The hottest Business Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

The Bear Cave #251

The Bear Cave • 513 implied HN points • 08 Dec 24
💼 Business Finance Markets Investing Corporate Governance Research
  1. There are significant legal troubles for companies like LendingTree, which could face lawsuits costing hundreds of millions of dollars. This could affect their financial stability and future operations.
  2. Recent executive resignations in several companies, including Intel, suggest instability at the management level. Frequent leadership changes can indicate underlying issues within a company.
  3. Research reports from different groups are highlighting possible problems in companies like Serve Robotics and Plug Power. These findings could impact investor confidence and stock prices.

What Do You Do With an Idea?

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 216 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Innovation Economics Technology Investment
  1. Good ideas aren't hard to find; they just need to be used. Many solid concepts from the past are still waiting to be applied today.
  2. Ideas aren’t getting harder to discover but are harder to implement due to regulations and risk aversion. It's about making those ideas actionable.
  3. To make real progress, we need skilled people who can take old and new ideas and bring them to life, along with policies that lower the cost of innovation.

The Bear Cave #244

The Bear Cave • 769 implied HN points • 20 Oct 24
💼 Business Finance Investing Corporate Governance Market Analysis Regulation
  1. Fuzzy Panda Research raised concerns about Stride Inc, suggesting it might face serious challenges after benefiting from COVID-related funding. They believe the company is going to struggle with competition and internal issues.
  2. Recent executive resignations from companies like CVS Health and The Joint Corp signal potential instability, as these leaders leave amid significant financial downturns for their companies.
  3. A new FTC rule will make it easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions. This change aims to prevent businesses from making it too hard for people to stop payments for services they no longer want.

Against loose feedback loops for young professionals

Optima & Outliers • 179 implied HN points • 24 Jun 24
💼 Business Startups Corporate culture Professional development Value Creation Career Advice
  1. Working at big companies can teach you specialized skills, but they often don't show you how your work contributes to the bigger picture. You might learn things that are valuable in a small circle but not necessarily important for real-world impact.
  2. Starting your career at a startup can be more beneficial for developing broader skills. You'll see the direct results of your work, and it pushes you to understand what really delivers value to customers.
  3. If you want a career where you can make a real impact and create valuable products, it's worth considering spending some time outside of large corporations to gain that experience.
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Our first try at PLG nearly failed. Here's what we did next.

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 354 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
💼 Business Startups Marketing Sales Product Growth
  1. The team turned around low activation and conversion rates by improving their onboarding process. They made it easier for users to get started and better understood how to use the product.
  2. They used data from user feedback and behavior to identify problem areas in their product. This helped them find ways to create a smoother experience for users.
  3. By adding gentle reminders and prompts in their product, they encouraged free users to explore paid options. This strategy increased their free-to-paid conversion rate significantly.

Y-Combinator's Framework: How Much Traction Is Needed To Raise Funding? | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 319 implied HN points • 14 May 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startup funding Product-Market Fit Job Opportunities
  1. When seeking funding, having evidence of growth potential is essential, even without a built product. Investors look for scalability and market understanding.
  2. Successful startups focus on solving popular, urgent, and growing problems with frequent solutions. Frequency in addressing a problem can lead to exponential growth.
  3. For startups, having the right distribution channels can be more important than having a great product. Efficient distribution impacts customer acquisition cost and lifetime value.

Yassified Walmart?

Snaxshot • 459 implied HN points • 03 May 24
💼 Business Retail Marketing Food
  1. Foxtrot Market details and liquidation discussed in this post.
  2. Bettergoods described as Yassified Walmart, with comparisons to Erewhon and hypebeast grocers.
  3. Coverage of Crunchy teens crusade against BigFood and curation of new products.

Moody's: Apartment Vacancy Rate Increased in Q4; Office Vacancy Rate at Record High

CalculatedRisk Newsletter • 52 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
💼 Business Real Estate Market Trends Economic data
  1. The apartment vacancy rate rose to 6.1% in Q4 2024, which is the highest since 2011. This increase shows that more people are leaving their apartments.
  2. The office vacancy rate set a new record at 20.4% in Q4 2024. This suggests many businesses are not needing as much office space due to changes in work habits.
  3. Even with rising vacancies, rents for apartments are still high, showing a mixed rental market. People are still wanting places to live, but it’s taking longer to fill those spaces.

From his brother's couch to $300/hour on Upwork

Kenny’s Sub • 179 implied HN points • 24 Jun 24
💼 Business Freelancing Entrepreneurship Marketing Consulting Remote work
  1. Starting as a freelancer on platforms like Upwork can lead to great success, as experienced by those who raised their rates significantly while building a solid reputation.
  2. Building a strong profile on Upwork is important because positive reviews and job history can make you more visible to clients, even if it costs you some fees.
  3. Handling difficult clients is part of freelancing; offering refunds quickly can help maintain your reputation when problems arise.

TBM 326: Adhocracies and Bureaucracies

The Beautiful Mess • 489 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
💼 Business Organizational Behavior Corporate culture Leadership Management Practices Process Improvement
  1. Rapid-growth tech companies often start as adhocracies where everyone works quickly and independently. But as they grow, they can develop unspoken rules that make things complicated.
  2. Larger companies tend to have strict bureaucracies with many rules that can slow everything down. When they try to change, they often need to untangle these rules and make things simpler.
  3. Leaders often try to eliminate bureaucracy, but this can lead to even more hidden rules. It’s important for teams to talk openly about processes to solve problems effectively.

Movers, Shakers, & Money Makers (7/22)

Human Capitalist • 159 implied HN points • 23 Jul 24
💼 Business Job Market Career Changes Corporate strategy Workforce Insights Leadership
  1. Many people changed jobs recently, including key leaders in companies like DoorDash and PepsiCo. These moves can show new strategies that companies might adopt.
  2. Some job changes could lead to interesting collaboration opportunities. For example, leaders moving to new companies might team up for projects that benefit both.
  3. Keeping an eye on job changes can help people understand market trends and potential shifts in industries. Knowing who is moving can help you anticipate business developments.

Greek tech salaries

The Greek Analyst • 279 implied HN points • 24 May 24
💼 Business Tech Startups Economy Gastronomy
  1. Salaries in the Greek tech industry are usually higher than in other domains and pertain to high-productivity jobs, which can drive up salaries in other industries.
  2. Despite some improvements in recent years, Greek tech salaries are still relatively low compared to other European countries, with Greek IT workers having one of the lowest average compensations in Europe.
  3. The current landscape in the Greek tech market presents opportunities for local tech talent as remote global companies are showing interest, leading to a rise in demand and potential for better compensation packages.

The Bank of Starbucks

Of All Trades • 9 implied HN points • 27 May 25
💼 Business Finance Retail Economics Marketing Technology
  1. Starbucks makes a lot of money, earning about $36 billion in revenue in 2024. This shows that their business is not just about coffee, but also a serious finance player.
  2. By allowing customers to load money onto their app for purchases, Starbucks essentially acts like a bank. They hold this money without needing to give customers cash back, making it a profitable system for them.
  3. Starbucks holds more customer deposits than about 80% of U.S. banks, even though it's primarily a coffee company. This highlights how big their banking-like system has become in the consumer market.

It's power laws all the way down

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
💼 Business Venture Capital Economics Technology Investment Market Trends
  1. Venture capital in the U.S. is becoming more concentrated, with a few big firms controlling most of the funds. This trend means fewer opportunities for new investors and startups.
  2. The amount of money raised by new venture capital firms has dropped significantly, reaching lows not seen since 2015. This indicates a tough environment for emerging investors.
  3. The influence of large venture firms like a16z is growing, shaping what types of startups receive funding and driving the conversation in the tech industry.

Naming and shaming in Japan

Asian Century Stocks • 884 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
💼 Business Corporate Governance Market Analysis Investor Relations Financial Performance
  1. Japan's corporate governance reforms, starting with Abenomics, have been driving positive change in the capital allocation practices of Japanese companies.
  2. The Tokyo Stock Exchange's new listing structure, especially the Prime Market, has raised standards for companies, promoting better corporate governance.
  3. The practice of naming and shaming low price/book ratio companies in Japan is pushing them to improve profitability, enhance investor communication, and comply with new capital allocation rules.

SVB

Market Sentiment • 1552 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
💼 Business Finance Banking Startups Investing Economics
  1. Understanding the different sides of risk is crucial - the likelihood of getting hit, the average impact, and the extreme consequences.
  2. Banks operate by lending out deposits at higher rates to make profits, but this system poses the risk of bank runs.
  3. SVB's rapid collapse was triggered by increased stress, a market sell-off, and a loss of customer confidence due to poor communication.

Letters to a Young Investor: Reid Hoffman on Signals and Mirages

The Generalist • 1941 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
💼 Business Investing Technology Venture Capital AI Startups
  1. Investors need to differentiate between signals and mirages in venture capital to find potential winners.
  2. The process of identifying successful investments involves filtering out flawed ideas and making bets on plausible opportunities.
  3. Successful investments are like oases in the technology landscape that investors strategically seek out.

Movers, Shakers, & Money Makers (8/5)

Human Capitalist • 119 implied HN points • 06 Aug 24
💼 Business Job Market Employment Trends Executive Changes Workforce Insights Freelancing
  1. Many people switch jobs frequently, which shows how dynamic the job market is. Keeping track of these changes can help companies and recruiters find top talent.
  2. Some job changes were from traditional sectors like news to tech-focused roles. This highlights how industries are blending and evolving.
  3. Freelancing is on the rise, and there are many reasons people are opting for this kind of work. This trend can change how businesses approach hiring and project work.

Gather, decide, execute

The Engineering Manager • 19 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
💼 Business Management Leadership Productivity Communication Tech Tools
  1. Having a personal system to manage information is really important for effective management. It helps you stay organized and recall important details.
  2. The gather-decide-execute method allows you to process information efficiently. You gather insights, make decisions based on them, and then take action to implement those decisions.
  3. Keeping your system simple and adaptable is key. If it's too complicated or doesn't fit your changing needs, you're less likely to stick with it.

When venture incentives and founder needs diverge

Alex's Personal Blog • 164 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Entrepreneurship Investment Strategies Financial Incentives
  1. Venture capitalists can make money off their 2% fees without needing successful company exits. This creates a situation where they might prioritize raising more funds over helping founders succeed.
  2. Large venture funds may overpay for investments to quickly deploy capital, which can lead to problems for founders who might be offered too much money at high valuations.
  3. There's a debate about how much authors should be paid for their work being used in AI training. Some authors feel $2,500 per book isn't enough compensation for potentially being replaced by technology.

TBM 323: Quick Tool Tips

The Beautiful Mess • 542 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
💼 Business Management Strategy Tools Processes Teamwork
  1. Make tools fit your needs by trying them out and getting feedback. This way, you can avoid forcing your team into a system that doesn't help anyone.
  2. Involve all kinds of team members in decisions about tools. If you only ask certain roles, you might miss out on important ideas and needs from others.
  3. Start simple before automating. Test simple methods first to see what works, then build on those ideas rather than jumping straight into complicated solutions.

Economics Links, 2/10/2025

In My Tribe • 227 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
💼 Business Economics Trade AI Entrepreneurship Policy
  1. Phil Gramm and Larry Summers believe that tariffs harm economic growth and could lead to trade wars. They recommend against implementing broad tariffs.
  2. Aswath Damodaran discusses how the entry of DeepSeek could change the AI landscape, creating both low-cost alternatives and maintaining a premium market for AI.
  3. Magatte Wade argues that Africa's poverty is largely due to over-regulation and difficult business conditions, making it hard to trade and grow economically.

Pssst! Medium Will Soon Have 1 Million Paying Members and More Insights You Need to Know

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 819 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
💼 Business Marketing E-commerce Startups Demographics Digital Media
  1. Medium is gaining popularity with over 100 million readers and is about to hit 1 million paying members. This shows it has a strong audience for writers.
  2. The main age group using Medium is 25 to 34 years old, with more male users than female users. Understanding the audience can help writers connect better.
  3. Technology is the most popular topic on Medium, with lots of articles written about it. Writers should consider focusing on trending subjects to engage with readers.

Do you have career blues?

Elena's Growth Scoop • 1474 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
💼 Business Career development Professional Growth Job Satisfaction Career Change Personal Development
  1. Career blues are real and can leave you feeling tired, unfulfilled, and restless.
  2. Regularly reevaluate your job and career options to ensure you're in the best possible position.
  3. Explore different avenues like public speaking, newsletters, contracting work, and advising to complement your full-time job and avoid career stagnation.

The Bear Cave #248

The Bear Cave • 583 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
💼 Business Finance Investing Corporate strategy Market Analysis Business Ethics
  1. Culper Research claims Zeta Global Holdings is involved in shady practices, including false data and deceptive websites to gather consumer information. They think Zeta's stock price is too high and expect it to drop soon.
  2. There have been several high-profile resignations among executives in various companies, highlighting instability in leadership. It's concerning when CFOs and CEOs leave, especially in such quick succession.
  3. Recent reports have raised concerns about financial discrepancies in VusionGroup, which may indicate larger issues within the company. The connection with a major Chinese partner raises further questions about its operations.

What happened in marketing: 30 Days of TikTok, Ads on Threads and Reddit vs X

The Social Juice • 24 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
💼 Business Marketing Social media Advertising Trends Politics
  1. Trump is starting to use TikTok for his messaging, which could impact how politics and social media mix.
  2. Threads is introducing ads, which means it’s becoming more similar to other social media platforms.
  3. Reddit is moving away from X (formerly Twitter) and this might change how users engage with different platforms.

How I Work

Venture Prose • 918 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
💼 Business Training Style Communication
  1. The person prefers email as their main form of communication and has a structured work schedule with specific meeting times.
  2. They are dedicated to training, spending around 15 hours per week on cycling, and prioritize family time.
  3. Their work style focuses on efficiency, belief in founders, and a preference for email communication over other mediums.

How to be(come) a manager

Wednesday Wisdom • 123 implied HN points • 27 Nov 24
💼 Business Management Career Leadership Training Mentorship
  1. Becoming a manager means doing a different job, not just coding. You won't have much time for hands-on tasks, so you need to let that go and focus on managing your team instead.
  2. It’s important to find a mentor and connect with peers who can help you learn how to manage better. Talking with others in similar situations can give you fresh ideas and support.
  3. You need to learn the tools and skills required for management. Understanding processes, having tough conversations, and giving feedback are all key parts of being a successful manager.

♾ Meta: The Zuck 'Playbook'

How They Make Money • 727 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💼 Business Technology Finance Market Analysis Earnings Report Investment
  1. Meta (META) reported strong Q4 FY23 performance with a 5X return from November 2022 lows, focusing on Metaverse investments and cash returns to shareholders.
  2. Key points from Meta's 'Playbook' include massive compute investment, open-source strategy, future-focused research on AI, data utilization, and an experimentation culture.
  3. In Q4 FY23, Meta saw growth in user metrics and revenue, with an increase in average revenue per user, surpassing competitors like Snap and Pinterest in ARPU.