The hottest Business Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

We are back!

Off to Lunch • 1218 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
💼 Business News Podcasts Leadership Startups Management
  1. Off to Lunch newsletter is back for 2024 with exciting plans, including relaunching Business Leader magazine.
  2. The podcast associated with Off to Lunch covers big business stories and interviews key figures like the CEO of Seedrs and UK boss of Peloton.
  3. Important news stories highlighted include weakening UK job market, Artifact app closing down, and Adidas CEO sharing his phone number with all staff for feedback.

The CTO's Silent Struggle

The CTO Substack • 279 implied HN points • 13 Jun 24
💼 Business Leadership Management Communication Technology Career development
  1. Being technically correct isn't enough for a CTO. It's important to communicate effectively with the rest of the team to be truly understood.
  2. CTOs often feel unheard and frustrated, especially when their technical insights aren’t respected. They need to connect their concerns to the company's overall goals more clearly.
  3. Success as a CTO comes from focusing on team dynamics and collaboration rather than just being right. Building relationships and understanding others' perspectives is key.

#45 - Thought Experiment - Your "flexible" is hiding operational debt

OSS.fund Newsletter • 94 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
💼 Business Operations Strategy Product Sales Finance Technology Customer Experience Organizational Design
  1. What you call flexibility may be hiding operational debt: manual workarounds, spreadsheets, and institutional memory erode margins and create single points of failure.
  2. AI can encode client-specific rules and handle exceptions at scale, letting you deliver personalized experiences without increasing marginal human effort.
  3. Audit recent special deals, map their hidden workflows, and encode repeatable rules so agents handle predictable exceptions while humans focus only on true edge cases.

Movers, Shakers, & Money Makers (8/19)

Human Capitalist • 119 implied HN points • 20 Aug 24
💼 Business Job Market Employment Trends Leadership Changes
  1. Several key people have changed jobs recently, which can affect the companies they join. Understanding these moves can give insights into industry trends.
  2. New roles, such as leaders taking on positions in product marketing or growth, can shape how companies innovate and respond to market demands.
  3. Tracking job changes can be helpful for recruiters, investors, and anyone curious about talent movement in important companies.

Proposals Don't Work

VERY GOOD PRODUCTIZED GUIDES • 159 implied HN points • 15 Jul 24
💼 Business Consulting Pricing Models Service Design Business Strategies
  1. Creating proposals is hard and often time-consuming because it can be overwhelming to decide what to offer clients. Instead of struggling with proposals, it's better to focus on defining clear services.
  2. Ditching proposals for a scalable pricing model can save time and make it easier to get clients. Using upfront billing means clients agree to your terms right away, like a product purchase.
  3. There are different pricing models you can use, like one-time services, monthly subscriptions, or a mix of both. This way, you can offer consistent services without repeating the proposal process for each client.
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The Gold, the Shovels, and the Switch: Looking Forward at Big Tech’s AI Cap-Ex Build-Out without the Existential AGI Bet

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 169 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
💼 Business Tech Strategy Cloud Computing AI Infrastructure Business Models Market Dynamics
  1. Big tech is building lots of AI infrastructure not because it’s betting the farm on core AI products, but to capture the rents from the AI boom by selling infrastructure and services.
  2. The AI labs are the ones digging for breakthrough models and customer demand, but core AI products may have low margins and fickle users, so those businesses carry higher risk of a bust.
  3. Cloud and platform companies often commoditize or give away core AI tools to protect their high‑margin businesses, and investors are increasingly valuing firms based on real cash generation rather than AI hype.

Do you ever wonder? Podcast

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 42 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
💼 Business Real Estate Housing Market Finance Economics Interviews Media
  1. A podcast interview explains the main forces shaping today’s housing market in a clear, approachable way.
  2. The conversation is concise—under an hour—so it’s a quick way to get up to speed on key ideas.
  3. It serves as an accessible introduction to the speaker’s perspective on housing, useful for newcomers and busy listeners.

Now is the time for creators to build on their own land

Substack • 2703 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
💼 Business Digital Media Creator Economy Social Platforms Audience engagement
  1. Creators should have their own space on the internet rather than relying solely on social media. This gives them control over their content and audience.
  2. Platforms like Substack allow creators to own their work and generate direct income from subscribers. This is a more reliable income source than traditional ad revenue.
  3. Using platforms like Substack as a home base doesn't mean abandoning other social media. It allows creators to deepen connections with fans while still reaching new audiences.

The Defiant Way to Build an AI-First Brand (Stop Playing Safe)

Crypto Good • 9 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
💼 Business Branding Marketing Startups Strategy Product Technology
  1. Use AI to be defiant, not just efficient — make visuals that demand attention instead of blending in.
  2. Use bold images paired with fearless quotes. Pull inspiration from songs, books, or found objects and learn the AI skills to remix and superimpose text into unique visuals.
  3. Build with AI every day and combine multiple models and workflows to keep your brand voice unmistakable. Share your process, iterate publicly, and use practical tools to accelerate your mission.

The Great Saudi Arabian State “Pay To Play” Scheme

Richard Lewis • 1022 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
💼 Business Esports Saudi Arabia Corporate Influence Ethics Sponsorship
  1. Esports World Cup program provides financial assistance to organizations in exchange for participation in tournaments and generating viewership.
  2. Saudi Arabian state heavily involved in funding and controlling Esports World Cup, aiming to increase global recognition through esports.
  3. Esports organizations receiving stimulus payments from Saudi Arabia may face conflicts of interest and compromise on integrity due to financial ties.

Is Solopreneurship Right For You?

Elena's Growth Scoop • 2063 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Product-Market Fit Monetization Career growth
  1. Starting as a solopreneur is like starting any other business, using skills from your job to help grow yourself.
  2. For solopreneurs, differentiation comes from specificity in knowledge, focusing on specific industries or business models.
  3. As a solopreneur, build a portfolio of monetizable services and explore advising opportunities for a flexible and potentially more rewarding path.

The Shape of Leadership

Fish Food for Thought • 83 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
💼 Business Leadership Management Strategy Organization Culture Teams Operations
  1. Leadership can take two effective shapes: a V-formation with clear direction, roles, and efficiency, or a murmuration with decentralized, rule-based adaptability.
  2. The right pattern depends on the situation — use V-style structure when coordination and reliability matter, and murmuration-style autonomy when uncertainty, speed, and learning matter.
  3. Leaders make either pattern work by shaping conditions: rotate leadership, clarify purpose and constraints, build trust and feedback, and align incentives so the chosen pattern isn’t undermined.

Movers, Shakers, & Money Makers (9/1)

Human Capitalist • 79 implied HN points • 03 Sep 24
💼 Business Job Market Talent Management Corporate changes Career development Workforce Trends
  1. Several notable job changes happened recently, including a long-time Google employee moving to OpenAI. These changes can indicate where innovation is heading.
  2. People are shifting roles at important companies, such as a new head of robot software at Zoox from Nuro. This shows the ongoing evolution in technology and leadership in different sectors.
  3. Watching these job changes can help investors and recruiters identify key talent and trends in the job market. It's a smart way to stay informed about who is moving and why it matters.

Megarounds make a comeback💰, The State of GenAI🤖, Doing Diligence Well🕵️

The VC Corner • 559 implied HN points • 14 Apr 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Investment Trends Technology Trends Financial Analysis
  1. Megarounds, which are large funding rounds for startups, are becoming popular again. This means investors are feeling more confident about investing in big projects.
  2. The state of Generative AI (GenAI) is evolving quickly. It shows a lot of potential for various applications in tech and business.
  3. Doing proper diligence is important for investors. It helps them make smart decisions before putting money into a startup.

The Mental Characteristics of Resilient High Performers

Voohy Leadership Insights • 79 implied HN points • 11 Aug 24
💼 Business Leadership Workplace Performance Development Psychology
  1. High performers tend to be positive and proactive. They actively look for challenges and always want to get better.
  2. Resilient people learn from tough experiences by reflecting on them. They see these moments as chances to grow.
  3. It's important to have a support system in place. High achievers feel they have good support from others, which helps them succeed.

“We Are Not as Wealthy as We Thought We Were”: Part 5

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 147 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
💼 Business Real Estate Housing policy Urban Economics Affordability Income Inequality Migration Labor markets
  1. Supply constraints can make a city appear richer because poorer families leave, so rising local average incomes often reflect displacement rather than higher productivity.
  2. Aggregate, value-weighted measures hide how much housing costs have risen for the typical household. Equal-weighted measures show much larger increases in price-to-income for average families.
  3. Rent inflation has been higher in poorer neighborhoods than in richer ones, which cuts real incomes for low-income households and is poorly captured by national inflation measures.

Lawler: Early Read on Existing Home Sales in January

CalculatedRisk Newsletter • 38 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
💼 Business Real Estate Housing Market Market Data Economics
  1. Existing home sales likely ran at about a 4.0 million seasonally adjusted annual rate in January, down roughly 8% from December and slightly below last January.
  2. Adverse late‑January weather and fewer business days probably reduced closed sales, so the unadjusted year‑over‑year decline should look larger.
  3. Median single‑family home prices were about 1% higher year over year, and the consensus NAR estimate for January sales (around 4.25M) may be too high given limited local data and upcoming revised seasonal factors.

Executive Amplification

Fish Food for Thought • 18 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
💼 Business Leadership Management Organizational Behavior Corporate culture Communication Strategy
  1. What leaders say and do carries outsized weight, shaping how people prioritize work and even how employees see their roles. This influence changes behavior across the organization, not just tasks.
  2. Small or offhand remarks often get treated as directives, which creates wasted time, unnecessary meetings, and misaligned effort. These ambiguous signals introduce friction and distract teams from high-value work.
  3. Leaders need to be intentional about their signals: clarify intent, model priorities with actions like protected calendar time, and assume everything they say will be amplified. Clear, purposeful communication reduces misinterpretation and aligns follow-through.

Foxtrot's ashes still burn

Snaxshot • 599 implied HN points • 28 Apr 24
💼 Business Finance News Marketing
  1. Foxtrot's financial troubles include 6-figure unpaid invoices and lawsuits.
  2. Snaxshot became a go-to source for news about Foxtrot's closure, acknowledged by various reputable outlets.
  3. Subscribing to Snaxshot gives access to exclusive content and a 7-day free trial.

Recruiting Brainfood - Issue 380

Recruiting Brainfood • 1100 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
💼 Business Recruitment Economy Remote working Assessment Blockchain
  1. Networking is crucial in the industry, meet people in-person to build connections.
  2. Enhancing your profile can give a competitive edge, consider participating in initiatives like Brainfood Tribune and Guest appearance on Brainfood Live.
  3. Performance is key, networking and profile building can complement performance in a positive cycle.

TBM 387: Lenses

The Beautiful Mess • 330 implied HN points • 12 Nov 25
💼 Business Operations Strategy Management Product Development Team Dynamics
  1. Using different lenses helps us see various sides of a problem in product work. Each lens gives us a unique perspective, so more than one is needed.
  2. Understanding customer journeys and personas can reveal different experiences for different groups. This helps in tailoring services or products more effectively.
  3. Team interactions and boundaries play a big role in how work gets done. Recognizing these can improve communication and efficiency across teams.

Chartbook 393: Whither China? - World Economy Now, June 2025 Edition

Chartbook • 1130 implied HN points • 22 Jun 25
💼 Business Economics Finance Global Trade Industrialization Market Dynamics
  1. China's economy plays a huge role in the global market, being the largest in terms of purchasing power parity. Changes in China's demand and trade affect many other countries, especially regarding exports.
  2. China's rapid growth over the last few decades has been extraordinary, as it has transformed from a very poor nation to one considered an upper-middle-income economy. This shift is significant for one-sixth of the world's population.
  3. Several challenges face China's economy today, such as high youth unemployment and potential deflation. These issues make it critical for China to find new ways to stimulate growth and address its changing economic landscape.

OSD 361: Findings at SHOT Show 2026

Open Source Defense • 63 implied HN points • 24 Jan 26
💼 Business Defense Firearms Investing Startups Private Equity Regulation
  1. Suppressors are going mainstream. They showed up everywhere at the show and look like a growing area for startups and investors.
  2. Software is playing a bigger role in the firearms market. New tools are making things like online sales and dealer routing much easier.
  3. Armed drones are being developed for government customers, but there’s nothing at the show that meaningfully expands civilian defense beyond traditional firearms.

Why this business news outlet ditched advertising to focus entirely on paid subscriptions

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 249 implied HN points • 19 Nov 25
💼 Business Media Subscriptions Revenue Publishing Technology
  1. The National Business Review stopped taking advertising and now only makes money through paid subscriptions.
  2. They have more than 14,000 subscribers who pay about $499 each year, making the business profitable.
  3. The owner, Todd Scott, plans to share his publishing technology with other media outlets around the world.

I'm looking for newsletters that monetize with ads

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 199 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
💼 Business Media Advertising Subscriptions Newsletters Marketing
  1. There is a new index for newsletters that want to find brands willing to advertise. It helps connect brands to various newsletters without taking a cut of the money.
  2. YouTube is becoming a popular choice for TV viewers, turning into a go-to place for casual watching. This is threatening traditional streaming services as people prefer YouTube for light viewing.
  3. NBC News is trying something new by offering a subscription that removes ads but doesn’t hide any content behind a paywall. This could change how media companies think about subscriptions.

The NHTSA Has Finally Exposed Musk's Lies About Tesla Safety

lawrence’s Substack • 459 implied HN points • 29 Apr 24
💼 Business Automotive Safety Regulations Legal issues Technology Investigation
  1. The NHTSA's report exposed Musk and Tesla's false claims about Tesla's safety and autonomous driving capabilities.
  2. Personal injury and class action attorneys may benefit from the NHTSA findings against Tesla, possibly leading to legal action.
  3. Tesla's Autopilot system has shown significant flaws according to the NHTSA, potentially impacting safety and engagement of drivers.

0 To $100 Million In 9 Months 🚀, AI for social good🌍, Governments are the biggest source of VC funds🏛️

The VC Corner • 359 implied HN points • 19 May 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups AI Funding Economic Growth
  1. A company can grow from nothing to $100 million quickly, showing how fast business can change these days.
  2. Using AI can be very beneficial, especially when it is aimed at making the world a better place.
  3. Governments are providing a lot of money for startups, more than traditional venture capitalists.

Antler's Framework for Finding the Right Problem to Solve | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 319 implied HN points • 28 May 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Entrepreneurship Tech news Investing
  1. Great companies focus on solving heartfelt problems to create successful and lasting businesses.
  2. Identifying a heartfelt problem involves looking beyond surface-level solutions and understanding the emotional, functional, frequent, urgent, and unavoidable aspects of the problem.
  3. To determine if a heartfelt problem is worth solving, conduct market research, speak with target customers, and focus on building relationships within the industry by understanding the core customer problem.

Forbes Asia, Asia Times Reviews of My New Book

Japan Economy Watch • 1078 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Economy Book review
  1. Japan has a significant opportunity for economic growth through entrepreneurship and innovation, with potential for a tectonic shift in civil society.
  2. Richard Katz's new book highlights the importance of Japan seizing the chance to revitalize its economy by generating innovative companies and above-par growth.
  3. Key megatrends like generational shifts, technological advancements, and political stresses are identified as factors that could reshape Japan's economic future according to Katz.