The hottest Finance Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

DeFi Education's 2024 Outlook

DeFi Education • 1139 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🔮 Crypto Finance
  1. The predictions for 2024 will have many possibilities, so they are mostly fun to think about. It's important to keep in mind that things can change.
  2. Past expectations have been shared in earlier posts, but they will be updated again for clarity. It’s good to stay informed on the latest thoughts.
  3. This discussion is meant for paid subscribers, indicating more in-depth and exclusive content is available for those who support the platform. It shows a commitment to providing quality information.

A good analogy can sell boring

Creative Samba • 19 implied HN points • 04 Oct 24
💼 Business Finance
  1. ETFs can be a smarter way to invest than buying individual stocks. They let you own a piece of many companies without the hassle of picking each one.
  2. ETFs are cheaper and accessible for everyday people, unlike traditional investing options that often favor big investors. This means anyone can get involved in the market.
  3. Using good analogies in marketing can make dull products exciting. For iShares, a clever ad strategy helped them reach a new audience when they were losing market share.

How the Product Bubble Burst

Cold Water • 20 HN points • 10 Sep 24
💼 Business Finance
  1. The Product Management bubble is bursting because the real economy and asset economy are becoming more disconnected. Investors were putting money into tech stories that weren't delivering real value.
  2. After years of inflated asset prices, investors now require proof of value rather than just potential. This shift is leading to a tougher environment for tech and startups.
  3. The rise of interest rates means tech companies can no longer just rely on good narratives without tangible results. Many jobs in the tech sector are at risk because of this change.

There's a whole lot of ugly out there when it comes to growth teams.

Elena's Growth Scoop • 904 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
💼 Business Finance
  1. The growth teams face systematic failures in the industry due to various issues like unclear growth fundamentals and bad strategic decisions from executives.
  2. Symptoms of a bad growth team include not focusing on monetization, neglecting retention, and obsessing over 'hacks' instead of building sustainable growth engines.
  3. To build a successful growth team, companies need to prioritize monetization, retention, and data-driven decision-making, and ensure alignment between departments for optimal results.
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The VC Corner 📰 #14

The VC Corner • 739 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
💼 Business Finance
  1. Exit values for companies are dropping, which means it's harder for startups to sell and make a profit. This could affect how investors view their investments.
  2. Founder salaries are being measured more consistently, giving better benchmarks for what startup founders can expect to earn. It's important for new entrepreneurs to know this info.
  3. The overall outlook for the VC industry seems uncertain right now, with challenges ahead. Investors might need to adjust their strategies going forward.

News of the Week (February 5 - 9)

Stock Market Nerd • 825 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
💼 Business Finance
  1. Cloudflare provides web optimization and security, showing strong revenue growth and expanding services beyond traditional security tools like network firewalls
  2. Spotify had a mixed quarter, with growth seen in 2023 but missed revenue estimates for Q4, leading to a focus on evolving its operations
  3. Amazon plans cost cuts in its healthcare unit, while Duolingo faces the risk of potential disruption by emerging GenAI language translation technologies

How I Productized A Service Business And Earn Recurring Income

VERY GOOD PRODUCTIZED GUIDES • 79 implied HN points • 05 Aug 24
💼 Business Finance
  1. To turn your service into a product, pick a specific service to offer and make it easy for clients to understand what they're getting. This helps people know exactly what to expect.
  2. Identify your ideal clients to better tailor your services to their needs. Knowing who your customers are makes it easier to attract and keep them.
  3. Create a clear system for how you deliver your service, and hire help early on. This frees up your time so you can focus on growing your business instead of just doing all the tasks yourself.

The Swiss Ramble - Announcement

The Swiss Ramble • 1650 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Finance
  1. The Swiss Ramble is a blog about football finance by Kieron O'Connor.
  2. Kieron O'Connor has been writing online about football finance since 2009 and has won awards.
  3. Readers can get a 7-day free trial by subscribing to The Swiss Ramble.

Astera Labs IPO - The Next Connectivity Superhero or Steamrolled By Competition?

SemiAnalysis • 5354 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
💼 Business Finance
  1. Astera Labs is a key player in the AI infrastructure market, supplying connectivity chips to hyperscalers, AI accelerator vendors, and system OEMs.
  2. Connectivity in the datacenter market is highly competitive, but Astera Labs has the opportunity to become a connectivity 'Superhero' by maintaining market share and expanding product lines.
  3. Astera Labs focuses on solving connectivity bottlenecks in high-speed interfaces by offering retimers to improve signal integrity, particularly targeting PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 specs.

SVB

Market Sentiment • 1552 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
💼 Business Finance
  1. Understanding the different sides of risk is crucial - the likelihood of getting hit, the average impact, and the extreme consequences.
  2. Banks operate by lending out deposits at higher rates to make profits, but this system poses the risk of bank runs.
  3. SVB's rapid collapse was triggered by increased stress, a market sell-off, and a loss of customer confidence due to poor communication.

Aenean Money

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 904 implied HN points • 13 Jun 25
🔮 Crypto Finance
  1. Money is a tool for exchange and social cooperation. It helps us trade goods and services efficiently, but it can also be corrupting.
  2. Aenean Money aims to blend the positive aspects of past monetary systems while avoiding their flaws. It should be a trustworthy and resilient form of money that everyone can use.
  3. Bitcoin is seen as a leading candidate for Aenean Money because it has unique features that might solve many current economic problems. It operates without central control and reflects real-world value through energy expended in its creation.

♾ Meta: The Zuck 'Playbook'

How They Make Money • 727 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💼 Business Finance
  1. Meta (META) reported strong Q4 FY23 performance with a 5X return from November 2022 lows, focusing on Metaverse investments and cash returns to shareholders.
  2. Key points from Meta's 'Playbook' include massive compute investment, open-source strategy, future-focused research on AI, data utilization, and an experimentation culture.
  3. In Q4 FY23, Meta saw growth in user metrics and revenue, with an increase in average revenue per user, surpassing competitors like Snap and Pinterest in ARPU.

No more electric vehicles for you!

Elliott Confidential • 864 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
💼 Business Finance
  1. Hertz is selling off part of its EV fleet and buying internal-combustion-engine vehicles instead.
  2. This move might mean the end of renting electric vehicles for some people.
  3. Read the full discussion on Elliott Confidential to understand the implications.

The Bear Cave #283

The Bear Cave • 676 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
💼 Business Finance
  1. Recent reports show that some companies like Enovis and Vedanta Resources are facing serious challenges, with accusations of misleading practices and poor performance.
  2. There have been notable executive resignations in several companies, suggesting instability in leadership across different sectors.
  3. The trend towards lab-grown diamonds is growing, with many consumers favoring them over mined diamonds, which may affect traditional diamond prices.

Masterclass on Investing in SpaceTech Startups

Space Ambition • 219 implied HN points • 05 Jun 24
💼 Business Finance
  1. There is an online masterclass focusing on how to invest in Space Tech startups. It's a great opportunity to learn from experts in the field.
  2. The masterclass will feature an analysis of Bessemer Venture Partners' investment in Rocket Lab, which is a key example in SpaceTech investing.
  3. The sessions are free and available at two different times on June 15, making it easy for people to join.

What I read this week…

chamathreads • 1454 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
💼 Business Finance
  1. Revenue surges at smaller cloud providers with NVIDIA's help
  2. Shopify uses cost calculator to discourage pointless meetings
  3. Canadian court rules 👍 emoji counts as a contract agreement

Farming Opportunity

DeFi Education • 859 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
🔮 Crypto Finance
  1. DeFi yield farming is making a comeback, and it's an exciting opportunity for investors. People are using different strategies to maximize their returns.
  2. The team is running a fun bet to see if their farming profits can cover the cost of a NYC apartment. This adds an interesting twist to their investment.
  3. The focus is on DeFi exchanges, highlighting their potential benefits in the financial landscape. It’s a field worth exploring for those interested in decentralized finance.

a16z Raises$7.2bn💵, Optimal VC Portfolio Construction🧮, AI Index🤖

The VC Corner • 359 implied HN points • 21 Apr 24
💼 Business Finance
  1. a16z raised $7.2 billion, showing strong interest in venture capital. This means more funding for startups and innovation.
  2. There's a focus on optimal portfolio construction for venture capitalists. This helps investors choose the best mix of companies to support.
  3. An AI Index is being discussed, which could track the progress and impact of artificial intelligence technologies. This will help keep everyone informed about AI trends.

How to get rich combining generic drugs: lessons from Axsome

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 820 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
💼 Business Finance
  1. Combining generic drugs can create new treatments and opportunities for profit. It’s all about understanding how the drugs work together for better results.
  2. Developing a unique formulation is key. You need to offer something that can't be simply made with existing medications, like a special combination or dosage.
  3. Working closely with regulators and payers from the start is crucial. You need to show them why your combination is valuable and why they should support it.

🔎 Alphabet: Cloud Rebounds

How They Make Money • 687 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
💼 Business Finance
  1. Alphabet reported strong financial performance with growth in Cloud, YouTube, and subscriptions
  2. Google Cloud showed significant growth and is ahead in the market competition
  3. Key insights from Alphabet's earnings call: AI advancements, Cloud growth, YouTube's revenue contribution

IPO: Z.ai intends to raise $560M at a valuation of $6.5 billion.

Alex's Personal Blog • 98 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
💼 Business Finance
  1. Z.ai plans to raise $560 million at about a $6.5 billion valuation while still small and deeply loss-making. Its revenues grew quickly but R&D spending and cash burn are massive, and most IPO proceeds are earmarked for more R&D and expansion.
  2. China’s AI market looks set to be enterprise- and on-premise-led, with vendors selling tailored, locally hosted models to corporations. Regulators are also tightening rules on safety, data consent, and content even as Chinese labs release competitive open models and pursue public listings.
  3. Building cutting-edge AI requires enormous capital and infrastructure, so big investors and tech firms are pouring money in, which reduces funding risk but increases execution pressure to monetize and scale. That dynamic favors well-funded players while smaller labs race to grow.

Altria: The Great Race

Invariant • 648 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
💼 Business Finance
  1. Altria faces challenges in the e-vapor market and criticism for its product development efforts.
  2. The company is focusing on premiumization and maintaining profitability in its smokeable products segment.
  3. Altria's financial health, with strong leverage and cash flow, allows it to return capital to shareholders and navigate market challenges.

What's Next for SAS? (Again)

thomaswdinsmore • 199 implied HN points • 02 Jun 24
💼 Business Finance
  1. SAS founder Jim Goodnight faces a transition in leadership and ownership as he's 82 with no children engaged in the business.
  2. Options for SAS's future include selling to employees, a corporate buyer, or private equity investors, all of which may lead to restructuring.
  3. Despite initial plans to go public, SAS has faced challenges with growth and profitability, leading to multiple delays in the IPO process.

The Bear Cave #282

The Bear Cave • 606 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
💼 Business Finance
  1. Grizzly Research claims that Pony AI's technology is behind its competitors and has issues with its service quality. They believe it is not ready for busy city driving.
  2. Viceroy Research suggests that Vedanta Resources is financially unstable and mismanages its assets, calling it a 'financial zombie'. They warn that various risks could lead to its collapse.
  3. Recent executive resignations in companies like NWTN Inc and Funko indicate serious governance and financial problems. These companies are facing leadership instability, which can affect their performance.

There's no such thing as f– you money

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 1639 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
💼 Business Finance
  1. Wealth doesn't guarantee freedom. Even billionaires serve someone and often compromise their principles.
  2. Charisma and social influence can be more powerful than money. Being likable and persuasive can get people further in many situations.
  3. Cultural power matters more than financial power. Those with money often want to control how they're perceived and fear being ridiculed.

Why Synchronous Atomic Composability Matters

Dan Hughes • 99 implied HN points • 12 Jul 24
🔮 Crypto Finance
  1. Atomic composability is about ensuring that all parts of a transaction either succeed together or fail together. This means if one part has a problem, the whole transaction fails to prevent inconsistencies.
  2. The commitment aspect is crucial because it locks in the changes made by a transaction on the blockchain. If this step is overlooked, users can face issues like wrong states or unfinalized transactions.
  3. Synchronous atomic commitment is important because it allows all transaction participants to agree and act in real-time. This avoids complications that arise when actions are taken independently and can lead to errors or hanging states.

Three Years of Investment Talk

Investment Talk • 1198 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
💼 Business Finance
  1. Consistent writing forces you to learn and create tangible output from your research.
  2. Network effects are powerful in growing audience; focus on maximizing them.
  3. Be genuine, give more than you expect back, and connect with readers authentically.

What I read this week...

Chamath Palihapitiya • 1198 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
💼 Business Finance
  1. Citadel is searching for math geniuses among a huge pool of interns
  2. India's first indigenous 700 MWe nuclear plant in Gujarat is operational
  3. There's a growing interest in tapping into the clean energy source beneath the Earth

AMD 2025 Q2 Financials

More Than Moore • 513 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
💼 Business Finance
  1. AMD's revenue for Q2 2025 reached $7.69 billion, a 32% increase from the previous year. Despite this growth, challenges in the AI chip market impacted their profits significantly.
  2. AMD's Data Center business is growing quickly, especially with new AI processors like the MI350 series. However, the delays with the MI308 inventory have caused temporary financial setbacks.
  3. In the Client and Gaming sector, AMD's sales surged by 69% compared to last year, driven by high demand for their latest CPUs and GPUs, showing strong recovery in this area.