The hottest Business Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

The Greek manufacturing sector

The Greek Analyst • 299 implied HN points • 24 Apr 24
💼 Business Manufacturing Economy Tech startups
  1. Greek manufacturing sector shows signs of recovery, hitting record highs in employment, productivity, and sales.
  2. Manufacturing exports have tripled since the crisis, but Greece still lags behind other European countries.
  3. Investing in smart manufacturing, robotics, innovation, and collaboration between universities and industry is crucial for the future growth of the Greek manufacturing sector.

Secular vs Cyclical: Why it’s hard to tell in real time, and what the EV write-down wave reveals

Gad’s Newsletter • 20 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
💼 Business Strategy Corporate Finance Investment Accounting Automotive Regulation
  1. It’s very difficult to tell in real time if a change is secular or cyclical because data are noisy, trend-cycle methods are model-dependent, and endpoint uncertainty makes conclusions fragile.
  2. The EV episode shows the direction is likely secular (battery costs and adoption tend to rise) but the speed is cyclical and policy-sensitive, and treating near-term pace as linear led to huge write-downs and competitive losses.
  3. The practical fix is disciplined triangulation and decision design: separate direction from speed, check cross-sections and policy regimes, treat impairments as stress tests, and prefer staged, flexible investments that preserve optionality.
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AMD 2025 Q2 Financials

More Than Moore • 513 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
💼 Business Finance Technology Market Analysis Corporate Earnings Investment
  1. AMD's revenue for Q2 2025 reached $7.69 billion, a 32% increase from the previous year. Despite this growth, challenges in the AI chip market impacted their profits significantly.
  2. AMD's Data Center business is growing quickly, especially with new AI processors like the MI350 series. However, the delays with the MI308 inventory have caused temporary financial setbacks.
  3. In the Client and Gaming sector, AMD's sales surged by 69% compared to last year, driven by high demand for their latest CPUs and GPUs, showing strong recovery in this area.

“Sniper investor” Allen Zhu is slowing his investment pace, focusing on in-depth project research

Ginger River Review • 707 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment Global expansion Entrepreneurship
  1. Investor Allen Zhu is reducing his investment speed to focus on thorough project research, showing a change in Chinese investors' priorities.
  2. Investors who rushed into Large Language Models (LLMs) in 2023 faced losses, signaling a shift in focus to vertical market segments.
  3. Zhu emphasizes the importance of discipline in investment decisions, with a focus on profitability and slower, more thoughtful investment strategies in 2023.

What price are you willing to pay?

Kenny’s Sub • 239 implied HN points • 13 May 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Finance Work Life Career development Freelancing
  1. Understanding the effort needed for success can help you avoid disappointment. It's important to know what you're getting into before committing to a new venture.
  2. Trial and error are essential when exploring new hobbies or career paths. Try different things with low commitment to see what fits you best.
  3. Pursuing your goals requires a realistic view of the effort and resources involved. Being aware of what it takes can help you make smarter decisions.

My new book “Cyber for Builders" is now available on Amazon

Venture in Security • 707 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
💼 Business Cybersecurity Startups Entrepreneurship Investing Technology
  1. The book 'Cyber for Builders' is a comprehensive guide for building a cybersecurity startup.
  2. The book covers various aspects of cybersecurity industry including key players, trends, and essential insights for early-stage founders.
  3. The book has received praise from industry experts for its practical advice and guidance for navigating the complexities of building a cybersecurity company.

How to sell AI to Private Equity industry

Enterprise AI Trends • 126 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
💼 Business Private Equity Sales Strategy AI SaaS M&A
  1. Private equity is an ideal AI customer because they obsess over profitability, move fast, and have the capital to pay for tools that boost returns.
  2. There’s a big information gap: many PE firms don’t deeply understand AI, so they sometimes overpay for simple or copyable solutions, creating arbitrage opportunities for sellers.
  3. Winning in PE means selling differently — understand their buyer psyche and segments, and package pricing, delivery, and value messaging to match how PE evaluates and implements technology.

🥇2023 Accolades🥇

PETITION • 707 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
💼 Business Finance Job Opportunities
  1. Kirkland & Ellis LLP dominated the restructuring market in '23 by handling a vast amount of significant company-side chapter 11 filings.
  2. Joshua Sussberg of Kirkland & Ellis LLP emerged as a prominent figure in the restructuring circles, known for his relentless work ethic and deal-making prowess.
  3. Several other firms and professionals received honorable mentions for their notable contributions and achievements in the bankruptcy and restructuring field.

In PR or Marketing? Join me this week in SF

Startup Strategies • 128 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
💼 Business Marketing Public Relations Startups Venture Capital Events Communications Entrepreneurship
  1. There's a panel at the PR Summit in San Francisco on December 3–4 focused on capital, communications, and AI.
  2. You can get a free ticket using the promo code VKG9HE.
  3. Founders, investors, communications leaders, and PR professionals will attend to discuss the future of influence, making it a useful networking and learning opportunity.

Roche's SBX Sequencer Pricing In May? $1B Revenue?

ASeq Newsletter • 36 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
💼 Business Biotech Finance Pricing Corporate Products Commercialization
  1. New details about Roche's Axelios SBX nanopore sequencer have surfaced and will be of interest to people tracking the platform.
  2. The additional information was disclosed during Roche's full-year results conference call, indicating it came from an official company update.
  3. The deeper write-up on these updates is behind a paywall and targeted at paid subscribers.

Are we ready for AI sales reps?

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 528 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
💼 Business Sales Marketing Technology AI Startups
  1. AI can now take on tasks typically done by human sales reps, like answering common questions and helping with pricing. This means businesses can be available to customers 24/7 without delays.
  2. Good support documentation is crucial for AI success. If the AI has clear and structured information to work from, it can provide better answers and have fewer mistakes.
  3. While AI isn't ready to replace all sales jobs yet, it can definitely help support the sales process by filling in gaps and increasing efficiency for small teams.

Is Substack exaggerating its network effects?

escape the algorithm • 579 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
💼 Business Tech Marketing Analytics Platforms Subscription
  1. Substack's network effects might be exaggerated: Data shows that most new subscribers come from sources other than Substack.
  2. Subscriber growth on Substack may not solely be due to Substack's technology: Many readers find newsletters due to recommendations from other writers or external sources.
  3. The power of a newsletter audience lies more in the people than the platform: Leaving Substack might not drastically impact growth as much as anticipated.

On Wise Agency, Part 3 | #317

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 112 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
💼 Business Career Entrepreneurship Freelancing Productivity Strategy Marketing Creativity
  1. Figure out what to work on by running lots of small experiments: ship quickly, design an easy off-ramp to quit, and learn what each experiment tells you.
  2. Don't just copy a niche — find a mode you can sustain for years that fits how you like to work. That lets you evolve your own style and choose projects you actually enjoy.
  3. Be deliberate about how much and when you work by mixing small bets, sprints, and long-game projects, and accept the trade-offs between autonomy, methods, and income by rotating priorities across gigs and seasons.

Biotech Startup Stats

Rough Diamonds • 20 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
💼 Business Startups Biotech IPO M&A Funding Analytics Geography
  1. Most biotech startups either fail or lose value after IPO, with only a small share of currently trading firms showing positive long‑term returns; many poorly performing public companies may simply not have failed yet.
  2. Location and company age strongly predict outcomes: firms based in biotech hubs (CA, MA, NY, NJ, PA) do much better, and newer firms are more likely to still be trading due to lifecycle effects.
  3. Scientific focus and pipeline stage matter: biologics (especially antibodies), rare disease and immunology focuses, targets like PD‑1, and IPOing at Phase III are linked to acquisitions or positive returns, while "other" modalities (e.g., formulations, natural products) tend to underperform.

Is this a career?

benn.substack • 1713 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
💼 Business Analytics Data science Careers Expertise Technology
  1. Getting good at something often just takes a little focused effort over time. Many people don't actively try to improve, so they stay at a decent skill level rather than reaching their full potential.
  2. In fields like data analytics, it's essential to specialize to truly excel. Being a generalist might keep you busy, but it can lead to a career without a clear direction or growth.
  3. To stand out and achieve more in their careers, people need to identify a specific area of expertise and commit to it. Relying on being 'good at data' isn't usually enough to make a significant impact.

Don't Give Up

Venture Prose • 459 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investment Marketing Strategy Success
  1. In crowded markets, strive to show unique insight, act fast, and execute well.
  2. If there's a clear leader, consider different strategies - like targeting a different geography or being more capital-efficient.
  3. Entering small or tough market sectors can still work if you start niche, focus on profitability, and learn from previous attempts.

Founder Market Fit : An Unsuccessful Video Game Turned Into a $26 Billion Startup. | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 279 implied HN points • 26 Apr 24
💼 Business Startup Success Venture Capital Entrepreneurship Investment decisions
  1. Founders with deep understanding and passion for a market they know well can achieve success like turning an unsuccessful idea into a billion-dollar startup.
  2. Building a product that solves a real problem, utilizing product-led growth, freemium model, strong focus on retention, and creating a unique brand can lead to rapid growth and success.
  3. Investors prioritize market opportunity over market size, seeking startups that challenge conventions, address future needs, and have strategies for customer acquisition and profitability.

Stop Shipping Dashboards That Don’t Matter

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 541 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
💼 Business Data Analysis Stakeholder engagement Decision-making Productivity Tools
  1. Before creating a dashboard, ask what decisions it will help make. It’s important that the data leads to real actions, not just interesting numbers.
  2. Clarify what success looks like for the stakeholder. Knowing their goals can help you make a dashboard that meets their needs instead of guessing.
  3. After delivering a dashboard, follow up with users to ensure they understand and are using it. This helps prevent wasted effort and keeps the dashboard relevant.

An inflection point for the Creator Economy

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 698 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
💼 Business Media Advertising Economy Content creation Digital Strategy
  1. The Creator Economy is changing fast, with ads from creators expected to beat traditional media revenue soon. This means that creator-made content could start to look just like what we're used to from big media companies.
  2. There's a new trend in entertainment called microdramas, which are short, quick stories told in one-minute parts. They seem like silly fun, but they're drawing in big audiences and money.
  3. Publishers need to stop relying so much on Google for traffic because it's steadily decreasing. It's time for them to focus on building loyal audiences instead of chasing search engine rankings.

Unpacking what it means to be an interim leader.

Elena's Growth Scoop • 766 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
💼 Business Career growth Compensation
  1. Interim roles offer flexibility for both employers and employees in fast-changing industries like tech.
  2. Finding an interim role may not be as straightforward as finding a full-time position, but it can be converted from existing opportunities with a specific focus or through a contract-to-hire approach.
  3. Compensation for interim roles should consider benefits, be a mix of cash and equity, and aim to match or exceed full-time market rates for specialized expertise.

Invisible, yet Invaluable: Valuing Intangibles - The Birkenstock IPO

Musings on Markets • 1139 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
💼 Business Finance Investing Valuation Market Trends Accountability
  1. Intangible assets, like brand names and management quality, are really important for a company's value but are often overlooked in accounting. Companies today get much of their worth from things you can't physically see.
  2. The way we value companies has changed a lot, especially with tech firms now leading the market. Investors need to think about future potential instead of just past performance, especially for newer companies.
  3. Birkenstock's upcoming IPO highlights how a strong brand and a loyal celebrity customer base can boost a company's value. The success of its stocks may depend not just on numbers but also on how the market feels at the moment.

You should be vibecoding for GTM

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 820 implied HN points • 28 May 25
💼 Business Startups Marketing Growth Technology Innovation
  1. Using AI coding tools can really speed up the process of building marketing tools. Even if you aren't a coder, you can create useful apps in just a couple of hours.
  2. Vibecoding allows you to bypass relying on developers for basic tools, giving you the power to manage your go-to-market strategies independently. This can save both time and money.
  3. You can create engaging and interactive tools, like an ROI calculator, that can enhance your sales efforts and make a better impression on potential clients.

The path to your first advising contract.

Elena's Growth Scoop • 1139 implied HN points • 26 May 23
💼 Business Career growth Advising Entrepreneurship
  1. Don't quit your full-time job to start advising, aim to close your first advising contract while still working full-time.
  2. Shift the narrative by creating your first advising opportunity instead of waiting for one to come to you.
  3. Focus on learning and experience in your first advisory contract, not just money. Iterate and analyze patterns to decide your future in advising.

Analytics Team: Strategic Partner or Service Org?

Elena's Growth Scoop • 1139 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
💼 Business Data Management Company Culture Decision-making
  1. Having a data-driven culture is important for making informed decisions and connecting actions to business outcomes.
  2. In many companies, data is not well managed and can lead to frustration when trying to implement a data-driven culture too soon.
  3. Striking a balance and ensuring data accuracy is crucial before pushing for a data-driven culture.

A Framework to Prove Your Market Is 'Big Enough' to VCs! | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 299 implied HN points • 19 Apr 24
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Market Analysis Job Opportunities
  1. VCs often need to see potential for at least one investment to have billions in enterprise value for a good fund return.
  2. Different approaches like top-down market size analysis and bottom-up market demand can help founders prove a market's size to VCs.
  3. Being aligned with broad mega-trends or using analogies can also help convince investors of a market's potential.

Top Links 832 How Gen Alpha influences US consumption. Lithography the final frontier of manufacturing. Iran's heatwave and living in Arcadia.

Chartbook • 429 implied HN points • 17 Aug 25
💼 Business Marketing Consumer behavior Manufacturing Economics Environment
  1. Generation Alpha is changing how people in the US shop and consume goods. Their preferences may reshape the market for many years ahead.
  2. Lithography is emerging as a key manufacturing process that could transform industries. It's exciting to see how it might impact technology and production.
  3. Iran is facing extreme heat, which affects daily life. Understanding this climate challenge is important for both local and global discussions.

Investing 101

Investing 101 • 59 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Investing Research Strategy Writing Learning
  1. Build a compounding engine of reading, research, writing, and investing that converts broad exposure to ideas into concrete actions and bets.
  2. Adopt concrete daily and weekly habits to feed that engine — aim for steady reading across categories, a nightly short story/poem/essay routine, and weekly micro essays to capture emerging ideas.
  3. Make investing an explicit output of the process by widening conversational reach, documenting thinking in an investing journal, and publishing portfolio updates, Requests for Startups, and idea notes to strengthen conviction.

The 9-9-6 Trap

Generating Conversation • 163 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
💼 Business Work Culture Startups Team Dynamics Productivity Work-life balance
  1. Working long hours like the 9-9-6 schedule doesn't lead to better results. People can only focus well for a few hours each day, and too much work can actually hurt productivity.
  2. Life is more than just work. People need time for family, hobbies, and fun to stay happy and avoid burnout.
  3. Creating a healthy work culture where employees can enjoy life is key for long-term success. It's important to work hard but also take breaks to keep everyone energized.

Humana to shutter Louisville, Kentucky headquarters; top executives now working out of Washington, D.C.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 519 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
💼 Business Corporate behavior Healthcare Industry Financial Performance Market Trends
  1. Humana is closing its headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, as top executives have already moved to Washington, D.C. This change aims to cut costs and better align with their government business focus.
  2. The company has recently struggled financially, citing high costs associated with their Medicare Advantage enrollees using more healthcare services than expected. This led to significant losses and a drop in stock prices.
  3. With top leaders now based in D.C., they can quickly engage with lawmakers who are examining Medicare Advantage and its financial impacts, as these plans may be overpaying billions to insurers.