The hottest Business Models Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

More Vertical Fintech, Please

Equal Ventures • 39 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
💼 Business Fintech Market Analysis Investments 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.

The "Three-Hills" Model for evaluating GPT startups

Assisted Everything • 110 HN points • 27 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Startups Artificial Intelligence Business Models Data Privacy
  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.

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

The Future, Now and Then • 51 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
💼 Business Startups Magazines Founders Tech Culture 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.

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

Entry Level Investing • 84 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
💰 Finance Investing Venture Capital Startup Financing Valuation 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.

Superconductors and Such

Bzogramming • 53 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Materials science Software Imaging Algorithms 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.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The power of patterns

Sunday Letters • 119 implied HN points • 07 Feb 22
🕹 Technology Innovation Business Models Crypto Web Development Digital Trends
  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.

The Daily Me sets sail and promptly runs aground on the shoals of targeted advertising

Perfecting Equilibrium • 19 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Advertising Search Engines Artificial Intelligence Business Models
  1. Marketers can struggle to convert knowledge about their audience into effective sales strategies.
  2. Google revolutionized search by categorizing web pages based on context, not just keywords.
  3. Tech giants focusing on targeted advertising saw backlash and trillions in market value loss.

Clouded Judgement 1.30.25 - The Year of AI Applications

Clouded Judgement • 3 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Software Business Models SaaS Innovation
  1. 2025 is expected to be a big year for AI applications because the costs of using AI are going down. This means businesses can try out more AI features without worrying about high costs.
  2. As the cost to use AI tools decreases, companies are likely to innovate more. This could lead to exciting new applications and services that impress users.
  3. SaaS businesses are usually valued on their revenue, and understanding these revenue multiples helps compare companies. As companies grow, their market value can change based on how they manage their costs and profits.

Want To Know How To Calculate Your Enterprise AI Usage? You Can't!

Theology • 3 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Pricing Business Models Data Analysis Procurement
  1. Different AI services have complicated pricing models that make it hard to budget. This can lead to unexpected costs every month.
  2. It's tough to compare different AI vendors since their pricing isn't standardized. You might not even know if you're paying for the same features with different companies.
  3. Trying to manage multiple AI platforms can be a headache. In the end, the savings you expect might vanish due to the effort needed to track everything.

Learning from the SaaSification of video games [Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 18 Jun 22
💰 Finance Monetization Business Models Economic Systems Services
  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.

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

do clouds feel vertigo? • 19 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Computing Innovation Business Models Data science
  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.

Think simpler. Musings on space business models, market estimation and lessons from Silicon Valley.

Intersections (by Filip) • 1 HN point • 19 Jun 24
💼 Business Space Business Models Lessons Startup Strategies
  1. Simplify business models to core equations for better understanding and decision-making.
  2. Use quick proxies to estimate revenue and costs of space companies for informed evaluations.
  3. Lessons from Silicon Valley highlight the power of simplicity and customer magnitude in successful business strategies.

Elon's Current War

The Carousel • 21 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Social media Advertising Censorship Subscription Business Models
  1. Elon Musk is facing a battle with advertisers on Twitter, with some trying to bankrupt the platform by pulling ad spending.
  2. Large advertisers coordinate efforts to control public discourse and speech on platforms like Twitter through censorship organizations and stakeholder capitalists.
  3. Elon Musk is navigating a conflict between his support for free speech and the need to appease advertisers to bridge the revenue gap on Twitter.

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

Tech Buzz China Insider • 19 implied HN points • 22 Apr 22
🕹 Technology Ecommerce Innovation Digitization Business Models Tech Giants
  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.

LLM Chronicles #6: How To Build Competitive Advantage In AI Startups?

Pratik’s Pakodas 🍿 • 12 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🕹 Technology AI Startups Innovations Strategies Competitive advantage Business Models
  1. Focus on building a competitive advantage in AI startups by leveraging niche markets and verticals.
  2. Consider using open-source AI models and iterating smaller models to strengthen the modeling moat.
  3. Explore value-based pricing, outcome-based pricing, and other strategies to align pricing with customer needs in AI startups.

Build for on-chain natives or mask crypto entirely

Parth's Playground • 12 implied HN points • 08 May 23
🕹 Technology Cryptocurrency Startups Strategy Innovation Business Models
  1. If you're building a crypto consumer app, focus on on-chain natives or hide crypto completely until necessary.
  2. For on-chain natives, solve urgent problems they face, as they are more likely to try new things and bring in new users.
  3. Startups should not try to force a market to happen, but rather provide a platform to highlight new projects and quickly see what resonates with mainstream audiences.

Episode 21: Burkhard on Qt Embedded Systems

burkhardstubert • 19 implied HN points • 07 Sep 21
🕹 Technology Embedded Systems Software Development Business Models Pricing Strategies
  1. Productised services combine a product with some service, allowing businesses to save time and offer fixed pricing. This approach makes it easier for customers to understand costs and simplifies the process for the provider.
  2. Advisory retainers let clients access expert advice on a subscription basis, enabling them to ask questions and solve problems without the expert doing the work for them. This helps clients gain independence while still having support when needed.
  3. Workshops and trainings can be adapted from common services offered to customers, providing a platform to share knowledge while attracting new clients. This method can lead to more development projects down the line.

Compound Startups

notes & upside • 1 HN point • 16 Jun 23
💼 Business Startups Software Investing Business Models
  1. More startups are embracing a "compound" business approach that integrates multiple products in one coherent offering.
  2. Software has shifted from a long period of unbundling to a new era favoring consolidation through compound businesses.
  3. Compound businesses excel in offering integrated products across multiple services and provide flexibility in monetization and customer acquisition.

Why Databricks Bought Mosaic and The Rapidly Decreasing Costs of AI

Unsupervised Learning • 2 HN points • 29 Jun 23
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Costs Cloud Infrastructure Business Models
  1. Training costs for AI models have decreased significantly, making it more cost-effective for companies to build their own models.
  2. Inference costs for AI models have also decreased, creating more affordable options for companies utilizing AI features.
  3. The decreasing costs of AI models are leading to increased competition and more attractive business models for startups building on foundation models.

How to keep investors happy when you have an open source startup

Bold & Open • 0 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
💼 Business Startup funding Investor Relations Open Source Financial sustainability Business Models
  1. Open source projects can thrive by sharing ideas without locking them behind restrictive intellectual property rights.
  2. When seeking funding for an open source startup, consider the need for funding based on growth and profitability.
  3. Investors look for viable projects with clear market fit, competitive advantage, a strong team, scalability potential, and a clear exit strategy.

Equal Ventures Focus Area: Logistics

Equal Ventures • 0 implied HN points • 12 Aug 20
💼 Business Investment Supply Chain Digital Infrastructure Business Models Financial Services
  1. Amazon's impact on the supply chain has forced industry players to modernize their systems to meet customer demands
  2. The growth of eCommerce and rising return rates have put stress on traditional supply chains, necessitating digital infrastructure for efficiency
  3. In the logistics sector, there is a need for new business models, digital solutions, and financial services providers to enable existing players to compete effectively with Amazon

The Podcast Business Model

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 26 Apr 19
💼 Business Podcasts Startups Business Models Content Monetization
  1. Luminary aims to be the Netflix of Podcasts by offering a subscription-based, ad-free platform with high-profile content creators.
  2. The podcasting evolution started with free content and ads, but now Luminary's strategy of offering premium content but with flaws in execution has raised questions about their business model.
  3. Failure to define target audience, unclear technology choices, and lack of differentiation from other podcast platforms are key challenges faced by Luminary, highlighting the importance of a well-thought-out strategy in the podcast industry.

How I judge the potential of startup?

The Tech Bubble • 0 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
💼 Business Startup Evaluation Industry Analysis Business Models
  1. The industry a startup operates in is crucial because it determines market size, competition, barrier to entry, and potential profit margins.
  2. A startup's business model, including target customer base and monetization methods, plays a vital role in its future success and scalability.
  3. Having founders with relevant industry experience, complementary skills, and a strong investment commitment indicates a higher chance of a startup succeeding and growing.

The Ride Sharing Business: Is a Bar Mitzvah moment approaching?

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 17 Aug 16
💼 Business Startups Investment Market Trends Business Models Valuation
  1. Ride sharing is growing really fast and reaching more places than many thought possible. This rapid growth means that more people are using services like Uber and Lyft every day.
  2. Ride sharing is becoming global. What started in the U.S. is now popular in many countries, especially in Asia, where companies like Didi are leading the charge.
  3. The ride sharing market is changing a lot, with more options for users. Companies are trying new features like carpooling, pre-scheduled rides, and luxury options to attract different customers.

The Walking Dead: Blackberry, Yahoo and the Zombie Apocalypse!

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 30 Sep 14
💼 Business Corporate Governance Market Analysis Investment Strategies Technology Companies Business Models
  1. Some companies can stick around even after their business model has failed, like zombies in a show. They keep going but aren't really successful anymore.
  2. Managers of these struggling companies often believe they can fix things, even when it's clear their efforts are not working. They might waste resources trying to revive the business.
  3. When investing in these 'walking dead' companies, it's important to recognize that their management may make bad decisions, leading to further losses. Investors should be cautious and realistic about their value.

Growth and Value: Thoughts on Google, Groupon and Green Mountain

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 19 Oct 11
💼 Business Investment Strategies Market Analysis Financial Metrics Business Models
  1. Growth is not always sustainable. Companies like Green Mountain Coffee have to consider how big their market really is and how long they can keep growing.
  2. As companies grow, their growth rates usually slow down. Even successful companies like Google face challenges in maintaining high growth as they get bigger.
  3. Investing for growth can be tricky. Companies need to spend money to grow, but if they don't manage investments wisely, it can hurt their overall value.

[in case you missed it] Data Science Weekly - Issue 430

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 20 Feb 22
🕹 Technology Data science Machine Learning AI Business Models Computing
  1. Data businesses are a big part of tech, but not enough resources explain how they work. Understanding their models can help people navigate the industry better.
  2. Investors are interested in machine learning and see many opportunities and challenges in startups. Talking to them can give insights into what they're looking for.
  3. Learning how to make data visualization easier can help you communicate better. There are ways to think about it that make the process feel more natural.

State of the Network’s Q3 2024 Mining Data Special

Coin Metrics' State of the Network • 0 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🔮 Crypto Mining Market Trends Business Models Revenue streams
  1. Bitcoin mining revenues dropped to $2.5 billion in Q3 2024, down from $3.7 billion, mainly because of the halving event in April 2024.
  2. Transaction fees have been low, making miners look for new ways to earn money, like renting out space for AI or tokenizing whiskey barrels.
  3. There are still many empty blocks being mined, especially by certain pools, which raises questions about how miners are optimizing their processes.

The Future of AI, Product, and Agentic Software

domsteil • 0 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Product Management Software Development Data science Business Models
  1. AI evaluations need to go beyond just accuracy. They should focus on how helpful the AI is to users and if it meets their needs effectively.
  2. High-performance teams thrive on collaboration and quick feedback. Effective product managers should remove barriers and encourage teamwork to create innovative solutions.
  3. Agentic software is changing how businesses operate by using smart pricing models that reflect the value AI delivers. Companies must start with smaller clients to build a strong foundation for growth.