The hottest Business Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Meditations on Founder Mode

The Engineering Leader • 79 implied HN points • 08 Sep 24
💼 Business Leadership Management Entrepreneurship Organizational Behavior Strategy
  1. Founder Mode allows leaders to be more hands-on and in touch with their company. This helps them make quick decisions that align with their original vision.
  2. While Founder Mode can be effective in early stages, it doesn't scale well in larger companies because one person can't manage everything.
  3. Great leaders know when to switch between being hands-on and delegating tasks. This flexibility is key to adapting to a company's growth and changing needs.

Issue #12 – The Three Biggest Data Problems Companies Face

The Data Ecosystem • 239 implied HN points • 30 Jun 24
💼 Business Data Management Organizational Structure Process Improvement Data Quality Technology Integration
  1. Companies often struggle with a data operating model that doesn't connect well with their other teams. This leads to isolation among data specialists, making it hard to work effectively.
  2. Data models, which are important for understanding and using data correctly, are often overlooked. When organizations don’t reference these models, they can drift further away from their goals.
  3. Many data quality issues come from deeper problems within the organization, like poor data governance and inconsistent processes. Fixing just the visible data quality issues won't solve the bigger problems.

This Week in Marketing: TikTok is local, Instagram is loco, Discord is locked, and AI is labor

The Social Juice • 39 implied HN points • 15 Feb 26
💼 Business Social media Advertising AI Platforms Marketing Regulation Data Privacy Media
  1. Social platforms are racing to add new features and revenue streams — think TikTok’s local feed and Shop, X and LinkedIn subscriptions, and Meta/YouTube ad and AI tools driving creator commerce.
  2. Those product pushes are colliding with privacy, safety and legal headaches — Discord’s age checks sparked backlash, Instagram faced scrutiny over youth harm, and Google and Meta are under regulatory and antitrust pressure.
  3. AI is booming in investment and productization, but it’s also intensifying work and creating real risks — studies, botched real‑world uses, fake experts and automation worries show the tradeoffs as companies rush to monetize AI.

America's Housing Rebound

The Overshoot • 1316 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
💼 Business Housing Real Estate Construction Mortgage Rates Economic Growth
  1. Despite high mortgage rates, construction and renovation spending in the US housing market have been holding steady or accelerating.
  2. Housing sales and construction are greatly impacted by changes in monetary policy and credit availability.
  3. The rebound in house prices and construction reflects the broader growth and asset price acceleration in the US economy post-pandemic.

The 5 levels of communicating impact as an engineer

High Growth Engineer • 1285 implied HN points • 06 Jul 25
💼 Business Management Communications Performance Professional development Engineering
  1. When communicating your work as an engineer, it's important to go beyond just saying what you did. Focus on showing the impact and results of your actions.
  2. Use clear and specific numbers to explain how your work improved outcomes. This helps leadership understand the significance of your contributions.
  3. The best way to showcase your impact is to tie it to business goals and finances. If you can show how your work saves money or increases revenue, it makes your achievements even more valuable.
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Do content creators need managers?

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 1164 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
💼 Business Content creation Digital Media Entertainment industry Social media
  1. Content creators are questioning the need for managers. Some creators, like MrBeast and Charli D'Amelio, have chosen to handle their business operations themselves instead of relying on management companies.
  2. A manager named Zack Honarvar believes creators should work with creative partners instead of traditional managers. His new company aims to help creators pitch ideas and collaborate in building their brands.
  3. YouTube is becoming more like traditional TV, with more viewers watching it on bigger screens. This means creators need to think about their channels as networks with various series they can pitch to brands.

Be part of the solution, not part of the problem

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 2256 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
💼 Business Management Accountability Incident Response Communication Documentation
  1. Notify all stakeholders before making any production changes to avoid becoming part of the problem.
  2. Overcommunicate during a problem by sharing information to involve stakeholders in finding solutions.
  3. Make yourself accountable for mistakes to be a part of the solution and promote learning and improvement.

How I Grew My Substack Newsletter Views by 511% in 30 Days🤯

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 819 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
💼 Business Marketing Finance Entrepreneurship Online Media Content creation
  1. Experimenting can lead to big results in growing your newsletter. Trying new things is important for success.
  2. You might be surprised by how much more traffic your newsletter can get. It's possible to improve your visibility and engagement.
  3. Joining supportive communities and learning resources can really help you grow. Connecting with others can provide valuable insights and motivation.

Saying The Quiet Part Out Loud

Investing 101 • 64 implied HN points • 24 Jan 26
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Investing Acquisitions Corporate strategy Leadership
  1. People in venture and business are playing different games — playing to win, playing for power, or playing to survive — and each game leads to different goals and behaviors.
  2. The real mistake is pretending everyone is playing the same game; not recognizing others' aims will make you compete on the wrong terms and cost you.
  3. Be deliberate about which game you choose and play it well; don’t let winners or power players drag you into their game if it doesn’t fit your goals.

#49 - Shift Right, Dear Middle Manager.

OSS.fund Newsletter • 37 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
💼 Business Management Org Design Leadership Strategy Operations Workforce Change Management
  1. AI is likely to cut or compress coordination-heavy middle management jobs first, like meeting coordinators, status reporters, and standardised team leads.
  2. Managers who design systems, own outcomes, and handle ambiguity will become more valuable and are less likely to be replaced.
  3. Survival means automating coordination, owning a measurable outcome, becoming the control plane that sets policies and escalations, and moving closer to money or risk.

Lessons from my experience of getting my resume shortlisted at AWS

Behavioral OS for Techies • 79 implied HN points • 15 Aug 24
💼 Business Career development Job Searching Networking Resume Writing Interview Preparation
  1. Find the right job role and focus your applications. It's better to apply for a few perfect matches than a lot of random ones.
  2. Tailor your resume for each job. Highlight your relevant skills and experiences to match the job description closely.
  3. Build a strong network and ask for referrals. Connections can help you get noticed and increase your chances of being shortlisted.

Letters to a Young Founder: Immad Akhund of Mercury

The Generalist • 1160 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
💼 Business Fintech Entrepreneurship Leadership Startups Innovation
  1. Shipping products with clear intention is crucial for success. It helps in creating items that truly meet customer needs.
  2. Being open to innovative and unconventional ideas can lead to unique products. This can set your company apart in a crowded market.
  3. Growth as a leader involves constant learning and adapting. It's important to reflect on your experiences and make improvements over time.

CROSSPOST: JOSH BARRO: Good Things Are Good

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 15 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
💼 Business Macroeconomics Productivity Markets Technology Policy Labor Innovation
  1. The idea that AI-driven productivity will cause a 2028 market crash is implausible because it doesn't show how rising productivity would suddenly collapse demand.
  2. Large productivity gains that raise most people's real incomes are more likely to boost consumption than push the economy into a liquidity trap.
  3. It's reasonable to worry about real risks from AI, but 'too much productivity growth' isn't one of them — turning good news into a macroeconomic disaster is a rhetorical trick.

Mailbag: 25 year old "winner" on the default path: should I quit?

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 84 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
💼 Business Careers Freelancing Entrepreneurship Work Life Remote work
  1. Don’t worry about being “too early” to change paths; instead ask whether your next job or project will keep your energy and skills steady or growing and pick moves that challenge you.
  2. Quitting without a plan can be scary but it can also quickly improve your well‑being by forcing self‑knowledge and clarifying tradeoffs, and feeling content can be a real form of success.
  3. Make changes in ways that reduce risk: check finances, emotional costs, relationships, and whether the move is reversible, and consider part‑time, gig, or creative experiments (your “leap capital”) instead of a 9–5 return.

How to Raise Your First Fund💼, 2024 Midas List🏆, Analyzing Startup Financials 📊

The VC Corner • 319 implied HN points • 09 Jun 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Investment Strategies Financial Analysis
  1. Raising your first fund can be a challenging but rewarding process. It's important to prepare thoroughly and understand your investors' needs.
  2. The 2024 Midas List highlights top performers in venture capital. This list can give insights into successful investors and trends in the industry.
  3. Analyzing startup financials is vital for making informed investment decisions. A solid grasp of finances helps in assessing a startup's potential for growth.

You should be playing with AI agents for marketing

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 1301 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
💼 Business Marketing Technology Startups AI Automation
  1. Using AI agents for marketing can boost efficiency by handling various tasks that would normally require multiple team members. These agents are like having a group of helpers that can work around the clock.
  2. Each business can create a tailored set of AI agents specific to their needs. This means that instead of treating AI like just another tool, businesses can think of AI agents as part of their team.
  3. It's important for leaders to delegate tasks to AI agents. The benefit comes from identifying workflows that can be automated and training the AI to take over those responsibilities.

From $5 to $200,000 Writing on Fiverr — Interview with Maya Sayvanova

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 679 implied HN points • 05 Apr 24
💼 Business Freelancing Marketing Entrepreneurship Success Strategies
  1. Freelance writers need to prioritize marketing themselves. It helps build their reputation and success in platforms like Fiverr.
  2. Quitting a regular job can offer freedom and opportunities, but it requires dedication. Choosing the right clients can lead to better pay and work-life balance.
  3. To succeed as a writer, commit fully and be resourceful. It's important to overcome excuses like lack of time or money to pursue your goals.

How to Invest in Space Tech: The Case of Rocket Lab

Space Ambition • 179 implied HN points • 12 Jul 24
💼 Business Investment Venture Capital Technology Startups Market Analysis
  1. Rocket Lab focuses on launching small payloads which is a growing need in the satellite market. This makes their service essential for companies needing timely deliveries.
  2. The company's innovative technology, such as 3D-printed engines, allows them to offer flexible launch options. This gives customers more control over their launch schedules.
  3. Despite some competition, Rocket Lab has a good chance to become a leader in its niche. Their strong team and existing client commitments make them an appealing investment.

Storytelling is the new clickbait, can B2B capitalise?

Mehdeeka • 5 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26
💼 Business Marketing B2B Social media Branding Content Strategy Advertising
  1. New short, personal story formats grab attention by using first-person hooks, cliffhangers, and subtle or late product mentions to drive clicks.
  2. B2B can use storytelling, but only if your customers are actually on those platforms; focus on building an owned, engaged audience and a distinctive brand using platform-native formats.
  3. Don’t chase every trend — audit channels, compare time and budget to results, cut underperformers, and reallocate resources to focused experiments or to hiring/outsourcing so you can do fewer channels well.

How Successful Startups Solved the Chicken and Egg Problem: A Case Study of Tinder, Uber and Airbnb! | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 359 implied HN points • 30 May 24
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Marketplaces
  1. The Chicken and Egg Problem is common in marketplace-type businesses, requiring both supply and demand to succeed.
  2. Successful startups like Tinder, Airbnb, and Uber found creative solutions to attract their first users and overcome the challenge of building a two-sided platform.
  3. Timing is crucial for startups; being in a small market that is growing quickly can greatly increase your chances of success.

We don't need to just make up fantasy stories

Economic Forces • 21 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
💼 Business Economics Macroeconomics Labor markets Market Theory AI Automation Industry Analysis
  1. GDP accounting means output turned into income never just disappears; if automation shifts income from workers to capital owners, that money gets spent or saved and fuels other parts of the economy.
  2. Prices provide a natural brake: cheaper AI-driven supply pushes prices down, which tends to raise demand or shift consumption and prevents an endless negative spiral unless a specific blocking mechanism exists.
  3. You can’t extrapolate from a few firms to the whole economy — comparative advantage and new consumer demand lead people and firms to reallocate into new roles, so automation changes jobs and wages but doesn’t automatically cause total collapse.

The 49-Year Unicorn Backlog🦄, AI has a gross margin problem🤖, The Path to CFO📚

The VC Corner • 379 implied HN points • 26 May 24
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Finance Economics Management
  1. There is a significant backlog of unicorn startups that have yet to go public. This may impact the market's dynamics.
  2. Artificial Intelligence is facing challenges with its gross margins. Companies need to find ways to improve profitability as costs rise.
  3. There are clear steps and paths for finance professionals aiming to become CFOs. Understanding the necessary skills and experiences is crucial for career advancement.

Consumer Investing Struggled Even in the Boom Times. 2023 Was Worse. Can AI Save It?

Newcomer • 1316 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
💼 Business Investing Startups AI Consumer Tech Venture Capital
  1. Consumer investing in 2023 struggled, especially in sectors like e-commerce and social media.
  2. Investors are looking towards AI-powered consumer startups for a potential resurgence in 2024.
  3. The focus is shifting towards AI tools that benefit hobbyists, workers, and small businesses, rather than consumer-facing AI apps.

“The Hardest Coordination Problem on Earth”

The Generalist • 1060 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Logistics Leadership Management Startups
  1. Focus on velocity, not just speed. It's important for your team to move quickly but also in the same direction towards the same goals.
  2. Use clear decision rights to maintain order. Make sure everyone knows who is responsible for what decisions to avoid confusion and internal politics.
  3. Don’t try to change everything at once. Some old practices may still be effective, and it's better to identify which parts need innovation rather than reinventing the entire process.

Pity the Harvard Undergrad

In My Tribe • 865 implied HN points • 07 Aug 25
💼 Business Employment Technology Artificial Intelligence Job Market Consulting
  1. AI is quickly taking over jobs that used to be done by humans, especially in fields like law and finance. This means fewer entry-level jobs for new graduates.
  2. Harvard graduates may need to find jobs that mix different skills, like working with people and technology, to stay relevant and employed.
  3. In the future, almost all jobs that rely on writing or analysis will involve software development. Graduates will need to think like software developers to stay valuable in the job market.

The case against living in the Bay Area, for ambitious tech people

Cloud Irregular • 3548 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Tech industry Venture Capital Startup Culture Market Dynamics
  1. Living in the Bay Area might not be necessary for tech success. There are many ways to build a successful career outside of that bubble.
  2. The traditional SaaS business model may not be as effective anymore. Companies should focus on creating value in other ways beyond just software.
  3. A balanced team is better than one dominated by technical skills. Recognizing the importance of marketing, sales, and other roles can lead to better business outcomes.

Tesla's Latest Proxy Statement Is Materially Misleading

lawrence’s Substack • 459 implied HN points • 09 May 24
💼 Business Corporate Governance Legal issues Ethics
  1. When public companies solicit shareholder votes, they must provide accurate and complete information in proxy statements to avoid being misleading or false.
  2. Tesla's April 17 proxy statement has critical flaws, such as omitting details about the DOJ investigation into Tesla's self-driving claims and failing to disclose pertinent information about Kathleen Wilson-Thompson's ties to the company.
  3. Legal challenges are expected regarding Tesla's attempt to reinstate Musk's 2018 compensation plan, especially due to deficiencies in the proxy statement.

This Week in Marketing: Social Media Addiction vs. Human-Free Social Media and AI Layoffs

The Social Juice • 63 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
💼 Business Marketing Advertising Social media Technology Artificial Intelligence Media Regulation
  1. Social platforms are in flux as users, creators and advertisers react to trust, moderation and product changes — some people are ditching apps like TikTok while new, AI‑only social networks and 'desocialized' feeds emerge.
  2. AI is reshaping media and jobs: companies are pouring money into agentic tools and ad tech even as some firms cut roles and many new AI startups and features debut, with uneven product success.
  3. Safety, legal and privacy pressures are rising as regulators, courts and publishers push back — youth addiction trials, encryption and data investigations, deepfakes and mass breaches are driving demands for controls and opt‑outs.

Leave the "Casino": You don't need to play silly games as an indie entrepreneur | Q&A with Jessica Lackey | #320

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 98 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Strategy Operations Marketing Monetization Consulting Career
  1. Don’t gamble on quick fixes, viral hacks, or pricey masterminds — those are the “casino” tactics where the house usually wins. Focus on real business models and the trade-offs that make them sustainable.
  2. Building a profitable solo business takes time and clear choices, often years of work; prioritize frameworks, consistent long-form content, and relationship-driven sales instead of chasing follower counts.
  3. Operational thinking and repeatable rhythms matter: use frameworks and processes to run your business, and treat products (like books) as leverage that still require years of work and ongoing maintenance alongside active client work.

Which brands are sponsoring newsletters?

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 199 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
💼 Business Marketing Advertising Media Sponsorships Analytics
  1. Many brands are starting to sponsor newsletters, showing they see value in this advertising method.
  2. Tracking newsletter sponsorships can help publishers understand which brands are actively spending money on ads.
  3. It's helpful for anyone looking to sell sponsorships to know which brands have already advertised in other newsletters.