The hottest Business Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

PMF Score Vs NPS & Sequoia Capital's Runway Reality Check for Founders | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 259 implied HN points • 17 May 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startup Advice Financing Entrepreneurship Job Opportunities
  1. PMF score measures how well your product meets users' needs by asking how disappointed users would be without it.
  2. NPS measures customer loyalty by asking how likely they are to recommend the product.
  3. Using clear opinions to make decisions, splitting equity equally among co-founders, and recognizing signs of a 'zombie' startup can lead to success in the VC world.

A reflection on my journey to LinkedIn Top Voice [Storytime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 778 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
💼 Business Career development Social media Personal Branding
  1. Sharing your work and thoughts on platforms like LinkedIn can have a positive impact on your career by positioning you as a reliable source of high-quality information.
  2. Approach building your presence on different social media platforms individually as each has its own nuances and strategies for success.
  3. Reflect on your experiences and learnings regularly to adapt and refine your approach to maximizing your presence on platforms like LinkedIn.
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How we built a business out of recession - chapter 31 - back the fuck off

The ZIPster • 26 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Startups Management Leadership Marketing
  1. Board meetings can get crowded and political, causing frustration among members. It's important to keep discussions focused and ensure everyone feels heard.
  2. Adapting to new ideas, like a data product, can help a company stay competitive. Valuing data is essential for creating new revenue opportunities.
  3. Conflict can arise when leadership roles and ideas clash. It's crucial to stand firm on important decisions to protect the team's vision and goals.

Why, When, and How to add Sales to your Product-Led Growth motion.

Elena's Growth Scoop • 786 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
💼 Business Sales Product-led growth Enterprise Competitors Growth Strategies
  1. Product-Led Growth (PLG) allows products to scale endlessly and adapt quickly to market changes.
  2. Adding sales to PLG is necessary for B2B companies to capture enterprise market and drive growth.
  3. When considering adding sales, focus on complex products, higher AOVs, and the need for sales assistance.

Foxtrot Market Ceases Operations

Snaxshot • 419 implied HN points • 23 Apr 24
💼 Business Retail
  1. Foxtrot Market has ceased operations, which is a developing story.
  2. There is a need for a 7-day free trial to access more details about the situation.
  3. The closure of Foxtrot Market is a significant loss, impacting stores, employees, and staff.

A Guide to Leading vs. Lagging Indicators

Untrapping Product Teams • 786 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
💼 Business Indicators
  1. Leading metrics enable immediate action, while lagging metrics may reveal problems too late.
  2. Lagging metrics are important for measuring results but take time, while leading metrics predict outcomes but don't guarantee them.
  3. Combining leading and lagging metrics is key for understanding performance and taking effective action.

#1 I started a new project

Nittarab’s Substack • 59 implied HN points • 06 Aug 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Startups Project management Digital Products Online Platforms
  1. The author is beginning a new project and wants to share the journey publicly. This approach helps them learn and receive feedback from others.
  2. They aim to create an all-in-one platform for freelancers to manage their online businesses easily, addressing gaps in existing solutions.
  3. The author emphasizes the importance of enjoying the project and views it as a way to bring new energy into their life without making radical changes.

How VCs and Startups can beat currency depreciation 🌍

The VC Corner • 259 implied HN points • 15 May 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Investing Emerging Markets Economic Trends
  1. Emerging markets face big challenges because their currencies often lose value quickly. This makes it hard for investors to see good returns.
  2. Venture capital can be a smart way to invest in tech startups in these markets, targeting companies that can thrive despite currency issues.
  3. Look for signs of potential like high smartphone use and government support for tech growth, as these can help identify promising investment opportunities.

Big as the what? Big as the Super Bowl: Marketing, Storytelling &...

The Social Juice • 17 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
💼 Business Marketing Advertising Branding Storytelling Media
  1. Good brand storytelling is not just about being creative; it's important to have a clear strategy. A story that resonates can build trust and engage your audience.
  2. You should always focus on solving a problem your audience has when telling your brand story. This helps make the story relevant and valuable to them.
  3. When a brand fails at storytelling, it loses customer loyalty and trust. But if a business fails in its brand storytelling, it risks shutting down completely.

Delusions of grandeur

Kenny’s Sub • 239 implied HN points • 21 May 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Market research Startups Business strategy Project management
  1. Having big ideas can be exciting, but it's important to ground them in reality. You might be really enthusiastic about your dreams, but they need to be achievable in the real world.
  2. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement and ignore warnings. Just because something feels good doesn't mean it will be successful.
  3. Learning from failure is okay. Taking risks and experiencing disappointment can teach you valuable lessons for the future.

The Bear Cave #246

The Bear Cave • 559 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
💼 Business Finance Management Investing Corporate Governance Market Analysis
  1. Blue Orca Capital reported that Baldwin Insurance Group has been using some tricky financial practices to make their profits look better than they actually are. They claim the company has serious profitability issues.
  2. Recent leadership changes show a lot of turnover among company executives, with several CFOs and CEOs resigning or being let go. This could indicate bigger problems within those companies.
  3. There are also activist reports about Byrna Technologies, suggesting they might be exaggerating their business success. The reports claim many of their dealers don’t really exist or aren't effective.

Podcast notes

Off to Lunch • 648 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Market News Industry insights Career development
  1. The episode features an interview with Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou discussing building easyJet and facing competition.
  2. Zuber Issa may offload his stake in Asda, UK companies anticipate increasing prices despite inflation easing, and Sir Tim Clark criticizes Boeing.
  3. A piece on executive coaches for business leaders and an article from 1985 about laptop computers not becoming popular offers insights on technology trends.

From 0 SEO experience to an agency

Kenny’s Sub • 179 implied HN points • 11 Jun 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Sales Management Personal Development
  1. To succeed, it's important to go all out and fully engage in your work. Learning from past experiences and caring about people can make business more enjoyable and rewarding.
  2. Staying committed to your daily routines helps maintain momentum. Missing a day is okay, but try not to miss two in a row to keep moving forward.
  3. Effective communication is key, especially in sales. By planning questions and being genuinely curious, you can connect better with people and help them achieve their goals.

ServiceTitan S-1 Breakdown

Tanay’s Newsletter • 82 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
💼 Business Finance SaaS IPO Growth Technology
  1. ServiceTitan is a software company that helps tradespeople like plumbers and electricians run their businesses better. They provide tools for managing customer relationships and service workflows.
  2. The company has been growing quickly, with a revenue increase of 24% in the last year. They make money from subscriptions, payment processing fees, and professional services.
  3. ServiceTitan is preparing for an IPO and plans to manage investor concerns about profitability. They have strategies in place to handle potential valuation drops and minimize shareholder dilution.

What's Next for SAS? (Again)

thomaswdinsmore • 199 implied HN points • 02 Jun 24
💼 Business Companies IPO Leadership Finance Growth
  1. SAS founder Jim Goodnight faces a transition in leadership and ownership as he's 82 with no children engaged in the business.
  2. Options for SAS's future include selling to employees, a corporate buyer, or private equity investors, all of which may lead to restructuring.
  3. Despite initial plans to go public, SAS has faced challenges with growth and profitability, leading to multiple delays in the IPO process.

The corporate solopreneur

Kenny’s Sub • 159 implied HN points • 18 Jun 24
💼 Business Freelancing Entrepreneurship Consulting Networking Project management
  1. It's important to understand the context of your clients' businesses. Many small businesses don't have complex plans like big corporations do.
  2. Asking detailed project questions can be unhelpful when working with smaller clients. They may only need basic support for their immediate needs.
  3. Using the right tools for each specific job is crucial. If your current skills don’t fit, it's okay to seek help or adapt your approach.

Centessa Pharmaceuticals: Asset-Centric Business Model

Axial • 7 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
💼 Business Startups Investing Pharmaceuticals Innovation Entrepreneurship
  1. Centessa Pharmaceuticals focuses on an asset-centric business model. This means they prioritize specific products and inventions for growth.
  2. Investing early in life sciences companies is key to their strategy. They like to support innovative ideas that are just starting out.
  3. Axial seeks to partner with passionate inventors. They are dedicated to helping those who want to create something lasting and impactful.

Issue #8 - Deliver on the Data Needs, not the Data Desires

The Data Ecosystem • 199 implied HN points • 02 Jun 24
💼 Business Data Strategy Stakeholder engagement Analytics Data Governance Business Intelligence
  1. It's important to focus on what the business truly needs from data, not just what they think they want. Conversations should help uncover real goals and challenges.
  2. Data projects often fail because teams don't ask the right questions or fully understand the business context. Engaging stakeholders regularly is key to success.
  3. A clear step-by-step process helps develop effective data solutions. Start with building a strong data foundation before moving on to more complex analytics.

The tough reality of being a "glue person"...

The Beautiful Mess • 595 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
💼 Business Management Leadership Workplace Career development Self-care
  1. Being a glue person means your achievements are often overlooked, but your mistakes are very visible to others.
  2. You have to balance many expectations, which can be stressful and sometimes put you in difficult positions.
  3. It’s important to recognize your own successes, set boundaries, and take care of yourself to avoid burnout.

🧱 How to Build toward Outcome Based Pricing

Good Better Best • 3 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
💼 Business Pricing Strategy SaaS Product Management Market Trends Customer Experience
  1. Companies are shifting from seat-based pricing to outcome-based pricing. This means they want to offer more value for what customers pay, instead of just charging per user.
  2. Add-ons and features can help users get more done without changing the whole pricing structure. This lets companies gradually move towards pricing based on results rather than just how many seats a customer has.
  3. Having complex pricing models can be beneficial. They allow businesses to charge different amounts to different customers based on what they need, capturing more value and catering to various market segments.

How To Earn From Your Skills In 2024

Day One • 519 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
💼 Business Skills Career development Personal Growth Entrepreneurship
  1. Quality is greater than quantity when building skills. Focus on depth and excellence in one area before branching out.
  2. Practice and sharing are crucial for skill development. Don't let fear or ego hinder you from showcasing your work and seeking feedback.
  3. Transitioning to high-demand sectors like blockchain or AI requires understanding the sector's culture and history. Put in the work to adapt and excel.

Bill Gates's €1bn Climate fund🔋, Paths to Product-Market Fit🎯, State of AI investing📊

The VC Corner • 259 implied HN points • 12 May 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Investing Startups Climate finance Market fit
  1. Bill Gates has launched a €1 billion climate fund to invest in sustainable technologies. This means there is a lot of financial support aimed at fighting climate change.
  2. Finding a good product-market fit is crucial for startups. It helps ensure that a product meets the needs of consumers and can be successful in the market.
  3. AI investing is currently a hot topic among investors. There’s a growing interest in technology that leverages artificial intelligence for various applications.

Paradox.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 30 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
💼 Business Management Strategy Workplace Productivity Technology
  1. Companies today need to handle both Fragmentation and Integration to succeed. They should adapt to different types of workers and resources while ensuring everything works together smoothly.
  2. Fragmentation comes from having diverse employee types and many ways to reach customers, making it important for companies to simplify how they manage these aspects.
  3. To compete effectively, companies should create seamless services and use data smartly to combine insights, while also offering some customization without overwhelming customers.

Rockets go up, learning Mandarin, and the good news for SaaS

Alex's Personal Blog • 32 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
💼 Business Tech industry Startups Investments Market Trends SaaS
  1. The launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket was a success, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. Despite some setbacks, it showed progress in competing with other space companies like SpaceX.
  2. Duolingo is seeing a boost in interest and stock value as more people want to learn Mandarin due to changes in social media access. This trend suggests that more individuals may pursue learning different languages in the future.
  3. Public-market SaaS revenue multiples are currently stable, indicating a good environment for top cloud companies. This shows that, historically, it's a favorable time for generating market value in the SaaS sector.

The job seekers guide on how to evaluate a VC backed tech startup 🚀

Channels of Growth • 1257 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
💼 Business Startups Investment Company Culture Product-Market Fit
  1. Job seekers need resources to evaluate tech startups they are considering working for.
  2. Focus on joining a startup with a good product at an early stage for high potential rewards.
  3. Evaluate the team, culture, and product market fit to set yourself up for a successful career in VC-backed tech startups.

The Tale of Two Teams

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1281 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
💼 Business Leadership Software Development Management Innovation Team Dynamics
  1. Software development teams can take two different paths over time - one struggling to maintain progress and innovate, the other accelerating and exceeding expectations.
  2. Executives play a crucial role in steering teams towards successful software development by fostering a culture of continual improvement, tidy code, automation, and collaboration.
  3. Understanding software design fundamentals as an executive can help diagnose ineffective teams, bridge communication gaps between business and technology, and inspire innovation and excellence.

How Live Sports Helped Netflix's Stock Surge 400%

Huddle Up • 16 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
💼 Business Investing Finance Markets Economics Consumer Trends
  1. Live sports have become a key factor in Netflix’s success, contributing to a significant increase in its stock price. It seems that people love watching sports, and that keeps them subscribed to streaming services.
  2. The involvement of high-profile investors, like Bill Ackman, in companies can also impact market trends and stock prices. When a big name invests, it often grabs attention.
  3. Streaming platforms are adapting to include live events to attract and retain viewers. This shift highlights the importance of diverse content to engage audiences.

Five Years of Bootstrapping: Reflections on Building Interview Query

Jay's Data Stream • 17 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
💼 Business Startups Entrepreneurship Growth Strategy Market Trends Product Development
  1. Starting a business can be challenging, filled with unexpected highs and lows. Success often takes longer than you think, requiring persistence and adaptability.
  2. Managing a startup is a balance between chasing growth and ensuring stability. It's important to reflect on your goals and adjust them as your situation changes.
  3. Finding joy in your work matters. Detaching personal happiness from business outcomes can help maintain motivation and clarity as you grow your company.

Saudi Arabia Plans $40 Billion Push Into Artificial Intelligence💰, What Is A "Good" VC?💡, SaaS Growth Report☁️ & more!

The VC Corner • 419 implied HN points • 24 Mar 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Artificial Intelligence Startups Technology SaaS Growth
  1. Saudi Arabia is investing $40 billion to advance its artificial intelligence technology. This shows that the country is serious about becoming a leader in AI.
  2. The concept of a 'good' venture capitalist (VC) is being explored. A good VC is someone who not only invests money but also supports and guides startups.
  3. A report on Software as a Service (SaaS) growth highlights trends in the tech industry. This includes information on how companies are expanding and what makes them successful.