The hottest Business Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

✨ What we know about AI and the economy ... so far, at least

Faster, Please! • 639 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
💼 Business Economy Investment Technology Job Market
  1. AI investment is growing, especially in chip companies, and is expected to continue rising in the future.
  2. Only a small number of companies are currently using AI, but many are looking to invest more in it despite some concerns.
  3. AI is starting to influence the job market, with more openings in AI-related fields, but it's not a major cause of layoffs yet.

The 9 Fundamental Ingredients to Thrive with Product Management

Untrapping Product Teams • 157 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
💼 Business Product Management Ingredients Vision Strategy Learning
  1. Product management is like cooking: it's not just about the recipe, but also about how you do it and the ingredients you use.
  2. Recognize the fundamental ingredients for thriving in product management, such as product vision, strategy, goals, and testing assumptions.
  3. Having a strong product vision is crucial for inspiring and motivating teams to progress in the right direction.

Young People Can't Get Jobs. Now What?

State of the Future • 228 implied HN points • 15 May 25
💼 Business Employment Economy Education Entrepreneurship Technology
  1. AI is causing entry-level jobs to disappear, especially for young graduates. Many of the roles that students are training for are fading away fast.
  2. Youth unemployment is increasing, with recent grads struggling to find work. The job market is looking worse for them compared to the overall workforce.
  3. We need new ideas and solutions to help young people find work. Programs that encourage entrepreneurship and skilled trades can help them build careers even as traditional job paths vanish.

The Bear Cave #249

The Bear Cave • 513 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
💼 Business Finance Investors Market Analysis Corporate Governance Executive Changes
  1. Multiple activist reports have raised concerns about major companies like Roblox, Oklo, and elf Beauty, suggesting issues of financial integrity and management competence. These reports could indicate potential future problems for these companies.
  2. Several key executives have recently resigned from their positions, including CEOs and CFOs from various companies. This turnover can point to instability within these organizations, potentially affecting their performance.
  3. There are ongoing investigations into companies like Zeta Global for unethical practices. Allegations of deceptive marketing and revenue manipulation highlight the importance of transparency in business.

How Employee Reviews Can Transform Your Small Business

The Power of Teamwork • 59 implied HN points • 13 Jun 24
💼 Business Performance reviews Employee engagement Leadership Development
  1. Employee reviews help clarify roles and expectations, making it easier for everyone to understand what they need to do. This leads to better teamwork and efficiency.
  2. Regular reviews can identify underperforming employees and provide actionable feedback, helping them improve and contribute more to the team. This can boost overall productivity.
  3. These reviews allow for open communication about career progression and skills development, helping to keep employees engaged and reducing turnover. When employees feel valued, they're more likely to stay.
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Top Links 578 Airline profits. Global migration. Virtue capitalists & Norwich v. the Soviet Union.

Chartbook • 500 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
💼 Business Economics Finance Corporate Market Trends Globalization
  1. Airline profits have rebounded recently, indicating a recovery in the travel industry. This shows that more people are flying again after tough times.
  2. Global migration trends are changing, with more people moving for various reasons. This affects economies and cultures around the world.
  3. There is a discussion around 'virtue capitalists,' who focus on social values while making money, and their impact compared to historical examples like Norwich and the Soviet Union.

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.

Why Usher Will Get Paid $0 to Headline the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show—and Why That's OK

The Take (by Jon Miltimore) • 178 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Economics Entertainment Marketing Negotiation Value
  1. Artists like Usher may headline the Super Bowl halftime show for free, but they benefit from increased record sales and exposure.
  2. The NFL's unique arrangement with performers makes sense from an economic perspective, as the exposure during the halftime show can lead to millions of dollars worth of value for the artists.
  3. Despite not receiving payment from the NFL, artists still have direct financial incentives to perform due to the significant spike in record sales and other subsequent opportunities.

How to Foster True Inclusion

Journal of Free Black Thought • 29 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
💼 Business Organizational Culture Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Human Resources
  1. Organizations often focus too much on how they look rather than doing real work for inclusion. This is like putting on a show instead of fixing what's broken.
  2. Inclusion should mean giving everyone a fair chance to succeed based on their abilities, not just trying to make outcomes equal for everyone. We need to ensure that hard work gets recognized.
  3. Instead of just pointing out problems, we should build on what people are doing right and help make those positive actions part of the organization’s culture.

One Funeral at a Time

MD&A • 453 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
💼 Business Real Estate Economics Investing Market Trends Financial Strategies
  1. People often stick to familiar ideas, even if they're wrong, because those ideas feel comfortable. Just like in science, new information can be hard to accept.
  2. Seeing the world differently can lead to better investment opportunities. Those who challenge common beliefs can find hidden chances in the market.
  3. Making simple changes can solve big problems. Just like washing hands helped reduce childbed fever, allowing more housing construction might help lower rising costs.

Sneakily effective innovation

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 79 implied HN points • 24 Apr 24
💼 Business Innovation Product Development Strategy Workshops Consulting
  1. Organizations often avoid innovation because they fear failure and think it's too complicated or expensive. Instead, they can use small and simple experiments to explore new ideas safely.
  2. Learning to ask good questions and frame problems well is essential for effective innovation. This helps teams come up with better experiments that can inform their decisions.
  3. Workshops can offer hands-on experience for teams to develop their innovation skills. By collaborating on real challenges, they can create practical solutions that they can apply again in the future.

what makes labor valuable?

bad cattitude • 145 implied HN points • 22 Jul 25
💼 Business Job Market Education Wages Economics
  1. There are too many college graduates for the available jobs, leading to higher unemployment rates among young graduates. This makes college less reliable for job security and opportunities.
  2. Jobs that involve specialized skills, like architecture or professional sports, can be tough as there are many people competing for a few positions. This can drive wages down.
  3. To make your labor valuable, it's important to have many buyers and limited competition. Developing practical skills in trades may be a smarter choice than pursuing a degree in an oversaturated field.

Moving beyond founder-led sales

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 425 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
💼 Business Sales Marketing Startups Growth Revenue
  1. Warmly grew from zero to $700k ARR in 2023 by using a founder-led sales approach, where the co-founder took a hands-on role in closing sales.
  2. By shifting to a more structured and scalable sales process, Warmly was able to triple their revenue plan for 2024 and build a diverse sales team with various roles.
  3. They experimented with different marketing channels, including partnerships and paid ads, which helped them expand their customer base while learning which strategies were most effective.

🎂 This all started a year ago

🔮 Crafting Tech Teams • 79 implied HN points • 24 Apr 24
💼 Business Coaching Content creation Design Mentoring
  1. The past year involved successful podcast testing, mentoring, and community building in the engineering field.
  2. Balancing multiple content creation channels and refining strategies was essential for sustained growth in the coaching and content business.
  3. Feedback from surveys and direct interactions highlighted the importance of clear design, diversified content, and fostering a supportive learning environment in the coaching and content creation journey.

AI Pricing Strategy 101: How to Use ChatGPT, Claude & Perplexity for Pricing Research — AI-powered refresh of your successful pricing frameworks post

The Product Channel By Sid Saladi • 10 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
💼 Business Pricing Product Market research Customer Insights Financial Modeling Strategy AI Tools
  1. Use each AI tool for its strength — Perplexity for fast market research, Claude for customer psychology and messaging, and ChatGPT for scenario math and modeling so your pricing work is faster and more accurate.
  2. Shift from effort-based to value-based pricing — charge for the customer impact and outcomes you deliver, not the hours you spent, and let AI help quantify and communicate that value.
  3. AI streamlines the pricing workflow by summarizing competitors, simulating tough customers, and running pricing scenarios, and you can automate much of this with ready-to-use prompts.

The future of advertising and cinema is under threat, and what happens next feels inevitable.

The Social Juice • 36 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
💼 Business Advertising Media Marketing Economics Finance
  1. The advertising industry is facing significant challenges, with major companies like Omnicom cutting thousands of jobs due to mergers. This points to a tough future for many working in media and advertising.
  2. Netflix's recent acquisition of Warner Bros for $72 billion marks a huge shift in the entertainment landscape, showing how major players are consolidating power in the media industry.
  3. Consumer preferences are changing as shown by the rising importance of festive ads. A majority of adults feel that these ads impact their shopping choices during the holiday season.

Cannabis Shortages Spread in the West

Mindset Value • 314 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
💼 Business Prices Supply and Demand Market Trends Industry Analysis
  1. Cannabis shortages are spreading in the Western states like Oregon, Nevada, and Colorado, following California's increase in prices.
  2. Prices are rising due to low inventory after challenging market conditions that led to a decrease in cannabis production and many inefficient producers going out of business.
  3. The interconnectedness of the cannabis market is leading to shortages in various states, impacting pricing and supply dynamics.

An Honest Day's Work Can Take Days

Building Something Old • 139 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
💼 Business Labor Market Workforce Development Economic Impact
  1. There's a big shortage of skilled workers in the U.S., especially in vital industries like construction and manufacturing. Many companies are struggling to fill jobs and this could hurt the economy if not addressed.
  2. Apprenticeships are making a comeback as they provide a good path for young people to learn trades and earn money while gaining experience. This old-school method of training is seen as an effective solution to the current labor crisis.
  3. There are many reasons why apprenticeships are more appealing now, including high demand for skilled workers and rising costs of college. More and more people are realizing that trades can offer good careers without the burden of student debt.

Investment themes that will define Africa’s next decade

Afridigest • 35 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
💼 Business Infrastructure Energy Agribusiness Technology Manufacturing Investment
  1. Electric vehicles, special economic zones, data centers, and agribusiness are among the highest-potential sectors for investment in Africa over the next decade.
  2. These themes suggest a long-term opportunity window to 2035 where strategic capital in manufacturing, logistics, and digital infrastructure can generate significant growth.
  3. Building enabling infrastructure and supportive policies—like reliable power, connectivity, and functional SEZs—is essential to unlock and scale these sectoral opportunities.

We are crowdfunding $ for design!

Offline: dating that works • 39 implied HN points • 18 Jun 24
💼 Business Crowdfunding Design Marketing Funding Startups
  1. The team is crowdfunding $5K for design to improve their product, starting with a minimum viable design and then progressing to marketing and user recruitment efforts.
  2. They are seeking support through financial pledges, volunteer resources, spreading the word, and connecting with potential users for research interviews.
  3. The project aims to evolve from a demo site to a consumer-ready product through iterative funding rounds and community engagement.

Copart

Business Breakdowns • 314 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
💼 Business Investment Management Financials Growth Risks
  1. Copart is a company that plays a crucial role in the automotive industry by handling totaled cars through auctions on a global scale
  2. The company's business model thrives on providing services like towing, storage, processing fees, and bidding platforms for salvaged vehicles
  3. Copart's scale advantages, intelligent shareholder base, and conservative management contribute to its strong position in the market

Difference Between Product Owner and Product Manager Explained

Untrapping Product Teams • 314 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
💼 Business Management Roles Communication Leadership
  1. Confusion arises when the difference between Product Owners and Product Managers is misunderstood.
  2. Common misconceptions include responsibilities, hierarchy, and communication between Product Owners and Product Managers.
  3. Having both Product Owners and Product Managers co-existing in a team can lead to poor results and lack of clear leadership.

Your feedback

Asian Century Stocks • 314 implied HN points • 03 Sep 23
💼 Business Investing Stocks Reports Book Reviews Feedback
  1. Subscribers prefer deep-dive reports and portfolio discussions over other content types.
  2. Among deep dives, stocks from Hong Kong, the US, Australia, and Japan are preferred over Southeast Asian stocks.
  3. Thematic reports on 'Hidden Champions' and other industry-related topics are well-received by readers.