The hottest Competition Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Why Claude 3 is a big upgrade

Artificial Ignorance • 130 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Models AI safety Competition Benchmarking
  1. Claude 3 introduces three new model sizes; Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku, with enhanced capabilities and multi-modal features.
  2. Claude 3 boasts impressive benchmarks with strengths like vision capabilities, multi-lingual support, and operational speed improvements.
  3. Safety and helpfulness were major focus areas for Claude 3, addressing concerns like reducing refusals while balancing between answering most harmless requests and refusing genuinely harmful prompts.

The Great Accumulation Race

The Pomp Letter • 219 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Innovation Competition
  1. The Great Space Race started 68 years ago between the United States and the Soviet Union.
  2. It produced many innovations like artificial satellites, unmanned space probes, and the first human on the Moon.
  3. This competition for innovation captivated millions of people around the globe.

Chinese EV's and the Lagging Edge Price War

Mule’s Musings • 256 implied HN points • 13 Aug 23
💼 Business EVs Semiconductors Competition Market Dynamics
  1. Chinese EV market strategy involves price cuts implying a potential price war.
  2. Chinese semiconductor firms are focusing on older technology to capitalize on the worldwide EV export surge.
  3. Western semiconductor giants are facing challenges from Chinese companies investing in the lagging edge, potentially leading to a decline in profits.

From Charlie Munger to ChatGPT - The 'productivity gains' paradox

Platforms, AI, and the Economics of BigTech • 9 implied HN points • 08 Dec 24
💼 Business Economics Technology Productivity Competition Strategy
  1. When companies see big productivity gains, it could mean they're losing their competitive edge in the long run. This happens because the benefits aren't always kept by the business, similar to how new technology can hurt original owners.
  2. It's important to figure out where productivity gains are coming from. If they're from the main product, the company might end up losing control and value, especially if they rely on outside suppliers.
  3. To stay ahead, businesses should focus on creating unique advantages with technology rather than just using it to improve what they already do. This way, they can keep more control over pricing and profits.
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The Victory Lap: Eilish McColgan🏆

The Lap Count • 117 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Running Training Competition Injury Marathon
  1. Eilish McColgan is training for her marathon debut in London, building her mileage and enjoying the sunny weather in Colorado.
  2. McColgan broke the British record in a recent race, surprising even herself and aiming to perform well in upcoming competitions.
  3. She is overcoming challenges with fueling during long runs, finding what works best for her in preparation for the London Marathon.

VLSI Japan: It’s Better on the Backside

Mule’s Musings • 263 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Manufacturing Innovation Competition Design
  1. VLSI Japan discussed the revolutionary Backside Power Delivery (BSPDN) technology and its importance in semiconductor design.
  2. BSPDN addresses the IR droop problem in semiconductor design, offering power and performance benefits like decreased IR droop and increased core performance.
  3. Intel's adoption of PowerVia technology positions them ahead of competitors like TSMC, providing potential competitive advantages in process efficiency and cost.

I Am Garlic, Hear Me Screech

The Elbow • 98 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🎾 Sports Team Dynamics Competition
  1. Swapping jerseys in Ultimate Frisbee is a tradition but not always common.
  2. The author embraced a unique and quirky persona named Garlic while playing Frisbee.
  3. Playing the role of 'mark' in zone defense was the primary function of the author, and they excelled at it.

The Last Drought in Africa

Pen>Sword • 159 implied HN points • 12 Dec 22
🎾 Sports Football Africa Imperialism History Competition
  1. Morocco made history by becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup semifinal, challenging the long-standing dominance of European teams.
  2. Football is interconnected with political and historical narratives, especially in the context of African nations competing against former colonial powers.
  3. The victory of Morocco symbolized unity and pride for the entire African continent, breaking the cycle of football drought and inspiring a sense of possibility and togetherness.

Tianfu Cup 2023: Still a Thing

Natto Thoughts • 79 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Competition Vulnerabilities Regulations
  1. China's Tianfu Cup hacking competition has evolved from focusing on foreign products to including more domestic products as targets, sparking concerns among Western companies and security experts.
  2. The competition rules of Tianfu Cup 2023 included new sections for exploit demonstration review process and responsible vulnerability disclosure, highlighting the importance of following responsible disclosure procedures in the competition.
  3. In Tianfu Cup 2023, two teams successfully hacked VMware products, winning the top awards, although the competition results did not provide much detail on other attempts on domestic targets.

Mr. Haltiwanger and the Austrians

Economic Forces • 6 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
💼 Business Economics Entrepreneurship Market Dynamics Competition Labor Market
  1. Entrepreneurs play a crucial role in the economy by discovering better ways to use resources. They find price differences and opportunities, which helps move resources to where they can create more value.
  2. Measuring how well resources are being reallocated can show if markets are functioning efficiently. When more productive firms gain market share, it indicates that resources are being used better.
  3. There’s a connection between entrepreneurship and market dynamics. By focusing on how entrepreneurs impact resource use, we can better understand economic growth and competition.

Community Group Buying: the ‘US military vs the Red Army’

Tech Buzz China Insider • 39 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
💼 Business E-commerce Market Analysis Competition Profitability
  1. Community group buying market in China is highly competitive, with Meituan and Pinduoduo leading the way. Meituan is compared to the 'US military' and Pinduoduo to the 'Red Army.'
  2. Demand for community group buying has increased by 30-40% post-pandemic, driven by low prices and consumption downgrade trends.
  3. Duoduo Maicai, Pinduoduo's CGB business, has shown significant growth and profitability, leveraging its main app's high traffic volume and cost-efficient product offerings.

A tiny number of men in women’s sports is not equal to only having a tiny impact

A B’Old Woman • 219 implied HN points • 10 Dec 22
🎾 Sports Transgender Issues Inclusion Competition Policy
  1. Having a few men in women's sports doesn't mean their presence won't have a big effect. Even a small number of players can change the game for everyone else.
  2. The guidelines allowing men to compete in women's sports based on self-identification are controversial and raise questions about fairness. Many people are concerned that this policy could take opportunities away from female athletes.
  3. Just saying there are only a few men in women's sports doesn’t mean it isn’t a problem. The impact of those few can still be significant and can affect many women’s chances to win or compete.

Winner takes all? Blockbusters’ effect on competition in platforms

Platform Papers • 39 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
💼 Business Competition Platforms Crowdfunding Digital Strategy
  1. Digital platforms have to decide between focusing on blockbusters or long-tail content strategics based on their benefits. Blockbusters can drive significant traffic and users but may also intensify competition by monopolizing user attention.
  2. On crowdfunding platforms, blockbusters can have positive spillover effects by attracting attention and increasing funding for other projects. Related blockbusters have a stronger effect on a project than unrelated ones.
  3. For platforms or businesses, promoting blockbusters strategically can lead to increased user participation, spillover benefits, and competitive advantages. Leveraging blockbusters can drive growth and attract new users to a platform.

✍️ Journalism Awards, Events, Fellowships and Training ✍️ — October 13

Inside The Newsroom • 78 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
🚌 Education Fellowships Training Webinar Competition
  1. The post lists 42 different awards, events, fellowships, and trainings related to journalism.
  2. Various opportunities include fellowships, grants, mentoring programs, and scholarships for journalists.
  3. Events such as webinars, conferences, and training sessions cover topics like trauma-informed interviewing and using AI in newsrooms.

A Fascination With Fighting

Weekly Wisdom • 79 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🎾 Sports Training Competition Philosophy Culture
  1. Fighting has been a prominent aspect of human history, with combat, martial arts, and warfare sparking a lifelong interest in many individuals.
  2. Early exposure to martial arts, such as through movies like Bloodsport, can ignite a passion and skill set that can last a lifetime.
  3. Practicing martial arts, like judo and kung fu, offers not just physical training but also a deeper understanding of body mechanics, balance, and the principles of competition and cooperation.

Olympic Incompetence

Diane Francis • 379 implied HN points • 17 Feb 22
🎾 Sports Olympics Athletics International Competition Doping
  1. In 2014, Russian soldiers secretly took over Crimea using fake identities, which went against international laws.
  2. That same year, Russia hosted the Sochi Olympics, where many athletes cheated by using banned drugs.
  3. A whistleblower revealed this culture of cheating in Russia, leading to the country's ban from international sports in 2020.

Death to Revenue Multiples: Long Live the DCF!

Equal Ventures • 59 implied HN points • 14 Jun 23
💰 Finance Valuation Investing Technology Industry Cash Flow Competition
  1. Revenue multiples have been traditionally used for valuations in the tech world, but they are proving to be ineffective in determining the true long-term value of businesses.
  2. Companies shifting focus from forecasting future cash flow to revenue growth have faced challenges, as revenue multiples don't necessarily reflect future profitability, leading to discrepancies in valuation.
  3. As competition accelerates in the tech industry, companies with strong market captivity and efficient growth strategies are prioritizing developing competitive advantages and generating long-term free cash flow over chasing revenue multiples.

Smaller Slices of a Growing Pie

Platform Papers • 19 implied HN points • 28 Mar 24
💼 Business Competition Regulation Antitrust Consumer behavior
  1. Platform markets are becoming increasingly dominant in various sectors of the economy, presenting challenges and opportunities for both sellers and consumers.
  2. In platform markets, the entry of more sellers can have mixed effects - while it can lead to more transactions, it also means a smaller share of the 'pie' for each seller.
  3. High-quality businesses in platform markets tend to benefit more from platform expansion, as they can attract and retain customers, leading to better overall platform quality and increased competition for businesses to invest in quality.

The Time-Boxed Startup

Working Theorys • 56 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
💼 Business Startups Time management Entrepreneurship Competition Innovation
  1. Consider time-boxing your startup by setting an end date to focus and make progress efficiently.
  2. Most successful startups reach product-market fit within about 2 years and need sufficient runway for experimentation.
  3. Decide what progress markers would prompt you to continue beyond the set end date, combining founder drive with product-market momentum.

A Future Without ULA?

Ill-Defined Space • 67 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
💼 Business Space Exploration Competition Company strategy
  1. ULA's future is uncertain as it is up for sale and faces challenges from potential competitors.
  2. Vulcan's successful launch is a significant achievement for ULA, but uncertainties arise with Blue Origin's BE-4 engine supply.
  3. Potential acquisition by Blue Origin may bring more challenges than benefits, raising doubts about the survival of both companies.

Psychling

Skeptic • 52 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Cycling Endurance Racing Competition History
  1. The unfolding of life is influenced by a mix of genes, environment, and unexpected contingencies like chance events.
  2. Small decisions and chance occurrences can have significant impacts on the course of one's life.
  3. Personal narratives often present unpredictable events as rare, but in reality, contingency is a powerful force shaping our lives.

Niche is the Next Big Thing

Equal Ventures • 59 implied HN points • 29 Dec 22
💼 Business Venture Capital Competition Market Analysis Business Strategies Startups
  1. Competition in the tech industry has intensified, making it essential for companies to find a sustainable advantage to generate long-term profitability.
  2. Focusing on niche markets can lead to less competition, higher profits, and sustainable growth compared to chasing large markets with intense competition.
  3. Dominating a niche market allows for the development of early competitive advantages, market dominance, and long-term profitability, providing a foundation for future expansion and success.

market day

let them eat cake • 99 implied HN points • 26 Oct 22
🍲 Food & Drink Markets Supply Chain Competition Small businesses
  1. Wet markets in Singapore are seen as an inefficiency on a very efficient island, yet they continue to exist despite competition.
  2. Wet markets operate as highly efficient endpoints of a parallelized supply chain, with thousands of distributors and wholesalers servicing stallholders, promoting almost perfect competition and minimal overhead costs.
  3. The wet market system in Singapore is underpinned by government price controls on food and rent, creating a situation where stallholders function more as quasi-public servants than traditional business owners.

Golden: California Becomes Third State To Enact Broad Right To Repair

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Repair Legislation Tech Giants Digital technology Competition
  1. California became the 3rd state to enact a broad electronics right to repair law, following New York and Minnesota.
  2. The California Right to Repair Act expands repair protections for consumers, guaranteeing access to repair materials for a wide range of products and setting minimum support periods.
  3. State right to repair campaigns are gaining momentum, with more states considering similar legislation to improve repair access and combat planned obsolescence.