The hottest Business Models Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

New Normal

Venture Prose • 219 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
💼 Business Business Models
  1. Set higher business goals and aim to achieve positive yields from actions taken.
  2. Question industry norms and push yourself to exceed expectations, rather than just following what others have done before.
  3. Prioritize efficiency and financial independence in your business strategies, ensuring that actions are intentional with positive long-term impacts.

Venture Capital Unbundled

Investing 101 • 235 implied HN points • 18 Jan 25
💰 Finance Business Models
  1. Venture capital is shifting away from big brands and focusing more on individual investors. People want to work with specific individuals who they feel are genuine and relatable.
  2. Many investors are moving around to find better opportunities or roles, but this trend is also about the changing business model in venture capital. Investors are looking for ways to adapt and thrive in a new landscape.
  3. The term 'venture capital' is becoming less useful as it tries to cover many different investment strategies. There is a need for diverse approaches and voices in building startups, which is exciting and refreshing.
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The Customer Is Always Right (but not always human)

How the Hell • 49 implied HN points • 17 Sep 25
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. AI agents are getting much better at long, uninterrupted work and will learn to budget their thinking and compute, which will push costly or complex tasks from cheap subscriptions to pay-per-use models.
  2. Agents will pay for external resources like compute, data, web access, and licenses, and websites and services will likely charge tiny fees to serve those automated clients.
  3. A new market will appear to sell services to agents—everything from automated testing, voices, and compliance checks to agent banks and even shady offerings like credential markets.

How to Beat Larger Competitors

The Breaking Point • 339 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
💼 Business Business Models
  1. Facing competition from bigger companies is inevitable in business.
  2. Strategies like deposition, commoditization, and disruption can help compete with larger competitors.
  3. Beating larger competitors takes time and persistence, but smaller companies can succeed against bigger rivals.

Anteprima Dall-E 3 in Bing

Vincos Newsletter • 157 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. Google announced new hardware like Pixel 8 + Pro and Pixel Watch 2, focusing on AI features.
  2. Elon Musk's decisions on Link Previews impact user experience and transparency on social media platforms.
  3. Companies like Canva are implementing AI features to speed up content production, like creating videos from text.

Freelancer ≠ Entrepreneur

VERY GOOD PRODUCTIZED GUIDES • 19 implied HN points • 13 Jun 24
💼 Business Business Models
  1. Freelancers trade time for money and often have multiple clients, making it feel like a 9 to 5 job. They work to keep their business running and don't earn income if they stop working.
  2. Entrepreneurs focus on scaling their business and creating systems that allow them to earn passive income. They spend their time thinking of new ideas rather than doing all the work themselves.
  3. Making the shift from freelancer to entrepreneur requires changing your mindset and learning to delegate tasks. There’s nothing wrong with freelancing, but being an entrepreneur can offer more freedom and growth opportunities.

Clouded Judgement 12.19.25 - The Front Door to the Systems of Record

Clouded Judgement • 12 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. Systems of record will remain the essential source of truth, but agents and new interfaces create a different "front door" that could be owned by others and shift where value accrues.
  2. The travel industry shows the pattern: record-keeping platforms kept the data while consumer-facing OTAs captured the front door and most economic upside, implying enterprise SaaS could see the same outcome.
  3. Legacy SaaS firms can either build the new front door or defend by locking data and charging egress fees, and many are likely to adopt defensive tactics that change margins and value capture.

Narratives of business models

Product Identity • 59 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
💼 Business Business Models
  1. Business models are crucial for companies and can greatly affect their success. There are many debates about which model is the best, like subscription versus ads.
  2. Telegram's business model is unique because it relies on user subscriptions rather than ads. This approach has helped them gain a large number of paying customers and a positive image.
  3. Different business models create different emotional connections with customers. The way a company charges can reflect its values and how much it cares about its users.

How Big Tech Sees DeepSeek: Five Key Takeaways

Tanay’s Newsletter • 82 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. DeepSeek has introduced important new methods in AI training, making it more efficient and cost-effective. Major tech companies like Microsoft and Amazon are already using its models.
  2. The rapid sharing of ideas in AI means that any lead a company gains won't last long. As soon as one company finds something new, others quickly learn from it.
  3. Even though AI tools are becoming cheaper, total spending on AI will actually rise. This means more apps will be built, leading to increased overall use of AI technologies.

The Future of Investing 101

Investing 101 • 87 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
💼 Business Business Models
  1. Writing helps clarify thoughts and ideas. It's surprising how much understanding comes from putting words on the page.
  2. Conversations with others can spark valuable insights. Talking about ideas can lead to new perspectives that writing alone might miss.
  3. Improving writing involves more than just writing. It includes reading, watching content, and engaging in dialogue to enhance learning and thinking.

Latest from AI Roller Coaster: Disruptive Nausea

Day Zero: Always Learning • 85 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. AI infrastructure is getting super crowded and costs are rising, which may lead to a shake-up in who leads this space. Companies need to find new angles to succeed, like offering something unique or targeting a niche.
  2. AI observability is a hot trend right now, with many startups focusing on helping businesses check if their AI models are really working. Measuring success with AI tools is still a big challenge that needs to be figured out.
  3. The way companies operate is going to change a lot because of AI, creating a mix of specialized skills and generalist abilities. Traditional roles may get transformed or even replaced as companies rethink how they do business.

💬 Dom Wells: Lessons on how to acquire a digital business

Concepts of Finance 🧠 • 59 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
💼 Business Business Models
  1. When buying a digital business, you need to be careful of scammers. Always verify financial information and ensure the business is truly what it claims to be.
  2. Focus on finding good businesses rather than thinking you can easily flip a struggling one. It's better to invest in a solid company with growth potential.
  3. Successful digital business owners are curious, adaptable, and able to learn on the job. It's important to be able to delegate tasks and stay committed to the process.

More Vertical Fintech, Please

Equal Ventures • 39 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
💼 Business Business Models
  1. Combining vertical software with fintech can create powerful business opportunities, leveraging market nuances to enhance efficiencies and insights.
  2. It's challenging to build defensible financial services independently, but merging them with workflow software can increase market size and potential revenue streams.
  3. Markets with low digital penetration offer ripe opportunities for vertical SaaS and fintech integration, attracting investments across various sectors for this innovative approach.

Leaked Treasury Prime Docs Show Risks Of BaaS Business: Churn, Concentration, Slowing Growth

Fintech Business Weekly • 89 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
💰 Finance Business Models
  1. Leaked Treasury Prime documents highlight risks in Banking-as-a-Service business, including issues like churn, concentration, and slowing growth.
  2. Treasury Prime's strategic pivot to focus on selling to banks instead of fintechs resulted in drastic employee layoffs, shedding light on the challenging environment for middleware platforms in fintech.
  3. Fintech companies like Chime and Green Dot facing regulatory actions and penalties underscore the importance of compliance and customer service in the financial industry.

On Technological Change: 3 Learnings.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 44 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. Technology changes things fast, and businesses need to adapt or risk becoming irrelevant. It's important to rethink your business model with each new technology that comes along.
  2. Using technology shouldn't just be about making things faster or cheaper. It can also give you a chance to completely change how you do business and compete with others.
  3. Having talented people is key. Technology alone won't make you stand out; it's the skills and creativity of the people using it that truly make a difference.

From Rideshare to Robotaxi: Uber, Waymo, and the Future of Autonomous Vehicles

Gad’s Newsletter • 32 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. Waymo's self-driving robotaxi offers a smoother experience than traditional ridesharing by eliminating awkward conversations and optimizing routes. This shows how autonomous vehicles can change the ride-hailing game.
  2. The ride-hailing market is shifting as new players like Waymo disrupt established companies like Uber. Despite Uber's strong network effects, low switching costs for users allow them to easily choose between different services.
  3. Different business models are emerging in autonomous vehicle ownership. Companies like Waymo focus on owning fleets for reliability, while Uber relies on independent drivers for flexibility, highlighting the need for partnerships in the evolving market.

The power of patterns

Sunday Letters • 119 implied HN points • 07 Feb 22
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. Technology keeps changing, and it can be tough to keep up. It's common for people to use past experiences to help make sense of new tech.
  2. In the early days of the internet, companies tried to fit new ideas into old models, but they often missed the bigger picture. Real value comes from new solutions, not just familiar concepts.
  3. When exploring new ideas, like crypto, it's important to look for real problems being solved, not just familiar patterns. Focus on what new capabilities these innovations bring.

Clouded Judgement 8.1.25 - The AI Operating Model

Clouded Judgement • 8 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. Incumbent companies have advantages like strong customer relationships and brand recognition, but they often struggle to adapt to new technology. Startups, on the other hand, can pivot quickly and adopt new operating models that boost their efficiency.
  2. The shift to AI is similar to past changes in tech, where companies that embraced new methods outperformed those that didn't. Startups are likely to thrive by integrating AI into their daily operations rather than just treating it as a new product feature.
  3. Rethinking how a company operates with AI can lead to significant speed and output improvements. It's essential for startups to adopt modern playbooks, rather than relying on outdated practices from industry veterans.

The "Three-Hills" Model for evaluating GPT startups

Assisted Everything • 110 HN points • 27 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. GPT-powered startups need to overcome 3 obstacles for long-term success: Productivity Enhancements, Non zero-sum-game Value, and Moat = Value from Context.
  2. Applications of GPT fall into 3 levels of success: Productivity Hill, Tug-of-War Valley, and Value Peak.
  3. To succeed, GPT companies must reach Level III by building a moat that generic GPT-applications can't compete on.

Learning from the SaaSification of video games [Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 18 Jun 22
💰 Finance Business Models
  1. Different monetization plans can work successfully in the same industry if built around a good product.
  2. Companies should avoid rushing into monetization at the expense of a good product, as it can damage goodwill.
  3. The shift towards as-a-service models for various industries shows that understanding novel monetization paths is crucial for future success.

Attempting to untangle the messy math behind the "Power Law"

Entry Level Investing • 84 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
💰 Finance Business Models
  1. The concept of the 'Power Law' in venture funding states that a few successful investments drive fund returns, not a normal distribution.
  2. Startup valuations are often based on revenue multiples, deviating from traditional valuation methods like free cash flow analysis.
  3. Overvaluation, excessive spending, and failure to grow into valuations can lead to down rounds, hurting startups and investors.

Josh Spector Chats with Ellen: All things content-led growth

The Ask Newsletter — by Ellen Donnelly • 5 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
💼 Business Business Models
  1. Content should support your real goals. It's not just about growing your audience or followers, but about what you actually want to achieve.
  2. Your business model needs to match your content strategy. If they don't align, it could hurt your results.
  3. Choosing a pricing strategy and business model should be based on what excites you, not just what seems safe or easy.

On WIRED magazine's startup phase (1993-1997)

The Future, Now and Then • 51 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
💼 Business Business Models
  1. WIRED magazine's startup phase (1993-1997) was like a tumultuous startup journey, filled with rapid growth and financial struggles.
  2. Louis Rossetto led WIRED as a startup, investing in various ventures but facing financial challenges.
  3. The magazine's early years were marked by rapid expansion, big ambitions, and struggles to adapt to the changing tech landscape.

What do Alpacas have to do with AI's future?

do clouds feel vertigo? • 19 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. AI training costs are dropping significantly, which makes it easier for more people to create their own AI models.
  2. AI models can become more common and even borrowed from others, which leads to questions about ownership and competition.
  3. Companies now face a choice between buying AI capabilities or building their own, affecting how they manage privacy and efficiency.

Superconductors and Such

Bzogramming • 53 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. There is potential for room-temperature superconductors with simple materials like lead, phosphate, and copper.
  2. A shift back to innovation in physical technologies, like hyperspectral imaging and geometric folding algorithms, might lead to significant advancements.
  3. A reemphasis on traditional engineering fields, such as cars and rocket engines, is essential for future innovations outside of software.

Tippets #196

Tippets by Taps • 4 implied HN points • 15 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. Meta has invested a huge amount of money into Scale AI, showing how important data is in the AI race. This move might change the landscape of AI companies.
  2. Pricing methods for AI agents are complex and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. People are exploring different ways to charge based on actions, workflows, or outcomes.
  3. As AI becomes more advanced, it will change what productivity looks like. In the future, people may accomplish way more than ever before thanks to the capabilities of AI.

UX Roundup: ElevenLabs Podcast | Usability Guidelines as Figma Plugin | AI Kills Companies | o1 and o1 Pro

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 9 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. ElevenLabs has a new podcast feature called GenFM, but it feels less fun to listen to compared to Google's podcast version. While it's informative, it follows more of a Q&A style than a dynamic discussion.
  2. Baymard Institute's new Figma plugin offers usability guidelines for web design, making it easier for designers to access important research while they work. This should help create better websites more efficiently.
  3. AI is significantly disrupting companies like Chegg and Stack Overflow, leading to big drops in their business. As AI technology advances, we can expect more industries to feel its impact and change how they operate.

4/18/22 Latest Chinese Ecommerce Framework #1: Near vs. Far

Tech Buzz China Insider • 19 implied HN points • 22 Apr 22
🕹 Technology Business Models
  1. Analysts in China are redefining traditional ecommerce models, with a focus on Community Ecommerce (CE), emphasizing proximity and relationships.
  2. Community Ecommerce (CE) prioritizes connecting local neighborhoods for commerce, contrasting with traditional e-commerce models that cater to distant buyers and sellers. CE focuses on essential, frequently purchased goods with time-sensitive demand.
  3. Chinese government support for digitizing and empowering neighborhood mom-and-pop shops aligns with Community Ecommerce's potential, offering sustainable B2B2C business opportunities.