The hottest Entrepreneurship Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Strange and Dazzling Things Are Happening Right Now

The Honest Broker • 18484 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
💼 Business Startups Media Finance Technology Entrepreneurship
  1. Elon Musk tried to buy Substack, but the CEO chose to reject the offer, showing loyalty to independent writers.
  2. Substack's subscription numbers are growing, with many creators earning significant income, but the platform still isn't profitable yet.
  3. There are concerns about some tech companies, like Nvidia, using risky accounting practices that can create a false sense of success.

Why We Make the Exeter Hammer

The American Peasant • 2715 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
💼 Business Product Development Entrepreneurship Manufacturing Marketing Sales
  1. The Exeter Hammer was developed over three years to create a lightweight, balanced tool ideal for furniture makers. It combines good design and functionality to improve woodworking tasks.
  2. The hammer's design process involved scrapping an earlier project that felt too similar to common hammers on the market. This led to creating a unique hammer that meets specific needs of woodworkers.
  3. The first 400 hammers sold quickly, showing a strong demand and approval from users. This success suggests that thoughtful design can resonate well with the target audience.

The Stone Soup Theory of Billionaires

Altered States of Monetary Consciousness • 1218 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
💼 Business Economics Wealth Entrepreneurship Capitalism Industry
  1. Billionaires aren't the only ones who create big companies; they often stand out as focal points, while many workers and contributors help build the actual business. It's like the Stone Soup story, where one person starts a project, but it takes many others to make it successful.
  2. The economy works as a collective where everyone contributes and receives based on their input. Just like making soup, if you bring ingredients, you get to enjoy the final product, and if many people pitch in, the result is better for everyone.
  3. Billionaires often claim credit for creating jobs, but in reality, their wealth relies on the hard work of countless others. The billionaire benefits from workers who do the real labor, much like the Stone Souper who needs villagers to make the soup.

Earlywood: Take My Advice, I’m Not Using It

The American Peasant • 2555 implied HN points • 26 Oct 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Networking Marketing Finance Self-employment
  1. Keep your day job until you are financially secure. It’s smart to build your business while you still have a steady income.
  2. Network with other creative people. Making friends in your field can lead to new opportunities and support when you need it.
  3. Learn a bit of everything. Knowing skills like photography and website design can save you money and help your business thrive.

The Anarchist’s Compass No. 1

The American Peasant • 2535 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
💼 Business Publishing Finance Entrepreneurship Acquisitions Venture Capital
  1. A businessman shared a wild story about buying a small publishing company. He revealed that the owner didn't know he was supposed to keep the cash in the company, and the buyer ended up getting the business almost for free.
  2. The room erupted in laughter when he shared how the situation turned out. It showed how sometimes, deals can have unexpected and surprising outcomes.
  3. This story highlights how important it is to understand business transactions and financial details. Misunderstandings can lead to big surprises for both buyers and sellers.
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Always. Be. Blogging.

Silver Bulletin • 1013 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Content creation Digital Media Subscription Models
  1. Blog regularly to grow your audience. Consistent posting keeps your readers engaged and helps you establish a routine.
  2. Make your content stand out with catchy headlines and good structure. A strong opening and good promotion can lead to more readers and subscribers.
  3. Think about your unique insights and be ready to share them when relevant news happens. Timeliness and originality can help your writing hit home runs.

The return of Office Hours

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 249 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Networking Content creation Subscription Models
  1. Office Hours were popular and let paid subscribers ask questions and share ideas with each other. Many enjoyed the experience of chatting, even more than hearing from guest speakers.
  2. The original format created a lot of pressure, making it hard to keep it going. The goal now is to make it more relaxed and simpler for everyone involved.
  3. The new plan is to hold Office Hours about twice a month, focusing on open discussions rather than just featured guests. This change aims to create a fun, networking-like atmosphere.

How to Avoid Becoming a VC Meme and Actually Add Value

The Generalist • 600 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment Strategies Entrepreneurship Startups Growth Strategies
  1. Venture capitalists should focus on actually helping founders by connecting them with great talent, customers, and funding. It's important not just to say you add value, but to really do something meaningful.
  2. It's better for investors to set realistic expectations about their contributions. Overpromising can damage relationships with founders, so honesty about what you can offer is key.
  3. Investors should respect the founder's role and not try to take over. They bring valuable insights but need to let entrepreneurs lead their own companies and make their own decisions.

Five tips to turn startup toys into essential tools

A Bit Gamey • 6 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
💼 Business Startups Innovation Technology Entrepreneurship Product Development
  1. Disruptive technologies often start off looking weak or like toys, but they can evolve into essential tools. It’s important to recognize their potential early on.
  2. Startups should design products with long-term improvements in mind and focus on how they will get better as they are used. This approach can help them meet user needs more effectively.
  3. Ignoring criticism from established companies might mean a startup is onto something important. Founders should understand the difference between sustaining and disruptive technologies to guide their strategies.

4 key metrics to track for solofounders

Tiny Empires • 73 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Metrics Revenue Marketing Strategy Finance
  1. Track your monthly net profit to see if your business is healthy. If profits drop for too long, figure out why.
  2. Know your Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) to understand how stable your income is. This helps you plan for the future.
  3. Focus on a few key metrics for marketing and sales, like the cost per lead and conversion rates, to make better decisions. Don't get lost in too much data.

Marissa Mayer: I Am a Software Girl

Magic + Loss • 238 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Software Innovation Entrepreneurship Women in Tech
  1. Marissa Mayer sees AI as a bright and helpful force in our lives, rather than something dangerous or negative. She believes it can enhance family and social experiences.
  2. She has a strong opinion against feminism, feeling it is too militant and not focused on merit. She thinks being a geek is more important than gender roles.
  3. Mayer enjoys various topics like fashion and art, showing that she has a diverse range of interests outside her tech career.

The Profile: The Spanx billionaire’s new invention & the DNA testing company running out of options

The Profile • 356 implied HN points • 20 Oct 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Innovation Marketing Consumer Trends Corporate strategy
  1. Telling stories from unexpected perspectives can make them more interesting. For example, focusing on a gravedigger during a famous event reveals a unique viewpoint.
  2. Sara Blakely created a new shoe that mixes style and comfort, but it has received mixed reactions. She sees this as a sign of innovation, even if some people think it's odd.
  3. 23andMe, a DNA testing company, is facing big challenges after a data breach and struggles to make a profit. Their future is uncertain as they try to stay relevant in the market.

Reflections on Palantir

Nabeel S. Qureshi • 1678 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
💼 Business Tech Companies Data Integration Software Development Corporate culture Entrepreneurship
  1. Palantir focuses on solving tough problems in important industries like healthcare and manufacturing. The company aims to tackle complex issues that others often ignore, offering a unique opportunity for engineers who want to make a real impact.
  2. The role of forward deployed engineers (FDEs) is key at Palantir. They work closely with customers to understand their needs and integrate data effectively, helping to create software solutions that solve real business problems.
  3. The culture at Palantir is intense and promotes open communication, where criticism and debate are welcomed. This environment encourages employees to think deeply and cultivate a unique set of skills that can lead to successful startups.

The emerging startup playbook

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 962 implied HN points • 09 Oct 24
💼 Business Startups Entrepreneurship Marketing Product Development Growth Strategies
  1. Create a minimum remarkable product that really stands out. This means your initial product should be good enough to impress people right away, as getting their trust back later is tough.
  2. Use storytelling to engage your audience. Instead of a big launch event, try to build a community around your product through authentic content and personal stories.
  3. Stay lean by using automation and AI to keep things efficient. It's better to have a small, skilled team that can innovate rather than hiring lots of people to get things done.

the power of nested focus

Tiny Empires • 183 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Revenue streams Task management Business strategy
  1. Focus on one business at a time to give it the attention it needs. Trying to juggle multiple businesses can lead to poor performance and burnout.
  2. Limit yourself to two revenue streams within your business. This way, you can dedicate your efforts to making them successful, instead of spreading yourself too thin with too many options.
  3. Rely on just two marketing channels to reach your audience. Mastering a couple of channels is more effective than attempting to be everywhere without clear engagement.

The Cooperatist Manifesto that inspired Mondragon

The Novelleist • 879 implied HN points • 14 Oct 24
💼 Business Economics Labor Entrepreneurship Social justice
  1. José María Arizmendiarrieta believed workers should own their companies, promoting equality and fairness in the workplace. He thought that if workers shared in profits, it would create a better community for everyone.
  2. He emphasized the importance of education, encouraging workers to become skilled and capable of managing their own businesses. This led to the creation of cooperatives where everyone could participate and benefit.
  3. Arizmendiarrieta's model showed that creating jobs and opportunities for workers was essential for a prosperous society. He taught that by working together and sharing resources, communities could thrive without relying solely on government intervention.

David Tran and Sriracha's $1B+ Journey

SatPost by Trung Phan • 84 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Branding Marketing Food Industry Consumer Products
  1. David Tran, a Vietnamese refugee, transformed a simple chili sauce recipe into a $1B brand called Sriracha. He started with just some hidden gold bars after fleeing Vietnam.
  2. Sriracha became popular without traditional marketing, relying on word of mouth and maintaining a simple production process. The brand does not spend much on ads and has no sales team.
  3. Despite facing challenges in supply and competition, Tran remains focused on his original recipe and is not concerned about trademarking 'Sriracha.' He believes in keeping the sauce spicy and authentic.

SpaceX Evolution (Appendix C: Why SpaceX Not NASA)

Chris’s Substack • 79 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Space Exploration Innovation Aerospace Entrepreneurship Commercialization
  1. NASA has become more inefficient over time, losing its ability to innovate and push space technology as its bureaucracy has grown.
  2. In contrast, SpaceX is agile and focused, quickly developing new technology without the red tape that hampers NASA's progress.
  3. NASA's current projects may be less ambitious than what SpaceX could achieve, highlighting SpaceX's crucial role in future space exploration.

52 Tiny Venture Lessons

The Generalist • 860 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
💼 Business Investing Venture Capital Entrepreneurship Market Trends Startup Culture
  1. Look for unique people when investing. Different or strange backgrounds often lead to surprising success, so don’t just focus on traditional markers like good grades.
  2. Create your own investing strategy. Trying to copy what others do won't work for you, so find a method that fits your own strengths and experiences.
  3. Help without overstepping. It’s important to support startups when they ask, but don't check in too often or interfere unnecessarily.

The Capitalist and the Engineer

Rethinking Software • 149 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Corporate culture Human Resources Management Economics
  1. The conversation shows a clash of values between a business-minded person and an engineer. They discuss their different approaches to life and careers, highlighting how they see work and success.
  2. They touch on the impact of privilege and family background on opportunities. Jan feels frustrated by Stan's wealthy upbringing and its effect on their perspectives.
  3. At the end, there's potential for growth as Stan reaches out to Jan years later, suggesting that people can evolve and learn from their past interactions.

When venture incentives and founder needs diverge

Alex's Personal Blog • 131 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Entrepreneurship Investment Strategies
  1. Venture capitalists can make money off their 2% fees without needing successful company exits. This creates a situation where they might prioritize raising more funds over helping founders succeed.
  2. Large venture funds may overpay for investments to quickly deploy capital, which can lead to problems for founders who might be offered too much money at high valuations.
  3. There's a debate about how much authors should be paid for their work being used in AI training. Some authors feel $2,500 per book isn't enough compensation for potentially being replaced by technology.

Performative Failure

Investing 101 • 69 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Entrepreneurship Investment Strategies Risk management
  1. Performative failure, where people act as if they are failing for show, can prevent real learning and growth. It's better to genuinely take risks and embrace true failure.
  2. Shame often stops people from trying because they confuse their self-worth with their success or failure. It’s important to separate who you are from what you achieve.
  3. Choosing the right challenges to pursue is key. Aiming for meaningful goals makes any failures valuable and worthwhile, as they contribute to growth and character.

Semafor proved the haters wrong

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 399 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
💼 Business Media Entrepreneurship Advertising Digital Subscriptions
  1. Semafor has grown significantly in just two years, with over 80 staff members and 750,000 newsletter subscribers. They stayed focused on key topics, keeping their costs low while attracting a valuable audience.
  2. Costco's magazine is more popular than many big-name publications because it delivers useful tips and highlights its vendors. It shows how a focused approach can yield success.
  3. Political Wire's successful subscription model offers extra content and perks for loyal readers. Building a strong community can really help in retaining subscribers.

A Winning Strategy

Points And Figures • 932 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
💼 Business Leadership Entrepreneurship Marketing Authenticity Culture
  1. Being authentic is key for leaders. When leaders show their true selves, it helps build trust and culture in their organizations.
  2. Not every leader is suited for every situation. Finding the right fit where authenticity shines can lead to greater success.
  3. People today appreciate genuine leadership. With so much fake behavior around, being authentic stands out and resonates with others.

Founder Mode: Elevating Individual Contributors

Rethinking Software • 249 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
💼 Business Management Leadership Work Culture Entrepreneurship Organizational Behavior
  1. Founder mode empowers individual contributors by reducing management interference. It allows them to work freely, focusing on their tasks without being micromanaged.
  2. Good founders support and trust their teams instead of controlling them. They believe in hiring smart people and letting them decide how to do their jobs.
  3. Too many managers can create a bloated, inefficient system. Founder mode prevents this by maintaining a lean structure where everyone can contribute effectively.

How Do VCs Really Make Decisions?💡

The VC Corner • 459 implied HN points • 10 Sep 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment Strategies Entrepreneurship Market Analysis Financial Metrics
  1. VCs find deals through strong networks and relationships, not just random pitches. They carefully prune their opportunities, meaning a standout startup has a better chance of getting noticed.
  2. When it comes to choosing which startups to invest in, VCs place a big emphasis on the management team and the market potential. A great team can adapt and succeed, no matter how the market changes.
  3. Valuation is a delicate balance where VCs analyze exit opportunities and compare with similar companies. They aim for high returns, especially on early-stage investments, which comes with a lot of risk.

Why You Should Focus On Making Your Decisions Right

Remarkable People • 639 implied HN points • 04 Sep 24
💼 Business Decision-making Entrepreneurship Innovation Leadership Coaching
  1. Striving for a perfect decision can hold you back. It's better to focus on making your decision work instead of aiming for perfection.
  2. Committing to your decision is key. Once you make a choice, throw yourself into it and make the best of the situation.
  3. Be open to change and learn from each decision. Adapting and understanding what works can help you improve next time.

🎯 The Ultimate Pitch Deck Collection

The VC Corner • 739 implied HN points • 31 Aug 24
💼 Business Startups Entrepreneurship Investing Pitching Marketing
  1. A good pitch deck should include essential slides that clearly outline your business, like the problem you're solving and your market opportunity. This structure helps investors understand your idea quickly.
  2. Telling a compelling story around your startup's journey is crucial. It helps investors connect emotionally and see the value of what you're doing.
  3. Design matters a lot in a pitch deck. A clean and modern design can make your presentation look professional and helps communicate that you are serious about your business.

The Anti-Brand-Builder’s Guide to Building Your Brand

Perspectives • 5 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
💼 Business Branding Marketing Personal Development Entrepreneurship Content creation
  1. Think of your life story in just a few words. Writing a six-word biography helps you see the key points of your journey and values.
  2. Identify what you’re really good at. Everyone has a unique skill, or 'superpower,' that they can share, and recognizing this can help you define yourself better.
  3. Start small by sharing what you know. You don’t need to do big things right away; even a simple social media post can be a good first step.

TBM 316: Ultra Founder Mode

The Beautiful Mess • 925 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
💼 Business Leadership Management Entrepreneurship Accountability Self-Improvement
  1. Ultra Founder Mode is all about taking raw honesty and owning up to your weaknesses. It's crucial to be really self-aware and willing to face hard truths about yourself and your work.
  2. In this mindset, you take full responsibility for everything—successes and failures. There’s no blaming others; you say 'I' messed up, and you own that weight fully.
  3. Being a leader means being deeply involved in your team's day-to-day struggles. You need to feel their pressures and grind alongside them, absorbing all the chaos without immediately trying to fix everything.

Why True Friendship is Built on Unconditional Kindness

The Profile • 277 implied HN points • 06 Oct 24
💼 Business Leadership Entrepreneurship Corporate strategy Work Culture Economic Trends
  1. Kindness can make a big difference in someone's life. Small acts of kindness can create lasting memories and connections.
  2. People often remember those who showed them genuine kindness over time. It's those warm moments that stand out in our hearts.
  3. Choosing kindness in tough situations is rare but important. It can help people feel seen and supported when they need it the most.

How VCs Build Soft Power

The Generalist • 780 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Personal Branding Soft Power Investment Strategies Entrepreneurship
  1. Soft power is important for venture capitalists because it helps them stand out in a competitive market. It’s not just about money but also reputation and influence.
  2. Building soft power takes time, but new VCs can start quickly by finding their unique voice and using online platforms to share their ideas.
  3. Learning from experienced investors can help avoid common pitfalls. They share their mistakes and successes to help others grow their soft power effectively.

Market Sizing 101

The VC Corner • 759 implied HN points • 23 Aug 24
💼 Business Startups Investment Market Analysis Entrepreneurship Finance
  1. Understanding the size of your market is crucial for attracting investors and growing your business. A clear market size can make your pitch stand out.
  2. Market sizing involves knowing categories like Total Addressable Market (TAM) and Serviceable Available Market (SAM). These help you understand how big your market really is and how much of it you can reach.
  3. Many founders get stuck on the idea of a 'billion-dollar market'. It's important to look at market size more deeply, rather than just chasing big numbers. This helps avoid bad assumptions and discover real opportunities.

Behind $800M in Funding: 25+ Successful Startup Pitch Decks 💰

The VC Corner • 699 implied HN points • 24 Aug 24
💼 Business Startup Funding Pitching Entrepreneurship Investment
  1. A good pitch deck shows what your business is about and why it's valuable. It helps convince investors to trust your project and consider investing.
  2. Successful pitch decks make complicated ideas easy to understand. This is important so investors know what you're offering, even if they aren't experts in your field.
  3. To stand out, you need to show what makes your business special. Highlighting your unique approach helps attract interest in a competitive market.

Living beyond the edge

The Leap • 919 implied HN points • 15 Aug 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Entrepreneurship Investment Innovation
  1. Skill and luck both play important roles in success, and understanding their balance can help us navigate challenges better.
  2. Nate Silver's new book dives into how to make decisions when facing uncertainty, which is relevant in today's world.
  3. Historically significant moments in tech, like the founding of PayPal, highlight the importance of timing and opportunity in achieving greatness.

What Do You Do With an Idea?

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 216 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Innovation Economics Technology Investment
  1. Good ideas aren't hard to find; they just need to be used. Many solid concepts from the past are still waiting to be applied today.
  2. Ideas aren’t getting harder to discover but are harder to implement due to regulations and risk aversion. It's about making those ideas actionable.
  3. To make real progress, we need skilled people who can take old and new ideas and bring them to life, along with policies that lower the cost of innovation.

How we built a business out of recession - chapter 26 - the worst and best of times

The ZIPster • 35 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Startups Sales Technology Automotive
  1. CitNOW was founded during tough economic times but managed to grow successfully. The company started from a small kitchen table and grew into a significant player in the automotive industry.
  2. The launch of CitNOW Workshop was a game changer. By providing video inspections, they built trust with customers and improved the approval rate for repairs.
  3. Finding the right partners and aligning on vision is crucial for a startup's success. Alistair's tech enthusiasm and risk-taking nature were key in driving CitNOW forward.

You Shouldn't Start a Newsletter in 2024

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 3776 implied HN points • 24 May 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Content creation Digital Media Online business
  1. You don't need a big following to start a newsletter. You can grow your email list right from the beginning, and it's more valuable than just chasing followers.
  2. You can write about broad topics and narrow down later. Starting vague is okay, and you can figure out your niche as you go along.
  3. Having a small, engaged audience can be more profitable than a large one. Even with just a few subscribers, you can still earn good money if they truly care about your content.

The Ultimate Investors List of Lists (Extended) 🚀

The VC Corner • 199 implied HN points • 13 Sep 24
💼 Business Investing Startups Venture Capital Funding Entrepreneurship
  1. Finding the right investors is super important for startup success. Connecting with the right people can really help your business grow.
  2. Using curated lists of investors saves you time. Instead of searching for hours, you can quickly find potential investors interested in your startup.
  3. Having access to a variety of potential investors increases your chances of success. The more options you have, the better your chances to find the right match.

The Fastest Way to Make Money with Your Newsletter in 2024 📧

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 1878 implied HN points • 06 Jul 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Content creation Digital Media Monetization
  1. Short newsletters are becoming more popular. People prefer quick reads over long articles.
  2. Atomic newsletters focus on one idea and are usually around 250 words. This makes it easier to create content and determine what your audience likes.
  3. To make money from newsletters, use methods like affiliate links or sponsorships. This can help you earn income without much extra effort.