The hottest Business Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

A Job at Microsoft: Getting and Passing the Interview

Rod’s Blog • 575 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
💼 Business Career development Networking Interviewing Professional Skills
  1. Finding the right opportunity at Microsoft can be about letting things unfold naturally, embracing roles that align with your skills while leaving room for growth.
  2. Getting an interview at Microsoft often depends on having a strong advocate within the company willing to support and recommend you.
  3. During the interview process at Microsoft, showcasing a willingness to learn, sharing real-world experiences, and being prepared to discuss inclusivity can make a positive impact.

The Tech Founder & The Narcissistic Parent

Design is Love • 3 HN points • 25 Sep 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Leadership Mindset Startups Personal Development
  1. Narcissistic people can really bring you down and make you doubt your dreams. It's important to ignore their negative words and believe in yourself.
  2. Success often comes from hard work and resilience, not just connections. Keep pushing toward your goals even if others don’t support you.
  3. Finding your own worth is key to overcoming challenges. You should define your success, not let others tell you what it means.
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Steve Jobs - ‘Don’t Ask Your Customers What They Want, Why?’ | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 519 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
💼 Business Product Development Innovation Entrepreneurship Technology Marketing
  1. Start with the customer experience in mind when developing products, not just technology.
  2. Avoid asking customers what they want; focus on innovative solutions beyond functional needs.
  3. Creativity involves connecting different ideas and industries to innovate and simplify products.

Community Meetup

chamathreads • 452 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
💼 Business Technology Markets Global trends Community Education
  1. The meetup is private and focuses on discussing technology, markets, and global trends in the Bay Area.
  2. Chamath Palihapitiya has written deep dives on Energy Transition and AI and plans to cover U.S. healthcare next.
  3. The meetup is for paid subscribers who are part of the community of lifelong learners on Learn With Me.

Top Links 749 Tanning and the tariffs. How small boats are getting bigger. Liverpool and the unmaking of Britain.

Chartbook • 629 implied HN points • 25 May 25
💼 Business Trade Economics Industry International Supply Chain
  1. The leather industry in the US is facing challenges due to tariffs, which can affect the prices of products made from leather.
  2. Small boats are getting bigger, which might change how we think about fishing and travel at sea.
  3. The history of Liverpool is highlighted as a key part of understanding the changes in Britain.

Issue #3 - Pulling Back the Data Ecosystem Curtain

The Data Ecosystem • 219 implied HN points • 28 Apr 24
💼 Business Data Strategy Business Models Decision-making Data Governance
  1. Data in a business starts with understanding its goals and needs. The success of data efforts relies on how well it aligns with what the business wants to achieve.
  2. The data lifecycle turns business needs into actionable insights. It involves sourcing data, organizing it, and finally consuming it to gain meaningful insights that support decision-making.
  3. Surrounding factors like market trends and organizational issues can impact how data is used. It's important to recognize these influences to address challenges and keep data initiatives on track.

TBM 367: The Wicked "Big Picture" Loop

The Beautiful Mess • 489 implied HN points • 12 Jul 25
💼 Business Management Strategy Leadership Productivity Accountability
  1. Leaders want a simple, big picture, but teams often feel pressured to filter information. This leads to missed details and worries about slow progress.
  2. When the simplified approach fails, teams realize they need to show everything, exposing hard truths that can lead to chaos and missed deadlines.
  3. Finding a balance between strict discipline and flexible systems can help keep teams accountable and ensure issues are addressed before they escalate.

Broadcom’s Google TPU Revenue Explosion, Networking Boom, VMWare Integration

SemiAnalysis • 4849 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
💼 Business Tech Acquisitions Networking Software Revenue
  1. Broadcom is the second largest AI chip company in the world behind NVIDIA, driven by Google's TPU ramp.
  2. Broadcom's strategy involves acquiring companies with strong products, cutting costs, and focusing on core products.
  3. Broadcom has diversified segments including wireless, networking, and custom silicon, with a focus on efficiency and stable growth.

Spotlight: Adam Niewiński - Co-founder and Managing Partner @ OTB Ventures

Space Ambition • 119 implied HN points • 14 Jun 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment Startups Technology
  1. Investments in SpaceTech are expanding, especially in areas like in-orbit economy and debris removal. This is important for making space activities sustainable.
  2. European DeepTech startups are well-positioned to compete globally, but they need better funding and support from institutions. There's a gap in spending compared to the U.S.
  3. Investing in specialized areas like Industrial Automation is promising due to the massive data generated. Innovations in this sector can lead to smarter operations and decision-making.

The VC Corner 📰 #10

The VC Corner • 479 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Valuation Generative AI Investing
  1. Figma is lowering its company value, which shows that even well-known startups can face tough times. It's important for businesses to be realistic about their worth.
  2. Knowing how to value your startup is crucial for attracting investors. Different factors play a role in determining a startup's value.
  3. Generative AI is becoming a big topic and resource for many. Understanding it can help startups leverage technology for growth.

65 successful media entrepreneurs share their top growth hacks

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 374 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
💼 Business Media Entrepreneurship Marketing Case Studies Growth Strategies
  1. Many media entrepreneurs are sharing their success stories to help others learn how to build and grow their businesses. These stories often include practical tips that can be applied to different media projects.
  2. Building a strong online presence is crucial, whether through newsletters, podcasts, or social media. Engaging an audience consistently can lead to loyal subscribers and increased revenue.
  3. Finding a specific niche can be a great strategy for media startups. Focusing on a particular topic or audience allows entrepreneurs to create content that truly resonates and stands out in a crowded market.

Is growth still good?

benn.substack • 1176 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
💼 Business Startups AI Innovation Market Trends Corporate strategy
  1. Fast growth can be misleading in today's market. Just because a startup is making money quickly doesn't mean it has a solid long-term plan.
  2. Smaller, newer companies are often more innovative than big ones. Many tech leaders are looking to fresh, creative minds instead of established corporations for solutions.
  3. AI is creating a new type of workplace dynamic. Instead of making jobs easier, it could lead to roles that are more focused on managing technology than using creativity.

Long Take: Growing financial engagement with messaging in Coinbase Wallet, Venmo, and the super apps

The Fintech Blueprint • 904 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
💼 Business Finance Technology Engagement Commerce Messaging
  1. The intersection of finance and technology has led to innovative ways of mixing attention, commerce, and finance.
  2. Financial services are evolving beyond just being transactional machines to increase user engagement and improve customer retention.
  3. Developing a persistent digital identity for users and emphasizing interoperability and privacy are crucial in the evolving world of Web3.

What we would’ve done differently in the first year of bootstrapping our company

Founders Confidential • 51 HN points • 28 Jul 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Finance Startups Growth Strategies
  1. Start content marketing early because it takes a long time to build an audience. This way, you can also learn what your users really need.
  2. Target specific keywords in your SEO content. This helps your articles show up in search results and reach the right audience.
  3. Understand your users' experiences more deeply. Talking to them can give you valuable insights to improve your product.

The Family

Venture Prose • 1058 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
💼 Business Startups Entrepreneurship Venture Capital Management Leadership
  1. The Family organization had a lot of ambitious individuals and a strong sense of community, but struggled to find a sustainable business model.
  2. Despite the energy and enthusiasm within The Family, they faced challenges with loose processes, lack of focus, and poor accountability.
  3. Individuals within The Family, like Oussama, played significant roles in both the success and failure of the organization, showcasing the importance of leadership and responsibility.

It’s time to hire your first marketing agent

MKT1 Newsletter • 8 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
💼 Business Marketing AI Automation Growth Operations Strategy Product
  1. Agents are AI teammates that can autonomously run repeatable marketing work — they plan, reason, and act across tools to deliver measurable outcomes.
  2. Build agents like hiring a new teammate: write a short job-style spec, pick a builder (autonomous, structured, or productized), ship a simple MVP, and iterate with human review.
  3. Start with easy, high-ROI agents (competitive intel, content repurposing, social listening, growth analysis), deliver outputs into systems you already use, and design for reliability with structured outputs, checks, and limited permissions.

Fred Smith Built a Great American Company. What Made Him Tick?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 524 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Logistics E-commerce Management Marketing
  1. Fred Smith came up with the idea for FedEx while at Yale, despite not doing well in school. He didn't let that grade stop him from building a huge company.
  2. FedEx changed how people expect deliveries with its promise of overnight shipping. Smith had to navigate many rules to make this vision a reality.
  3. As the internet grew, Smith adapted by expanding into ground shipping, helping FedEx stay strong against competitors like UPS and Amazon.

The Jeff Bezos Playbook

The Generalist • 1080 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
💼 Business E-commerce Management Strategy Entrepreneurship Leadership
  1. Be customer-obsessed, going above and beyond to meet their needs can lead to long-term benefits, even if it means sacrificing short-term profits.
  2. Always be willing to innovate and don't fear failure; it’s a crucial part of success in business.
  3. Sometimes, it's smart to work with your competitors for mutual benefit, as this can set you up for future advantages against them.

What would a Substack ad product actually look like?

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 424 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
💼 Business Media Advertising Marketing Technology Content Strategy
  1. Substack is considering adding an advertising feature to help connect creators with brands. This could mean creators list their prices for ads, and Substack takes a cut.
  2. There's talk of tools that may automatically insert ads into newsletters. This could help creators, but they might lose some control over the ad content.
  3. More publishers are using mobile apps to keep subscribers engaged, showing that apps can help reduce subscription cancellations and drive user interaction.

Reflections on Palantir

Nabeel S. Qureshi • 1678 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
💼 Business Tech Companies Data Integration Software Development Corporate culture Entrepreneurship
  1. Palantir focuses on solving tough problems in important industries like healthcare and manufacturing. The company aims to tackle complex issues that others often ignore, offering a unique opportunity for engineers who want to make a real impact.
  2. The role of forward deployed engineers (FDEs) is key at Palantir. They work closely with customers to understand their needs and integrate data effectively, helping to create software solutions that solve real business problems.
  3. The culture at Palantir is intense and promotes open communication, where criticism and debate are welcomed. This environment encourages employees to think deeply and cultivate a unique set of skills that can lead to successful startups.

Having a Conversation With Myself: 2025

Investing 101 • 55 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Investing Leadership Company Building Strategy Organizational Culture
  1. Writing is primarily a tool for thinking and self-reflection, and doing it consistently compounds the creator even more than it grows an audience.
  2. Venture capital and startup culture have become noisy and scale-obsessed, so what’s needed are conviction-led or “adventure” investors and builders who focus on durable, mission-driven companies rather than chasing hype.
  3. In a hyperlegible, attention-driven world, embracing nuance, forming independent beliefs, and understanding interdependencies are essential to avoid being programmed by trends and to build things worth building.

You need to neglect mostly everything to win big

Play Permissionless • 319 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Strategy Productivity Management Optimization
  1. To win big, you only need to get a small number of things right and can afford to mess up everything else. This applies to both companies and individuals.
  2. Winning big often requires unlearning traditional schooling strategies and focusing on doing a great job at a few key aspects while neglecting the rest.
  3. Removing non-essential tasks and focusing solely on what helps deliver better and faster results can lead to significant improvements and ultimately winning big.

#1 Question You Need to Crush Your Niche

VERY GOOD PRODUCTIZED GUIDES • 99 implied HN points • 25 Jun 24
💼 Business Marketing Entrepreneurship Strategy Sales Branding
  1. Success takes time and effort; it doesn't happen overnight. Jim Carrey's journey shows that hard work is key to reaching your goals.
  2. Understanding your audience is crucial. Asking 'What do they want?' can help you create something they truly value.
  3. Don't just settle for the surface; dig deeper to find unique insights. This can set you apart in a crowded market.

Movers, Shakers, & Money Makers (7/29)

Human Capitalist • 79 implied HN points • 30 Jul 24
💼 Business Career Changes Job Market Workforce Trends Talent Management
  1. There were many job changes last week, highlighting movement among key players in various companies. This suggests ongoing shifts in the business landscape.
  2. Some job moves might indicate bigger changes within their companies, like potential overhauls or new strategies being formed. Keeping an eye on these transitions can be important.
  3. The job market is dynamic, and tracking who is moving can help professionals and investors stay informed about talent and opportunities in their fields.

Irresistible Insights

Venture Prose • 299 implied HN points • 24 Mar 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investing Startups
  1. Founders can stand out when they combine genius with the obvious in their industry or approach.
  2. Sometimes unique and brilliant ideas may seem natural to founders, requiring help to highlight these insights for investors.
  3. Investors seek out founders with irresistible qualities and ideas, often discovering hidden gems in unexpected places.

Top Links 782 America's largest firms employ fewer workers. Three housing crises not one. Less money for science and conscious walking.

Chartbook • 486 implied HN points • 29 Jun 25
💼 Business Economics Labor Industry Market Science
  1. Big companies in America are hiring fewer workers than before. This trend can change the job market.
  2. There are actually three different housing crises happening at the same time, affecting people's living situations.
  3. Funding for science is decreasing, and people are becoming less aware of their surroundings while walking.

Speed Is Never Just Speed

Fish Food for Thought • 29 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
💼 Business Leadership Teams Strategy Culture Operations Management
  1. Speed is an outcome, not an order — it only appears when focus, collaboration, deliberate transformation, and psychological safety all work together.
  2. Earn the right to move fast by doing the hard basics first — narrow priorities, secure fundamentals, and only then expand into optionality.
  3. Make speed durable by designing systems and a culture of trust — rehearse decision-making under pressure and treat mistakes as learning so people can act without fear.

On Rules and Rulers.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 46 implied HN points • 04 Jan 26
💼 Business Leadership Management Careers Strategy Finance Personal Development Organizational Culture
  1. True leadership comes from competence, realism, integrity, empathy, vulnerability and the ability to inspire — it’s about influence, not just a title. Rulers may have formal power but often rely on intimidation, inheritance or fear instead of those leadership behaviors.
  2. People use different internal rulers to measure success (money, family, creativity, peace, etc.), so understanding someone’s incentives helps predict and align behavior. Asking how they define success, how they’re evaluated, and how you can help makes cooperation easier.
  3. A few simple, enduring rules cover most of a good life: sleep and move, spend less than you earn and invest for the long term, find mentors and keep learning, and be grateful and true to your word. The real challenge is doing these consistently.