficial. By shifting our work schedules, local businesses like restaurants and parks could thrive on weekdays instead of just weekends.
  3. Companies can change the traditional workweek model. If more businesses adopt flexible schedules, it might solve congestion issues without spending millions on new roads.

OpenAI's Enterprise AI Strategy Is Coming Together (2026)

Enterprise AI Trends • 168 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
đź’Ľ Business AI Strategy Pricing Strategy Market Dynamics Partnerships Investor Relations
  1. OpenAI is shifting from selling raw API tokens to outcome-based, value-sharing deals where it takes a percentage of the value its models help generate.
  2. After cutting inference costs and building ad and free-tier infrastructure, OpenAI is reaccelerating enterprise efforts with consulting, partnerships, and senior sales hires to win back customers.
  3. Combining value-based pricing with service-led sales and org changes aims to prevent model commoditization, capture more application value, and raise switching costs for rivals and clients.

A dying industry dies a bit more

Material World • 2647 implied HN points • 25 Jun 25
đź’Ľ Business Industry Economics Manufacturing Employment Regulation
  1. The Wilton chemical plant that once thrived has become unsustainable due to factors like decreased oil supply and increased competition from Asia. It’s a sad story of change in the industry.
  2. The decline of the plant reflects a larger trend in the UK chemicals industry, highlighting how smaller job losses at various plants can go unnoticed compared to bigger closures like British Steel.
  3. As the UK loses its chemical production capacity, it becomes more reliant on imports, which could have serious implications for important products in everyday life.

The Gospel of Founders Fund

The Generalist • 2561 implied HN points • 26 Jun 25
đź’Ľ Business Venture Capital Entrepreneurship Investment Strategies Tech industry Market Trends
  1. Founders Fund is more than just a venture capital firm; it aims to shape the future of Silicon Valley with its bold ideas and deep tech focus. It's stirring up conversations about innovation and national pride in investing.
  2. Peter Thiel, a key figure in the firm, is known for his contrarian thinking and unique insights. His willingness to challenge conventional ideas shapes the direction of tech investment and attracts unconventional founders.
  3. The firm has successfully invested in cryptocurrencies early on and has made strategic decisions to capitalize on market movements, showcasing its ability to blend analytical thinking with innovative opportunities.

My super simple task management hack

Tiny Empires • 98 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
đź’Ľ Business Productivity Time management Entrepreneurship Strategy Planning Operations Workflow
  1. Pick one clear big goal and use it as the filter for every task you consider.
  2. Each day choose exactly three meaningful tasks from your prioritized list and schedule them the night before or during a weekly planning session.
  3. Block out 1–3 hour calendar slots for those tasks, overestimate how long they’ll take, and treat them like real meetings to ensure focus and accountability.

Economics Links, 12/25/2025

In My Tribe • 273 implied HN points • 25 Dec 25
đź’Ľ Business Productivity Trade policy Industrial Policy Economic History Investment Labor markets
  1. Productivity often comes from many small, practical, firm-level efficiency improvements and incremental innovations rather than a single big breakthrough.
  2. There are multiple competing explanations for why industrialization happens, so no single factor fully explains events like Britain’s early industrial revolution.
  3. Some argue protectionism or industrial policy can shelter and encourage domestic manufacturing investment, while others warn such policies often do more harm than good and that trade deficits can reflect productive capital imports. Being able to sustain attention and mental effort—cognitive endurance—is becoming an important skill for many modern jobs.

How To Promote Your Service Business Online For Free

VERY GOOD PRODUCTIZED GUIDES • 239 implied HN points • 29 Jul 24
đź’Ľ Business Marketing Customer Acquisition Online presence Entrepreneurship Networking
  1. Identify where your potential customers hang out online and focus your marketing efforts there. Using platforms like Email and LinkedIn can really help you connect with the right people.
  2. List your business on free directories to improve your visibility. Even just a couple of free listings can significantly boost your website traffic and bring in more potential clients.
  3. Create attractive offers to draw in new clients and build trust. Giving something away for free can spark interest and lead to potential future business deals.

Blogging class: Multiple blogs

Sex and the State • 15 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
đź’Ľ Business Content Marketing Strategy Branding Operations Publishing Social media
  1. Running multiple blogs doubles the setup and maintenance work and makes it harder for new readers to discover all your writing.
  2. People follow people more than topics, so keeping your work in one place helps readers connect with you across different subjects.
  3. You can’t please everyone, so it’s better to have a distinct voice that attracts devoted readers; only split into separate blogs if the audiences or goals are truly incompatible.

Movers, Shakers, & Money Makers (10/14)

Human Capitalist • 19 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
đź’Ľ Business Employment Management Finance Marketing Job Changes
  1. Several key job changes happened recently, showing interesting shifts in various industries. People are moving to new roles that might change their companies significantly.
  2. Big tech alumni are finding new opportunities in different fields, indicating a trend of high talent being reused across industries. This could lead to innovation in sectors outside big tech.
  3. Monitoring job changes can be valuable for investors, recruiters, or anyone interested in career movements. Staying updated helps you know where talent is heading.

8 Key Themes You Should Be Preparing For Your Behavioral Interviews

Behavioral OS for Techies • 219 implied HN points • 01 Aug 24
đź’Ľ Business Interviews Career development Human Resources Employee Experience
  1. You should prepare stories about your experiences with customers. This can show how you improve their experience and handle complaints.
  2. It's important to share your successes and how you overcame challenges. This helps interviewers see your problem-solving skills and achievements.
  3. Think about times you've faced failure or conflict. Sharing these experiences can show how you learn from mistakes and work well with others.

“We Are Not as Wealthy as We Thought We Were”: Postscript 1

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 273 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
đź’Ľ Business Economics Real Estate Housing Public Policy Inequality Urbanism
  1. Rents have risen a lot and in a regressive way, with the cheapest neighborhoods hit hardest and lowest-income renters effectively losing about 15% of their incomes to higher rents—effects that common national statistics miss.
  2. The problem is a shortage and a lack of easy substitutes: constrained construction capacity and tighter mortgage access have created a paid premium for “nothing” (scarcity tied to location), so this isn’t mainly about agglomeration demand.
  3. The solution is a very large increase in housing supply across many locations—not just building smaller "affordable" units or blocking luxury projects—so millions of homes or billions of square feet must be added to eliminate the "nothing" premium.

Tokens: The New Oil

Software Design: Tidy First? • 2010 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
đź’Ľ Business Startups Technology Investment Management Strategy
  1. When demand for your product grows rapidly, you need to shift your focus from exploration to expansion. It's all about managing resources to keep up with demand.
  2. Survival in this phase means making tough choices, like cutting features or limiting users, to ensure you have enough capacity. Don't worry about being perfect; just keep your product alive.
  3. Investors may be excited to fund you now, but your real challenge is managing resources effectively. Focus on quick, practical solutions to keep things running and adapt as you grow.

The Consulting Crash Is Coming

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2170 implied HN points • 10 Jul 25
đź’Ľ Business Consulting Economics Marketing Corporate strategy Industry Trends
  1. Consulting firms, once seen as valuable, might be facing a decline because they are becoming less relevant and more bloated.
  2. Many believe that the work done by consultants often benefits their own profits rather than helping their clients effectively.
  3. With advancements in AI and changes in business needs, the future of consulting is uncertain, and some experts are advising against investing in the industry.

Monkey Laundering

Where's Your Ed At • 20772 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
đź’Ľ 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.

Far From GrĂĽven

Doomberg • 7157 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
đź’Ľ Business Economics Industry Energy Manufacturing Labor
  1. Germany's automotive industry is struggling due to poor energy policies and reliance on expensive energy sources. This could lead to factory closures and job losses.
  2. China is effectively using its energy resources to boost its production and economic strength, while European countries are facing the consequences of their energy choices.
  3. Volkswagen's recent financial troubles highlight the bigger issues facing Germany's heavy industry, and there are urgent changes needed to avoid further decline.

Founders Fund: The Kingdom

The Generalist • 2341 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
đź’Ľ Business Venture Capital Tech startups Investment Strategies Economic Trends Defense industry
  1. Founders Fund has a huge influence in technology and government, caring about military and defense tech. They believe in building new companies rather than just waiting for good ideas to come.
  2. Their unique approach has led to successful startups like Anduril, which has a high valuation. Founders Fund's way of thinking helps them support innovative companies in challenging fields.
  3. The story of Trae Stephens illustrates how personal drive and vision can lead to success in high-stakes environments. His journey through education and career decisions reflects the importance of determination and adapting to change.

Europe’s Great Founders Must Unretire

The Generalist • 2201 implied HN points • 10 Jul 25
đź’Ľ Business Entrepreneurship Innovation Tech industry Cultural norms Productivity
  1. Many successful entrepreneurs in Europe tend to retire early, which limits their impact on innovation and growth. This is different from their American counterparts, who often continue building new ventures after achieving success.
  2. The cultural values in Europe encourage a more relaxed approach to work-life balance, which can lead to complacency among founders. This makes it less socially acceptable for them to continue pushing for new challenges and projects.
  3. For Europe to remain competitive in global technology, it needs its best founders to stay active in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Encouraging these talented individuals to create and innovate is essential for the continent's future.

Brex’s exit isn’t a failure

Alex's Personal Blog • 164 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
đź’Ľ Business Startups M&A Venture Capital Fintech Valuations Corporate Finance Regulation
  1. Brex's sale to Capital One for about $5.15 billion should be seen as a success, not a failure. Despite earlier frothy valuations, the company turned more than a billion of investor capital into a multi‑billion dollar exit.
  2. OpenAI is growing rapidly and is financially healthy; it added over $1 billion in ARR in a month and still has large cash reserves and access to new funding. That makes the 'running out of money' narrative unlikely in the near term.
  3. The tech landscape is mixed: regulators are signaling tougher scrutiny of big-company acquisitions and layoffs continue at major firms, even as self‑driving services expand into new cities. Growth and dealmaking will therefore occur under greater pressure and oversight.

Issue #13 - Defining the Data Operating Model

The Data Ecosystem • 359 implied HN points • 07 Jul 24
đź’Ľ Business Data Strategy Organizational Structure Team Dynamics Business Processes Collaboration
  1. A Data Operating Model is key for turning data strategy into action. It outlines how the organization works to achieve its goals using data.
  2. Without a proper Data Operating Model, companies face problems like data silos and short-term thinking. This impacts collaboration and the quality of data solutions.
  3. Successful operating models need to adapt as teams grow and change. They should cover not just team structure but also day-to-day tasks, delivery methods, and oversight.

How To Determine If You Have The Product-Market Fit - From a16z & Sequoia Capital. | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 419 implied HN points • 28 Jun 24
đź’Ľ Business Venture Capital Startup funding Tech news Decision-making
  1. Product-Market Fit is crucial for startups; it means customers are buying and using the product enthusiastically.
  2. Metrics are key to determine Product-Market Fit; track factors like customer acquisition cost, customer lifetime value, and retention rates.
  3. If you haven't achieved Product-Market Fit, focus on customer feedback, keep your team lean, and avoid ineffective shortcuts.

There Are No Safe Havens

Freddie deBoer • 6621 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
đź’Ľ Business Labor Market Tech industry Career development
  1. The job market for entry-level programmers has drastically declined, with job postings dropping significantly. It's harder than ever for new coders to find work right now.
  2. While skilled and experienced programmers still have good job prospects, the narrative around learning to code often ignores that not everyone can secure those top jobs.
  3. The promise of tech jobs being a guaranteed path to success is misleading, especially for beginners who face tough competition in a shrinking market.

Abolish HR

antoniomelonio • 168 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
đź’Ľ Business Human Resources Recruiting Hiring AI Automation Workplace Employment Law
  1. HR mainly exists to protect management and the company from legal and reputational risk, not to serve applicants or employees.
  2. HR processes are often incompetent and harmful: they rely on keywords, gut feelings, and bureaucratic rituals that misassess skills, ghost candidates, and amplify bias.
  3. Hiring should be led by the people who do the work, with transparent, audited tools that evaluate real skills and give feedback — in short, abolish performative HR and replace it with accountable systems.

Work: The Four Big Shifts.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 84 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
đź’Ľ Business Workforce Organizational Design Leadership Talent Management AI adoption Future work Gig Economy Career development
  1. Work is becoming uncoupled from full-time jobs — companies will use more project-based hiring, freelancers, fractional roles, and AI agents to get work done.
  2. The future workforce will be a blend of humans and AI agents, with many people working fractional hours or as contractors, which changes benefits, hiring, and how work is managed.
  3. Leadership and organizations must reinvent: leaders need to learn and unlearn quickly and shift from control to influence. Companies should go AI-first, hire talent from anywhere, and become smaller, more agile, and distributed.

Translating Data Buzzwords Into Real Requirements

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 412 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
đź’Ľ Business Data science Project management Communication Technology Trends Business strategy
  1. Data teams often struggle to explain complex terms that business leaders misunderstand. This leads to confusion and unmet expectations.
  2. Buzzwords like 'real-time' and 'data quality' can sound impressive, but they often miss the real needs of the business.
  3. Understanding the actual requirements behind data projects is crucial to avoid wasted effort and ensure solutions are effective.

Panic Among the Streamers

The Honest Broker • 22673 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
đź’Ľ Business Technology Entertainment Finance Economy Industry
  1. Spotify's CEO sold $100 million in stock amidst the company's increasing losses, causing concern among investors.
  2. Streaming companies like Netflix and Disney are heavily investing in AI technology, potentially replacing human creativity with bots.
  3. Music streaming platforms like Spotify prioritize profit over user experience, creating a bland and generic listening environment.

Top Links 927 Concentration risk. The middle technology trap. C5+1 & "synchronous world".

Chartbook • 515 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
đź’Ľ Business Market Trends Finance Economics Technology Globalization
  1. Concentration risk is a big issue to watch in the current tech landscape. A few companies hold a lot of power, which can create instability.
  2. The tech industry might be stuck in a middle technology trap. This means that, while there are advancements, we may not be progressing as quickly as expected.
  3. The concept of a synchronous world highlights how interconnected today's global systems are. Events in one part of the world can have immediate effects elsewhere.

The Generalist’s Productivity Stack

The Generalist • 5063 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
đź’Ľ Business Productivity Management Technology Workplace Tools
  1. Start your day by choosing three important tasks to focus on. This helps keep your day organized and priorities clear.
  2. Try speaking your emails instead of writing them. It saves time and makes responding easier, especially for tricky messages.
  3. Use tools like Claude to help take notes while you read. It saves you time and keeps your information organized for later use.

The successful YouTube channels hiding in plain sight

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 299 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
đź’Ľ Business Media Advertising Streaming Social Platforms Podcasts Creator Economy
  1. White-noise and other long-play YouTube videos can earn outsized revenue through YouTube Premium because they accumulate huge watch time, giving them much higher CPMs than typical videos.
  2. Host-read podcast ads perform better in audio-only environments than on YouTube video, so advertisers should ask for audio vs. video impression breakdowns and value audio impressions more highly.
  3. Platforms are simultaneously cracking down on deceptive AI content and rolling out more aggressive ad features and paywalls, so creators and brands must track changing policies and sponsorship opportunities to adapt monetization strategies.

The AI churn wave?

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 441 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
đź’Ľ Business SaaS Startups Growth Revenue Retention Pricing Sales
  1. AI-native apps have much lower retention than traditional B2B SaaS because many users are experimental and leave after trying the product.
  2. Pricing and distribution matter a lot: cheap, self-serve AI tools (under $50/mo) see massive churn while products above about $250/mo show retention similar to B2B SaaS.
  3. Sustained growth depends on durable retention. To reduce churn, focus on real-budget workflows, offer services or forward-deployed engineers, avoid overselling, accelerate adoption, and favor annual plans.

What working at Figma taught me about customer obsession

Lenny's Newsletter • 3852 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
đź’Ľ Business Product Development Customer Support User Experience
  1. Encourage teams to engage directly with customers and build a culture of supporting users.
  2. Learning from customer interactions helps teams move faster and nurtures a community around the product.
  3. Prioritize the 'feel' of software to drive adoption, and focus on performance, familiarity, and consistency.