The hottest Business Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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My failed experiment in e-commerce

Jay's Data Stream • 23 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
💼 Business Startups E-commerce Marketing Product Branding Supply Chain Consumer Goods
  1. Starting a startup as a joke or out of stress rarely works; impulsive or unrelated side projects get poor execution and weak customer demand.
  2. CPG e-commerce is mostly marketing — you need relentless content, influencer work, and paid ads to drive sales, because a good product alone usually won’t sell itself.
  3. Physical product failures leave you with real inventory and logistics headaches; unlike digital businesses, you can’t just shut them down with one click.

Facebook (Meta) Lesson 3: Tell me a story!

Musings on Markets • 539 implied HN points • 18 Nov 22
💼 Business Valuation Investing Corporate Governance Market Analysis Financial Reporting
  1. A good business valuation combines numbers with a compelling story. The story helps make sense of the numbers and gives them context.
  2. Storytelling is important for investors because it makes a business memorable and helps communicate its potential. However, numbers are crucial to maintain credibility and accountability.
  3. As market conditions change, so must a business's story. Companies like Facebook need to adapt their narratives to remain relevant and regain investor trust.

Abe Left Japan’s Economy Worse Than He Found It

Japan Economy Watch • 519 implied HN points • 13 Sep 22
💼 Business Economy Politics Finance Government Labor
  1. Shinzo Abe failed to improve Japan's economy during his tenure as Prime Minister, falling short of his promises and leaving living standards on a decline
  2. Abe's economic policies led to suppressed GDP growth, low wages, and a shift in national income from people to corporations
  3. Despite claimed achievements like 'womenomics' and ending deflation, Abe's tenure was marked by hollow measures and missed opportunities for real structural economic reforms

YC, Alchemist, Gitex want robot startups!

Robots & Startups • 59 implied HN points • 01 Apr 24
💼 Business Startups Accelerators Venture Capital Robotics Events
  1. Y Combinator, Alchemist, and Gitex are seeking robot startups for various programs and events.
  2. Startup accelerator programs like Alchemist Accelerator have specific criteria for founders and offer opportunities for nominations and fast-tracked interviews.
  3. There are numerous deadlines for startup calls in diverse fields like mobility, med devices, and deep tech, along with events like the Gitex Global in Dubai.

✨ The future of AI and the US economy, according to Goldman Sachs

Faster, Please! • 365 implied HN points • 14 Oct 24
💼 Business Economics Finance Technology Market Trends Productivity
  1. Goldman Sachs sees AI improving productivity, but not as a big game changer right away. They think its impact will be more like the rise of personal computers and the internet.
  2. While AI might boost GDP growth in the coming years, it will mostly help with efficiency by automating easier tasks. The real economic benefit might take some time to show up.
  3. There’s a lot of uncertainty about how AI will play out, with both potential upsides and realistic challenges. Many companies are testing AI, but significant impacts may still be a few years away.
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90% Of Founders Can't Build Successful MVP: Don't Be One | End of SaaS Is Closer | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Entrepreneurship Tech industry Remote Jobs
  1. Building a successful MVP involves focusing on the 'viable' aspect, listening to customer feedback, and iterating for improvement.
  2. 90% of startup founders fail at building successful MVPs due to not grasping the true essence of MVP and focusing solely on building a product.
  3. Successful startups like Airbnb, Twitch, and Stripe started with basic MVPs, appealing to early adopters and iterating based on user feedback.

Hiring Agile Coaches

It Depends / Nimble Autonomy • 19 implied HN points • 30 Jun 24
💼 Business Management Leadership Human Resources Coaching Agile development
  1. Agile coaches play an important role in helping teams improve their processes. A good coach can guide teams to recognize their own mistakes and improve without directly fixing their problems.
  2. When hiring agile coaches, it's essential to look for candidates with a solid background in product development and broad knowledge of agile methods. This experience helps them understand the 'why' behind agile practices.
  3. Building a successful agile coaching practice should start small, hiring one coach at a time. This allows the coach to establish what the role means in the organization before adding more coaches.

It's Companies' Fault we don't want to Return to the Office

startupdreams • 1165 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
💼 Business Workplace culture Remote work Corporate Responsibility
  1. Open office floor plans were introduced to reduce costs but can be detrimental to employees' performance.
  2. Working from home brought autonomy and productivity to many employees, making them reluctant to return to the office.
  3. Companies that force employees back to the office may face consequences like decreased productivity and losing top talent.

Timing Is The Single Biggest Reason Why Startups Succeed! | On the Life & Death of Y Combinator Startups | VC Remote Jobs and More

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Investments Technology Market Analysis
  1. Timing is crucial for startup success - knowing when to enter a market can make or break a startup
  2. Different types of markets affect a startup's fate: small market not growing, large market with past growth, being too early, or small market growing quickly
  3. Entrepreneurs should focus on being in a small market that is growing rapidly to increase chances of success

🌞 On New Beginnings: Giving You A Sneak Peek Into The Operating System That I am Building.

Day One • 599 implied HN points • 16 May 22
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Education Technology Marketing Personal Development
  1. The author shares their journey of transitioning from one platform to another, highlighting the importance of aligning a marketing strategy with personal brand values.
  2. Building an operating system, in this context, refers to a framework to power personal growth and monetization, emphasizing multiple income streams and constant learning.
  3. The author discusses the development of an online education startup, emphasizing the importance of creating effective online learning structures and partnerships.

Bullshit jobs

Logos • 39 implied HN points • 09 May 24
💼 Business Work Culture Economic Theory Corporate Structure Employee Satisfaction
  1. Bullshit jobs are roles that seem pointless or don't add real value to society. People often feel their job is useless because they don't see how it benefits others or the economy.
  2. Many jobs that seem pointless actually exist because of unnecessary processes or rules. For example, lawyers might just deal with silly lawsuits instead of making real progress.
  3. Some jobs can be damaging because they make workers feel unproductive and trapped. It's important to find jobs that give a sense of purpose and real impact.

The Ultimate Startup Quest: Building Something Special (in VC)

Equal Ventures • 99 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Investing Entrepreneurship Industry insights
  1. Equal Ventures focuses on proactive research and industry connectivity to have a point of view on markets and build thoughtful partnerships with founders.
  2. Equal Ventures supports founders with continuous learning, frameworks, and best practices to help them navigate challenges and succeed in their industries.
  3. Equal Ventures' slow investment pace allows for deep alignment and meaningful support for portfolio companies, building long-term relationships beyond current roles.

Who’s raising, IPO updates, and what company is buying Grok?

Alex's Personal Blog • 98 implied HN points • 11 Jul 25
💼 Business Startups Finance Investments Economics Public Markets
  1. Shein is planning to go public in Hong Kong, which is exciting news for investors. Although a US listing would be preferred, there is optimism about the move.
  2. Several companies have recently raised significant funding, including Bilt, which is known for its unique rent payment system. They reached a new valuation of $10.8 billion with a recent $250 million funding round.
  3. Grok 4, the new AI model, shows strong capabilities but also raises concerns about its reliance on the views of its founder, Elon Musk. This has led to questions about how competitive it will be against other AI models.

Are You Going Through A Mid-Career Crisis? Avoiding Setbacks While Moving Forward

High ROI Data Science • 317 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
💼 Business Career development Professional Growth Personal Development
  1. The post discusses navigating a mid-career crisis and avoiding setbacks while moving forward.
  2. The author offers courses for career advancement in areas like Executive Leadership, Product Management, and Technical Strategist.
  3. Access to the full content of the post is reserved for paid subscribers.

What Homes Are Missing, again?

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 231 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
💼 Business Housing Economics Data Analysis Market Trends Population Growth
  1. There is a significant shortage of homes in the U.S., estimated at around 15 million. This is due to various factors like vacancies and the rising number of adults per home.
  2. Vacancies have dropped over the years, and we might be short about 5 million vacant units needed to keep rent inflation stable.
  3. Population growth has slowed since 2008 and has likely affected housing demand, which adds pressure to the existing housing shortage.

TBM 229: Winnable and Unwinnable Games (Part 3)

The Beautiful Mess • 1110 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
💼 Business Management Decision-making Leadership Problem Solving Organizational Behavior
  1. Hierarchy creates a chain of communication in which information gets oversimplified as it moves up, leading to an unwinnable game
  2. Passing information up the chain results in details being shaped and possibly distorted based on audience and perceived urgency
  3. The ideal conditions for a 'good game' are challenged in scenarios where goals become unclear, feedback loops are long, and motivations are dwindled

How we use Attio for a new PLG startup

nonamevc • 24 implied HN points • 18 Nov 25
💼 Business Startups CRM Product Management SaaS Growth Strategy
  1. Attio is a practical CRM choice for early-stage startups that need flexibility and good user experience. It may not have all the features of bigger CRMs like HubSpot, but it's suitable for product-led growth teams.
  2. Integrating product and billing data in Attio is crucial for understanding customer behavior. Using tools like n8n can help automate data connections, making sure the team has a clear view of customer interactions.
  3. Email enrichment is important to transform unknown users into recognizable profiles. By combining personal and corporate email data, companies can better understand and engage their users.

A Kick in the Teeth

The Radar • 59 implied HN points • 29 Mar 24
💼 Business Management Compensation Leadership Organizational Culture Employee Relations
  1. Amazon shocked managers with a pay freeze despite record profits and successful quarters, damaging trust and morale.
  2. The pandemic revealed the dedication of Amazon managers, who now feel undervalued due to frozen pay based on share price fluctuations.
  3. Amazon's leadership actions risk eroding trust and confidence, raising questions about their motives, behaviors, and commitment to mutual benefit.

Question #8 for 2026: How much will Residential investment change in 2026? How about housing starts and new home sales in 2026?

CalculatedRisk Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 26 Dec 25
💼 Business Real Estate Construction Housing Market Macroeconomy Forecasting Investment
  1. Residential investment is likely to be down year‑over‑year in 2026.
  2. Total housing starts are expected to fall slightly as multi‑family starts decline while single‑family starts remain mostly unchanged.
  3. New home sales are likely to be largely unchanged year‑over‑year, though forecasts are uncertain because three months of data are missing and units under construction remain above pre‑pandemic levels.

Is the grass greener on the consulting side?

Kenny’s Sub • 119 implied HN points • 27 Dec 23
💼 Business Consulting Entrepreneurship Freelancing Project management Work-life balance
  1. Jumping into freelancing or consulting can seem better, but it often comes with its own challenges. It's important to realize that every choice has its problems.
  2. Finding the right work-life balance is key. It's okay to take breaks from things you do regularly to avoid burnout.
  3. When choosing what to work on, ask yourself what problems you're willing to tackle. Not every job will be perfect, and it's vital to focus on what truly motivates you.

NPLG 1.25.24: Should You Use PLG as a Seed Startup? (Sendspark)

Notorious PLG • 98 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
💼 Business Startups Growth Strategies Product-led growth
  1. Product-led growth (PLG) can be a powerful strategy for startups, offering scalability and customer-centric focus.
  2. However, early stage startups should be cautious with PLG as it can distance them from understanding customer needs and feedback.
  3. Starting with founder-led sales before implementing PLG can help in finding product-market fit and building a strong customer base.

The Thiel-Andreessen Axis

From the New World • 102 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
💼 Business Startups Investment Technology Market Trends Entrepreneurship
  1. Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen have different views on how businesses succeed in competitive markets. Thiel sees a winner-takes-all approach, while Andreessen focuses on timing in fast-changing tech environments.
  2. The AI industry is shifting. The idea that large companies will dominate is evolving, with new technology making it easier for startups to collect data and compete.
  3. Instead of competing against each other, Thiel and Andreessen's ideas complement each other. It's important to explore both approaches to find the best strategy for any business or industry.

Spotlight: Raffaele Mauro – GP @ Primo Space

Space Ambition • 319 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment Startups Technology Innovation
  1. Investing in space technology is exciting because it combines finance, innovation, and many different industries like hardware and software. There's a lot of potential to create solutions that can improve our world.
  2. Italy is a great place for space tech startups due to its talented engineers and strong support from the government. Recent investments are creating a vibrant ecosystem that nurtures innovation in the space sector.
  3. Space tech startups face challenges in adapting to the changing market and managing cash flow. Founders need to be flexible, resourceful, and ready to work with investors who can take on risks to succeed.

ShuHaRi

Wisdom over Waves • 139 implied HN points • 30 Nov 23
💼 Business Team Dynamics Innovation Company Values
  1. ShuHaRi model involves following rules, breaking away from them, and creating your own rules.
  2. Transition from valued practices to rigid processes can lead to loss of dynamism and creativity.
  3. It's important to adhere to the spirit of practices, not just the letter, to avoid destructive outcomes.

You are just your bosses’ little bitch

antoniomelonio • 215 implied HN points • 17 Feb 25
💼 Business Workplace culture Leadership Employee Rights Work-life balance
  1. Most workplaces operate like dictatorships, where employees must follow bosses without question. This creates a daily stress of having to please someone else just to keep their job.
  2. The idea of changing jobs or starting your own business is not a true escape, as it often just leads to serving another boss or dealing with new pressures. Many people feel trapped in this cycle.
  3. Our modern work culture often makes us lose our individuality and autonomy. It can feel like we are trading our personal freedom for a paycheck, with many people just going through the motions.

The check isn't in the mail

Situation Normal • 80 implied HN points • 27 Jul 25
💼 Business Finance Startups Freelancing
  1. Sometimes, invoices can get lost in the system and it might take a long time to get paid. A simple phone call can help solve these issues quickly.
  2. It's not uncommon to face payment problems in freelance work, and many people have stories about being stiffed for their work.
  3. Technology can make things complicated, but sometimes old-fashioned communication, like a phone call, can clear things up faster than emails or software.

Questions VCs Will Ask You! | Positioning Your Startup is Vital, How To Do It? | VC Remote Jobs and More

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Entrepreneurship Investing Marketing
  1. A great team is crucial for a startup's success, and investors will ask questions to understand how the team came together, their motivations, and any key gaps that need to be filled.
  2. When pitching to investors, be prepared to explain your product clearly, its target market, the problem it solves, and how it stands out. Investors want to know if customers will seek out and pay for your product.
  3. Investors focus on the market size, growth potential, competition, and go-to-market strategy when evaluating startups. Having a clear positioning statement and understanding your market's total addressable market are key.

Patagonia, Paul Newman and another kind of purpose

Thoughts on Writing • 519 implied HN points • 23 Sep 22
💼 Business Purpose Philanthropy Activism Brand Marketing
  1. Yvon Chouinard challenges the concept of business and brand purpose, emphasizing the importance of human purpose over corporate ideals.
  2. Paul Newman's approach to philanthropy through Newman's Own showcases a unique blend of humor, humility, and a genuine focus on product quality over profit.
  3. Maintaining a separation between business and charitable activities, like Newman's Own, can lead to successful ventures that have a positive impact, while keeping a light-hearted approach.

Don't Send All 'Your Data To Investors' Too Early In The Process: The Counter-Intuitive Fund-Raising Advice | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 139 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Fundraising Startups Jobs Investors
  1. Avoid sending all your data to investors early on in the fundraising process, as it can hinder progress.
  2. Getting the first meeting with a VC might not be easy, but follow-up meetings can be harder to secure.
  3. Creating a data room and providing access too soon can lead to a lack of engagement from investors, leading to a failed fundraising process.

Older people consume differently

Klement on Investing • 4 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26
💼 Business Demographics Consumption Healthcare Retail Consumer Goods Forecasting Markets
  1. People buy different things as they age: healthcare and housing spending tends to rise while education, leisure, clothing and transport fall.
  2. The pattern depends on national demographics. Similar population declines can lead to very different sector effects — Japan shows broad declines, China has healthcare holding up while leisure and transport fall sharply, and Singapore mixes increases and declines because it is ageing but still growing.
  3. This shifts the revenue outlook for companies: leisure and clothing retailers face structural declines while healthcare providers and food retailers look more resilient.