The hottest Business Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

TBM 278: The Power of Firsthand Experience

The Beautiful Mess • 793 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
💼 Business Product Management Team Dynamics Customer Insights Product Development Decision-making
  1. Having firsthand experience is crucial in understanding product concepts, like observing failed launches or successful market fit.
  2. Seeing a team hit dead ends before succeeding can encourage more leeway for experimentation and resilience.
  3. Direct access to customers, effective team dynamics, and confronting false assumptions can greatly impact decision-making and product success.

Where Do The Great Startup Ideas Come From - Stripe & Airbnb Case?| OpenAI Saga Explained | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Innovation Entrepreneurship Finance
  1. Startups like Airbnb, Coinbase, and Stripe succeeded by challenging existing players and aiming to do things 10 times better, turning competition into inspiration.
  2. Successful founders like those of Airbnb and Stripe ignored naysayers and pursued their wild ideas, pushing through doubt and expert skepticism.
  3. Timing, unique ideas, and unexpected market sizes played key roles in the success stories of startups like Airbnb, Stripe, and Coinbase, showing that unconventional approaches can lead to great outcomes.

Inside Metropolitan Park: How Steve Cohen Got His $8 Billion Casino Project Approved in New York

Huddle Up • 25 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
💼 Business Real Estate Regulation Sports Business Public Policy Finance
  1. Steve Cohen plans to convert the Citi Field parking lot into an $8+ billion casino and entertainment complex to create year-round revenue and reduce the Mets’ seasonality.
  2. He secured one of New York’s downstate casino licenses by paying a huge upfront fee and promising substantial tax revenue, betting the project will transform the team’s business model.
  3. Getting approval required navigating political and legal hurdles — community advisory votes, lawsuits, opposition from officials and groups — plus heavy lobbying, donations, and concessions like subway upgrades.

Making Oxford Nanopore Profitable?

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
💼 Business Corporate Finance Profitability Cost Control Corporate strategy Leadership Biotech Workforce
  1. A new CEO is expected to make the company profitable by 2027.
  2. Recent financials show losses haven’t meaningfully decreased and 2025 appears worse, so progress toward profitability is limited.
  3. Headcount has been rising, which suggests costs aren’t being cut and makes the profitability goal harder to achieve.

Why Start-up CEOs no longer require a full-blown data team

The Orchestra Data Leadership Newsletter • 79 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
💼 Business Start-ups Data Analytics Data Tools
  1. CEOs are moving away from hiring full data teams and are opting for small consultancies to set up their data stack, reducing risk and cost.
  2. One-person data teams in startups face overwhelming responsibilities, leading to chaos and potentially costly decisions.
  3. New technologies like Orchestra help single-person data teams maintain visibility and orchestration without expensive tools, accelerating the data value businesses receive.
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My call with a YouTuber with 2 million subscribers | #34

The Pole • 199 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
💼 Business YouTube Content creation Monetization Audience Entrepreneurship
  1. Making money by selling to your audience is more lucrative than relying solely on ad revenue on YouTube
  2. Focusing on a specific niche makes marketing and positioning videos easier, but finding a balance is crucial to avoid burnout
  3. Understanding the value of your audience, such as their purchasing power, is essential for creating valuable content and solving pertinent problems

This Week in Marketing: TikTok in USA, Anti-links Meta, Netflix vs. YouTube, and Hashtags

The Social Juice • 19 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
💼 Business Marketing Advertising Social media Tech Platforms Media AI Regulation
  1. TikTok will be sold to or controlled by US owners to avoid a ban, but the deal is controversial and could create new problems.
  2. Meta is tightening what creators can post — Instagram limits hashtags to five and Facebook is testing fees for sharing links — while the company faces scams, ad-fraud accusations, and regulatory pressure.
  3. Platforms are competing over video and podcasts: Netflix is signing video-podcast deals and YouTube is expanding podcast/TV features, forcing advertisers and creators to rethink where they distribute and buy podcast ads.

ASML 2024 Q4 Financials

More Than Moore • 280 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
💼 Business Finance Economics Investing Corporate Market Trends
  1. ASML had a great Q4 in 2024, with revenue hitting €9.3 billion, which is a 28% increase from the previous year. This makes it their highest earning quarter ever.
  2. The company shipped a total of 132 lithography machines in Q4, marking a strong demand for their products. They even sold their first High-NA EUV systems during this time.
  3. For 2025, ASML expects to continue growing with projected revenue between €30 billion and €35 billion. They are optimistic about increased sales in the AI chip market.

Building Businesses in New Frontiers: A Thirst for Adventure Abroad

The Hard Fork by Marvin Liao • 117 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investing Risk management Opportunities
  1. Exploring new frontiers in international business can be attractive and rewarding.
  2. Venturing into diverse cultures and challenging environments can lead to unique business opportunities.
  3. Engaging in frontier markets requires a tolerance for risk but offers potential for personal growth and financial gain.

Semafor proved the haters wrong

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 399 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
💼 Business Media Entrepreneurship Advertising Digital Subscriptions
  1. Semafor has grown significantly in just two years, with over 80 staff members and 750,000 newsletter subscribers. They stayed focused on key topics, keeping their costs low while attracting a valuable audience.
  2. Costco's magazine is more popular than many big-name publications because it delivers useful tips and highlights its vendors. It shows how a focused approach can yield success.
  3. Political Wire's successful subscription model offers extra content and perks for loyal readers. Building a strong community can really help in retaining subscribers.

Why Monopolies Hate Repair

Fight to Repair • 118 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
💼 Business Monopolies Repair Market Power Right-to-repair Competition
  1. The fight for the right to repair is closely tied to the fight against monopolies. Companies like Apple use control over repairs to limit competition and maximize profit.
  2. Monopolies can hinder a circular economy by prioritizing profit over repairability. The push for a real circular economy requires challenging traditional capitalist notions.
  3. Legislation like the Digital Markets Act can help combat the restrictive practices of monopolies and create a more repair-friendly future. Advocating for right to repair policies and regulations is crucial in this fight.

🚪 A filmmaker SaaS acquired for $15k

No-Code Exits • 117 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Tech startups Marketing Acquisitions No Code
  1. Starting small and testing ideas is important to reduce risk and adapt quickly based on feedback.
  2. Creating revenue-driven and sustainable businesses that do not rely on external funding is crucial.
  3. Learning and mastering no-code tools like Bubble can lead to successful ventures with lower maintenance costs and faster shipping times.

The Game-Changing Clause For Entrepreneur , VC Funds Are Mostly Just Wasting Their Time and Your Money, VC Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 219 implied HN points • 19 Aug 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Venture Capital Investments Startups Jobs
  1. In negotiating convertible notes, entrepreneurs should include a clause to prevent early investors from taking advantage of rising valuations.
  2. A study by Morgan Stanley calls into question the superior returns claimed by VC funds, highlighting challenges and inconsistencies in the industry.
  3. Investors often face struggles in accurately valuing equity in VC investments due to complex structures, contributing to potential overvaluation.

Spotlight: Rob Desborough - Managing Partner @ Seraphim Space & CEO Seraphim Space Accelerator

Space Ambition • 219 implied HN points • 25 Aug 23
💼 Business Investment Technology Venture Capital Startups Space Tech
  1. Rob Desborough leads a major space-focused venture capital firm that helps many spacetech startups grow. They are not only funding new space ideas but also managing a special trust that invests in this sector.
  2. There is a growing interest in spacetech investments, with more people and companies getting involved. Recent years have seen a rise in new investors and significant funding, especially in Europe and Asia.
  3. Space technology is now focused on important issues like climate change and global security. The industry is looking at exciting areas like sustainability and space mining to solve big problems on Earth.

Hidden Clauses In The Term Sheet that Every Founder Should Know | 2008 Venture Capital Market Recovery | How To Convince Investors? | VC Remote Jobs & Internships and More

Venture Curator • 219 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment Startups Entrepreneurship Finance
  1. Understanding hidden clauses in term sheets is crucial for founders to avoid disputes and confusion in the future.
  2. Knowing the economic aspects of term sheets, such as valuation, investment amount, and anti-dilution, can help founders negotiate effectively with VCs.
  3. Founders and investors should remember that a term sheet is a tool for communication and does not guarantee success; a strong business does.

Why it's Better To Raise Less Capital In The First Round? | Don’t Waste Time Chasing Investors | How To Convince Investors | VC Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 219 implied HN points • 28 Aug 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Startup funding Entrepreneurship Investing
  1. Start Small, Stay Nimble: Raising less capital in early stages allows flexibility for strategic adjustments while maintaining control.
  2. Small Beginnings, Bigger Rewards: As your startup proves its worth, raising less initially can lead to diluting fewer shares and higher valuations later on.
  3. Grow Smarter, Stronger: Strategic use of capital matters more than the amount raised, like nurturing a seed to watch your startup grow into a mighty oak.

How a Convertible Note Converts During Priced Round (e.g- Series A, B) ? | 2008-09 Global Startup Ecoystem & More

Venture Curator • 219 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
💼 Business Startups Investing Venture Capital Jobs Mathematics
  1. Convertible notes convert in three ways: Pre-money Method, Percentage Ownership Method, Dollars Invested Method, catering to different preferences of founders and investors.
  2. Key parameters to consider in evaluating a convertible note include Discount Rate, Valuation Cap, Interest Rate, and Maturity Date, which affect the conversion process during priced rounds like Series A or B.
  3. Understanding the math behind the conversion of convertible notes during priced rounds involves calculations based on factors like pre-money valuation, discount rates, and valuation caps, influencing the final ownership percentages.

Your complete guide to board rooms

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 276 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
💼 Business Management Finance Corporate Governance Startups Leadership
  1. Know who's in the room during board meetings. The CEO, CFO, and tech leaders each have specific roles and responsibilities that are crucial for a productive discussion.
  2. Keep your board meetings under 3.5 hours. Long meetings can tire everyone out, so aim for a focused agenda that encourages valuable input from all members.
  3. Send out materials for the meeting 48 to 72 hours in advance. This allows everyone to prepare without being overwhelmed, and it helps keep the meeting on track.

TBM 205: "Process" vs. Systems & Habits

The Beautiful Mess • 1613 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
💼 Business Management Processes Systems Habits Leadership
  1. Team A focuses on rushed, performative annual processes, while Team B prioritizes continuous improvement and thoughtful feedback.
  2. Team A's lack of customer-centricity and reactive approach leads to institutionalized mediocrity, while Team B's positive habits and systems drive effectiveness.
  3. Breaking the loop of reactive processes and establishing human-centric systems and valuable habits is crucial for better ways of working in organizations.

How Repl.It 25x'ed ARR to $100m in <1year

Enterprise AI Trends • 126 implied HN points • 25 Jun 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Technology Startups Growth Strategy Market Trends
  1. Repl.It achieved amazing growth by tapping into the 'learn to code' audience. They built a strong presence in schools and coding bootcamps over several years.
  2. The company focuses on users who want to create apps without worrying about the technical details. This means they cater to a specific market that's eager to learn and build without complex barriers.
  3. Repl.It has a unique strategy that sets it apart from competitors like Cursor. They have a solid foundation and can keep growing, but there are still risks they need to manage.

The Use of Scarcity Cues in E-Commerce: Impact on User Experience and Trust

UX Psychology • 218 implied HN points • 05 Oct 23
💼 Business E-commerce User Experience Psychology Marketing Research
  1. Online retailers often use scarcity cues like countdown timers and limited quantity messages to create urgency, but research suggests they can harm user experience and trust.
  2. Psychological theories show that scarcity can make products seem more valuable, yet artificial scarcity cues in marketing can annoy users and erode trust.
  3. Recent research found that scarcity cues, especially time-based ones, can lead to negative emotions, frustration, and reduced user trust, highlighting the need for transparent and verifiable messaging in e-commerce.

What is Your Life Worth?

Economic Forces • 9 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
💼 Business Economics Labor Insurance Regulation Public Policy Valuation
  1. People reveal how much they value life through choices like buying insurance, spending on health, and taking risky jobs, and economists use those choices to compute a "statistical value of life" (e.g., via wage premia).
  2. Empirical estimates place the statistical value of life in the millions of dollars and show it rising over time; as incomes and life expectancy rise, people tend to demand and pay more for safety.
  3. Price theory lets us put dollar values on non-market goods, so up-to-date value-of-life estimates are essential for sensible policy and cost–benefit decisions about safety and regulation.

When Creatives Quit

The Intersection • 217 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
💼 Business Management Creativity Career development Employment Leadership
  1. Quitting can be a complex decision, especially for creatives tied to visas or seeking new challenges.
  2. As managers, it's important to listen and not react immediately when creatives want to quit.
  3. Offering value beyond monetary incentives, nurturing like flowers, and accepting when it's time to let creatives go are key to managing a creative team.

The End of Brands As We Know Them

The Intersection • 217 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
💼 Business Marketing Technology Creativity Innovation Strategy
  1. The evolution of brands is being reshaped by AI, impacting how individuals can compete with institutions.
  2. Technological advancements are upgrading the cognitive operating system of human society, from the printing press in the 15th century to generative AI in the modern era.
  3. Business strategies are shifting from organizational scale to functional speed, from transactional to conversational, and from relying on unique selling propositions to clear points of view in order to stay relevant in the Intelligent Age.

You Can Be an Entrepreneur Without Being a Founder

Insight Axis • 217 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Risk Leverage
  1. Entrepreneurship is not limited to being a startup founder with venture capital, it is a broader concept that involves problem-solving, risk-taking, and resource management.
  2. Common definitions of entrepreneurship emphasize risk-taking and creating economic value, but a more inclusive definition should focus on problem-solving with limited resources and seeking leverage.
  3. Examples of entrepreneurship span beyond traditional business ventures and can include activities like writing on platforms such as Substack or a college student taking unconventional steps to secure internships.

Expensive Shelfware

Perspective Agents • 6 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
💼 Business Strategy Leadership Talent Operations Transformation Change Management Adoption Governance
  1. AI itself is incredibly powerful, but many companies see little value because they haven't invested enough in people, workflows, and everyday use.
  2. Big enterprise buys and long roadmaps often leave AI as expensive shelfware, while starting small and embedding AI into real team workflows drives adoption and impact.
  3. Real returns come from investing in a 'Human OS'—systems, habits, coaching, clear outcomes, exec sponsorship, and relentless testing—or else AI sits idle and becomes a competitive drag.

The collapse of Alibaba’s New Retail? - Part 1: Shopping Malls & Home Furnishing

Tech Buzz China Insider • 79 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
💼 Business Retail Investments E-commerce Management
  1. Alibaba's New Retail initiatives, including offline investments, are facing challenges and potential failures.
  2. The focus on consumption upgrade led Alibaba to miss the shifting consumer trends towards practical and inexpensive purchases, affecting their strategies.
  3. There is a shift within Alibaba towards returning to prioritizing online business, user experience, and supporting small and medium businesses once again.

goodhart in the youth club

Dan Davies - "Back of Mind" • 216 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
💼 Business Decision-making Government Systems Information processing
  1. Decisions about people will always involve unique cases that don't fit neatly into data sets.
  2. Industrializing decision-making processes can be efficient but may introduce bias and fail to capture complex information.
  3. Including qualitative data like the impact of funding youth clubs in accounting systems requires careful consideration to avoid distorting measurements.

The Case for Being a Hyper-Responsive Leader

America 2.0 (by Gary Sheng) • 216 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
💼 Business Leadership Product Development Politics Collaboration Community Building
  1. Responsiveness is crucial for successful leadership in various fields like product development, community building, and politics.
  2. Being hyper-responsive fosters trust, builds brand loyalty, and enhances products or services.
  3. Maintaining a high level of responsiveness can differentiate you, attract allies, and lead to collaborations and growth.