The hottest Competition Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Instacart's price discrimination isn't price discrimination

Economic Forces • 15 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
💼 Business Competition
  1. Different price changes have different causes and effects: A/B tests, strategic randomization, dynamic supply-and-demand adjustments, and true price discrimination are not the same thing.
  2. The Instacart example looked like randomized A/B testing rather than pricing based on shoppers’ personal data, so treating every price change as evidence of algorithmic profiling confuses what might happen with what actually happened.
  3. Price discrimination isn’t automatically bad — it can raise output and sometimes help consumers, especially under competition — and banning price experiments won’t necessarily make consumers better off because low-price periods can outweigh high-price losses.

How dbt succeeds

benn.substack • 997 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
💼 Business Competition
  1. dbt Labs' success has had a significant impact on people's lives by providing better job opportunities and higher salaries in the data industry.
  2. Despite its success, dbt Labs may face increasing competition in the future from startups and other companies that are challenging its position in the market.
  3. dbt Labs could consider evolving its business strategy by focusing on its community, exploring new product opportunities, or even exploring options like selling the company to better align with market trends and potential challenges.

The Structure of Competition between Cryptocurrency Exchanges

Not Investing Advice • 137 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🔮 Crypto Competition
  1. Crypto exchange ecosystem is competitive with over 100 active exchanges in the US trading similar assets.
  2. Binance and Coinbase listing new tokens increases trade volume on other exchanges, making them complements not substitutes.
  3. Small exchanges rely on market maker arbitrage with Binance/Coinbase for liquidity, showcasing the 'leader' role of large exchanges in crypto markets.

The UK’s decision to block the Microsoft / Activision merger is courageous and right

The Counterbalance • 137 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
💼 Business Competition
  1. The UK's decision to block the Microsoft / Activision merger shows courage and defends against concentrated economic power.
  2. The UK's action signifies a global shift against the dominance of digital tech giants post-Brexit.
  3. Blocking the merger protects UK citizens, businesses, and consumers while promoting a more resilient economy.

Systemic Incentives

Confronting the Future • 137 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
💰 Finance Competition
  1. When you deposit money into your checking account, the bank can use it however they want and only pay you a tiny amount, like 0.42% on average.
  2. Using stablecoins backed by short-dated T-bills can eliminate subsidizing risky borrowers, black box bank solvency issues, and slow payment transfers.
  3. Stablecoins may revolutionize the financial system by ensuring users do not subsidize risky borrowers, avoiding complex bank solvency risks, and eliminating legacy payment delays.
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How to find your Blue Ocean[Storytime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 99 implied HN points • 02 Dec 23
💼 Business Competition
  1. The Blue Ocean Strategy helps you differentiate yourself in your career and business by finding a less competitive niche with high growth potential.
  2. Effortless at its core, the Blue Ocean Strategy offers the path of least resistance to success, but still requires hard work.
  3. To find your 'Blue Ocean,' look outside for unique ideas, seek diverse feedback, and explore different groups and communities for growth and innovation.

The Great Accumulation Race

The Pomp Letter • 219 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
🕹 Technology 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.

Should you ever talk smack about your competitors?

Startup Real Talk • 145 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
💼 Business Competition
  1. It's usually not a good idea to criticize your competitors because it can make you appear weak. However, if you're a small player facing a giant competitor, it can be an exciting story to share.
  2. If you’re similar in size to your competitor, it's best to minimize mentions of them. Acknowledging them can give them more power, so keep your focus on your own strengths.
  3. If you’re the big player in the market, try to shift the conversation to something more positive about your brand. Being the giant can bring challenges, so it's wise to manage the narrative carefully.

The Victory Lap: Eilish McColgan🏆

The Lap Count • 117 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Competition
  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.

The Real Reason Americans Are Taking Over The Premier League

Huddle Up • 43 implied HN points • 17 Aug 25
🎾 Sports Competition
  1. Many American owners are investing in Premier League clubs, with 11 out of 20 teams having American ownership. It's a big shift in the league's dynamics.
  2. These owners aren't just looking for profits; they want to gain influence in how the league is run. This could lead to major changes in operations.
  3. The trend isn't just in the Premier League; a lot of teams in the Championship are also owned by Americans, showing the growing American presence in English football.

The USA vs China AI race may define Trump's second term

The Dossier • 131 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Competition
  1. DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, claims to have created a powerful new machine learning model that's cheaper than popular models like Chat GPT. This has sparked a lot of excitement in the tech community.
  2. Not everyone believes DeepSeek's claims, as some tech leaders are skeptical. They worry that the company might be using advanced tech smuggled in from other countries despite tight export laws.
  3. The competition between the U.S. and China in AI is heating up. With big investments from both sides, the outcome of this race could significantly impact political and economic landscapes in the near future.

The Sequence Opinion #762: Trillion-Parameter Diplomacy: China, the US, and the Battle for Open Models

TheSequence • 14 implied HN points • 27 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Competition
  1. The US and China are in a fierce competition to develop open-source AI models. This is leading to rapid advancements and new technologies.
  2. China has made significant progress, with companies like Alibaba creating powerful language models. This raises questions about whether the US can catch up.
  3. The essay provides insights into various models from both countries, examining their features and impacts on the AI community.

I Am Garlic, Hear Me Screech

The Elbow • 98 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🎾 Sports 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 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 Competition
  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.

Invisible Duels

Working Theorys • 152 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Competition
  1. Invisible duels happen when we compare ourselves to others, even if we never agreed to compete. We end up feeling threatened by their success, which harms our self-worth.
  2. These duels are often fueled by social media, where we constantly see others' achievements and feel pressured to measure up. This can lead to anxiety and distraction from our own goals.
  3. To escape these invisible duels, we need to focus on ourselves and what we truly want. Making others less significant and finding our own direction is key to breaking free.

DeepSeek, o3, and AI applications

Generating Conversation • 116 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Competition
  1. DeepSeek R1 is a strong AI model that has impressed the industry, but life goes on, and the world hasn't changed drastically because of it. More good models out there mean better choices for those building AI applications.
  2. Competition is heating up in the AI space. Other companies, like OpenAI, are responding by releasing new models quickly to keep up with emerging players like DeepSeek.
  3. The trend of making AI models more affordable is continuing. This can help more people and businesses use AI, solving new problems that weren’t possible before.

Learning from the mafia

Klement on Investing • 3 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
💼 Business Competition
  1. Mafia-connected firms and their accountants push effective tax rates down — clean firms in heavily infiltrated regions pay about 1% less tax on average and are 3.6% more likely to restate their tax filings.
  2. This spreads because firms share the same accountants, accounting firms reuse tricks learned from mafia clients, and honest firms feel pressured to copy aggressive tax strategies to stay competitive.
  3. The net effect is a strong incentive for many companies to cut their tax bills aggressively, which ends up costing the state a lot of money.

I don’t care who sets the price

Economic Forces • 15 implied HN points • 06 Nov 25
💼 Business Competition
  1. Setting a price and controlling a price are two different things. A company can announce its prices but still have little control over them due to market forces.
  2. The actual burden of taxes or economic influences doesn't change based on who is responsible for payments or price announcements. What matters is how supply and demand interact in the market.
  3. Competition and market structure are what really determine pricing power. Even if a firm sets a price, its ability to change that price depends on the competitive environment around it.

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

Tech Buzz China Insider • 39 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
💼 Business Competition
  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 Competition
  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
  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.

[Re-Post] Costs, Competition, and Prices that Don't Clear the Market

Economic Forces • 4 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
💼 Business Competition
  1. People and firms think about costs as opportunity costs measured in present value, so choices depend on the full stream of future costs and benefits, not just today’s price.
  2. Firms often keep prices stable or use lotteries and loyalty allocations to avoid creating search costs and to protect future demand, preferring reliability over squeezing short-run revenue.
  3. Employers respond to temporary labor shortages with one-time bonuses or short-term measures because they factor future wage paths into hiring costs, avoiding permanent wage raises that would raise the present value of labor costs.

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

Inside The Newsroom • 78 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
🚌 Education 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 Competition
  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.

AI and the Noosphere, Part II

Nonzero Newsletter • 440 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🔬 Science Competition
  1. AI is rooted organically in human history and the quest for advancement.
  2. The evolution of technology and the noosphere reflect expressions of human nature.
  3. Collaboration, competition, and human inventiveness are crucial in driving progress and innovation.

Problems at The Beauty Health Co (SKIN)

The Bear Cave • 559 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
💼 Business Competition
  1. The Beauty Health Co faces intense competition from DiamondGlow, backed by Allergan.
  2. Hydrafacial and DiamondGlow are similar products but have different distribution strategies.
  3. Allergan's dominant distribution network through brands like BOTOX could challenge Hydrafacial's market position.

Olympic Incompetence

Diane Francis • 379 implied HN points • 17 Feb 22
🎾 Sports Competition
  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.

Paytm's woes deepen

The PhilaVerse • 247 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
💼 Business Competition
  1. Paytm's stock market value dropped by 77% since its IPO in 2021.
  2. Reserve Bank of India ordered Paytm to stop some services due to compliance issues.
  3. Paytm has faced several controversies over the years, including data sharing allegations and policy violations.

Death to Revenue Multiples: Long Live the DCF!

Equal Ventures • 59 implied HN points • 14 Jun 23
💰 Finance 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
  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.

How Twitter Survives (Or Doesn't)

Throwable • 58 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Competition
  1. Meta excels at applying data rigorously to their product development process.
  2. Twitter's unique atmosphere of cynicism and wit sets it apart on the internet.
  3. Possible future scenarios for Threads include dominance, failure, or coexistence with Twitter.

The Coming Wave of AI, and How Nvidia Dominants

Mule’s Musings • 366 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🕹 Technology Competition
  1. Large Language Models (LLMs) are powering AI applications and depend on factors like model size, training data, and computing power.
  2. Semiconductors benefit from the demand for LLMs due to their computing power requirements for training and inference, creating opportunities for companies like Nvidia.
  3. Nvidia dominates in the AI hardware market with a three-headed hydra strategy focusing on networking and systems, accelerator hardware, and software solutions.