The hottest Finance Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Top Links 546 Childcare as infrastructure. Why Larry Summers thinks blended finance is BS and how all that is solid burst into flames.

Chartbook • 243 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Childcare Finance Economic Policy Infrastructure Public Policy
  1. Childcare should be seen as important infrastructure for the economy. It's essential for supporting working families and boosting economic growth.
  2. Larry Summers is critical of blended finance, arguing that it doesn't really solve financial problems and can lead to more issues.
  3. There's a sense that many established systems are failing or breaking down. It's a call to rethink how things work in society.

✨ The future of AI and the US economy, according to Goldman Sachs

Faster, Please! • 365 implied HN points • 14 Oct 24
💼 Business Economics Finance Technology Market Trends Productivity
  1. Goldman Sachs sees AI improving productivity, but not as a big game changer right away. They think its impact will be more like the rise of personal computers and the internet.
  2. While AI might boost GDP growth in the coming years, it will mostly help with efficiency by automating easier tasks. The real economic benefit might take some time to show up.
  3. There’s a lot of uncertainty about how AI will play out, with both potential upsides and realistic challenges. Many companies are testing AI, but significant impacts may still be a few years away.

Foxtrot's ashes still burn

Snaxshot • 599 implied HN points • 28 Apr 24
💼 Business Finance News Marketing
  1. Foxtrot's financial troubles include 6-figure unpaid invoices and lawsuits.
  2. Snaxshot became a go-to source for news about Foxtrot's closure, acknowledged by various reputable outlets.
  3. Subscribing to Snaxshot gives access to exclusive content and a 7-day free trial.

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality—The SubStack

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 215 implied HN points • 09 Nov 24
💼 Business Economics Finance Policy Investing Market Trends
  1. The newsletter aims to make readers smarter and more informed about economic topics. It's designed to keep readers engaged and entertained while learning.
  2. Readers can expect economic insights, historical context, and thoughtful recommendations in the newsletter. The goal is to offer clarity and understanding of complex issues.
  3. The newsletter also seeks to enhance public discourse by steering readers away from sensationalism and clickbait, promoting a more thoughtful examination of current events.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Unholy Trinity of Venture Capital

Investing 101 • 161 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
💼 Business Investing Venture Capital Finance Economics Entrepreneurship
  1. Venture capital is changing a lot because of three main players: agglomerators, allocators, and absorbers. These groups shape what venture capital looks like today.
  2. Agglomerators raise huge amounts of money and focus on making profits from fees. They often manage many investments at once and aim to control more resources.
  3. Large funds often attract institutional investors looking for steady returns, but this can lead to competition for fewer investment opportunities, making it tough for smaller funds to succeed.

DeFi Education's 2024 Outlook

DeFi Education • 1139 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Decentralization Finance Investment Technology
  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 Marketing Investing Finance Branding Advertising
  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 Economics Finance Investment Corporate strategy Market Trends
  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.

How the Money for the Rest of Us podcast built a six figure membership platform

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 74 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
💼 Business Podcasts Finance Membership SaaS Investing
  1. David Stein used clever marketing tricks to grow his podcast audience by adding other popular podcast names to his metadata. This helped him reach over 20 million downloads.
  2. His podcast led to a successful membership community where listeners pay around $450 a year, making it a six-figure revenue source.
  3. Stein is now expanding into a SaaS platform for individual investors, offering them tools for better financial analysis, which he sees as a scalable business model.

Your complete guide to board rooms

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 276 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
💼 Business Management Finance Corporate Governance Startups Leadership
  1. Know who's in the room during board meetings. The CEO, CFO, and tech leaders each have specific roles and responsibilities that are crucial for a productive discussion.
  2. Keep your board meetings under 3.5 hours. Long meetings can tire everyone out, so aim for a focused agenda that encourages valuable input from all members.
  3. Send out materials for the meeting 48 to 72 hours in advance. This allows everyone to prepare without being overwhelmed, and it helps keep the meeting on track.

Trust as the Next Great Commodity

Kyla’s Newsletter • 85 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
💼 Business Investment Finance Economics Market Trends Corporate strategy
  1. Trust is becoming really important and is now seen as a valuable resource. In a world where trust is low, it's crucial to find ways to invest in trust.
  2. There are different strategies for investing based on trust levels. You can focus on protection in uncertain times or on building a better system for the future.
  3. To succeed in this low-trust environment, we need to focus on realigning society by building trust, understanding truth, and reaching consensus to create a stable future.

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 Marketing Management Growth Finance Leadership
  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.

The VC Corner 📰 #14

The VC Corner • 739 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Finance Market Trends Economic outlook
  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 Tech Finance Earnings Macro Portfolio
  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 Entrepreneurship Marketing Finance Product Development Customer Service
  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.

Business and Economics links, 1/12

In My Tribe • 364 implied HN points • 12 Jan 25
💼 Business Economics Entrepreneurship Finance Investment Market Analysis
  1. Co-founder relationships are really important for startup success. If co-founders don't get along, it can lead to the startup failing.
  2. Economic analysis often relies on metaphors, which can lead to different interpretations. It's normal for people to disagree about economic ideas.
  3. The debate over resource prices shows that neither side always wins. Long-term data suggests that market dynamics can be complex and unpredictable.

Angels Vs Venture Capitalists

Points And Figures • 266 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
💼 Business Investing Venture Capital Startups Entrepreneurship Finance
  1. Angels and venture capitalists have different roles in funding startups. Angels often invest earlier and can take more risks compared to venture capitalists.
  2. Angels should act quickly and be transparent in their decision-making process. This helps entrepreneurs know where they stand and not get left waiting.
  3. Investing in early rounds is usually more beneficial for angels. After a company has grown, it can make more sense for them to find new seed deals rather than invest in larger rounds.

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.

The Bank of Starbucks

Of All Trades • 9 implied HN points • 27 May 25
💼 Business Finance Retail Economics Marketing Technology
  1. Starbucks makes a lot of money, earning about $36 billion in revenue in 2024. This shows that their business is not just about coffee, but also a serious finance player.
  2. By allowing customers to load money onto their app for purchases, Starbucks essentially acts like a bank. They hold this money without needing to give customers cash back, making it a profitable system for them.
  3. Starbucks holds more customer deposits than about 80% of U.S. banks, even though it's primarily a coffee company. This highlights how big their banking-like system has become in the consumer market.

SVB

Market Sentiment • 1552 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
💼 Business Finance Banking Startups Investing Economics
  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.

♾ Meta: The Zuck 'Playbook'

How They Make Money • 727 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💼 Business Technology Finance Market Analysis Earnings Report Investment
  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.

Masterclass on Investing in SpaceTech Startups

Space Ambition • 219 implied HN points • 05 Jun 24
💼 Business Investing Startups Technology Finance Entrepreneurship
  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.

Farming Opportunity

DeFi Education • 859 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
🔮 Crypto DeFi Investing Finance Technology Blockchain
  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 Venture Capital Startups Investment Finance Entrepreneurship
  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.

The Fat App Thesis

Three quarks • 36 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Investing Technology Economics Finance
  1. The value in the blockchain space is shifting from protocols to apps. Apps are becoming more important as they connect users and create real-world value.
  2. Historically, protocols were seen as the main drivers of value, but now apps have stronger user bases and unique offerings that can actually generate revenue.
  3. The recent success of various apps shows that the ecosystem is evolving. Users are drawn to innovative apps, which in turn makes protocols more valuable, creating a partnership rather than competition.

How we built a business out of recession - chapter 30 - Q is for Quentin

The ZIPster • 35 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Startup Finance Management Leadership
  1. CitNOW started as a small business and grew a lot over time. It shows how you can build something big from humble beginnings.
  2. Hiring the right people is super important for a company's success. Finding someone who can help guide and improve the business can make a big difference.
  3. Past mistakes can teach valuable lessons. It's essential to learn from experiences to avoid making the same errors in the future.

THE SHOW NOTES: Ignoring Iran, UN Workers Helped Hamas, & On This Day in 2019...

Erick Erickson's Confessions of a Political Junkie • 799 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Iran UN Finance Terrorism International relations
  1. Iranian proxy militias launched a drone strike against a US outpost in Jordan, resulting in casualties.
  2. Israeli government confirms that UN workers helped Hamas invade Israel in October 7th attack.
  3. Remote workers faced higher layoff rates in 2023 compared to office workers.