The hottest Finance Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Artificial Intelligence: Mastercard’s new Neural Network for enhanced fraud detection

The Fintech Blueprint • 452 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Finance Deepfakes AI Applications
  1. Annual card fraud exceeds $33B, with digital wallets, credit, and debit cards projected to handle 86% of global POS payments by 2026.
  2. Mastercard introduced a new AI model, Digital Intelligence Pro, to improve fraud detection by using a proprietary recurrent neural network.
  3. Digital Intelligence Pro aims to reduce false positive fraud flags, leading to better fraud detection rates, potential savings of $90B yearly for merchants, and improved customer experiences.

Long Take: Growing financial engagement with messaging in Coinbase Wallet, Venmo, and the super apps

The Fintech Blueprint • 904 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
💼 Business Finance Technology Engagement Commerce Messaging
  1. The intersection of finance and technology has led to innovative ways of mixing attention, commerce, and finance.
  2. Financial services are evolving beyond just being transactional machines to increase user engagement and improve customer retention.
  3. Developing a persistent digital identity for users and emphasizing interoperability and privacy are crucial in the evolving world of Web3.

What we would’ve done differently in the first year of bootstrapping our company

Founders Confidential • 51 HN points • 28 Jul 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Finance Startups Growth Strategies
  1. Start content marketing early because it takes a long time to build an audience. This way, you can also learn what your users really need.
  2. Target specific keywords in your SEO content. This helps your articles show up in search results and reach the right audience.
  3. Understand your users' experiences more deeply. Talking to them can give you valuable insights to improve your product.

4 key metrics to track for solofounders

Tiny Empires • 85 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.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

#23: How to Write a Good Pitch Deck

Loeber on Substack • 122 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investment Marketing Startups Finance
  1. A good pitch deck should help the investor easily create an investment memo. This means your deck should be clear and focused on key points.
  2. Always consider what an investment memo looks like, and make sure your pitch deck provides all the necessary information an investor might need to write it.
  3. Try to anticipate and answer common investor questions in your deck. This makes it easier for them to understand your business and advocate for you.

Overhead Costs vs. Marginal Costs

In My Tribe • 227 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
💼 Business Economics Finance Management Market Analysis Business strategy
  1. Overhead costs are the ongoing expenses of running a business, while marginal costs are the expenses incurred by producing one additional unit.
  2. Many businesses today focus more on overhead costs because it's hard to measure the contribution of individuals in a team setting.
  3. Understanding these costs is important for making better decisions about managing a business.

Illumina Sanctions

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
💼 Business Trade Finance Economics International Technology
  1. Illumina might face sanctions in China due to trade tensions. This situation is unusual for a company focused on genetic technology.
  2. Their revenue in China was only 7% of their total, which is about $75 million. It's important to note that this revenue has been decreasing since 2022.
  3. Even with these potential sanctions, the overall impact on Illumina is expected to be minor. Their business in China isn't as significant as it may seem.

Toys for Billionaires: Sports Franchises as Trophy Assets!

Musings on Markets • 879 implied HN points • 25 Aug 23
💼 Business Finance Investing Asset Valuation
  1. Sports franchises are now seen as trophy assets, where owners often care more about the prestige of ownership than making a profit. This trend makes buying teams feel more like collecting than investing.
  2. The prices for sports teams have skyrocketed in recent years, often without clear ties to their financial performance or success on the field. This disconnect means teams can be seen as overpriced compared to their actual value.
  3. As ownership of teams shifts to extremely wealthy individuals, the dynamics of sports may change. Owners might prioritize star players for their fame, reshaping how teams are built and how fans experience the games.

Breaking Into Crypto: Investment Analyst

DeFi Education • 599 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🔮 Crypto Investing Technology Finance Career Innovation
  1. Being a crypto analyst means staying updated on a lot of different tokens and doing a lot of research. It involves daily tasks like checking news, writing reports, and talking to project teams.
  2. The hiring process in crypto can be less structured than in traditional finance. Networking and showing your active interest in the industry can really help land a job.
  3. It's important to have a strong curiosity about crypto and a belief in its future. This helps you stay motivated during tough times, like bear markets, and succeed in your role.

Trading places

benn.substack • 997 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
💼 Business Technology Finance Data Privacy Startups Marketing
  1. Be cautious with how you handle customers' sensitive data to avoid breaking trust.
  2. Consider the optics of your business operations as much as the functionality to maintain trust.
  3. Don't plan on building one service as a stepping stone to another; focus on what you want to create in the long run.

Oxford Nanopore JPM Presentation Thoughts

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
💼 Business Finance Revenue Customers Growth Analysis
  1. Oxford Nanopore is showing 31% revenue growth, but this excludes some major projects like the Emirati Genome Project and COVID-related work. This might not give a full picture of their earnings.
  2. The company seems to rely heavily on a single new large customer for much of its revenue growth. This could be a risk if that customer changes or goes away.
  3. Historically, large customers can disappear when their projects finish, meaning Oxford Nanopore needs a steady influx of new clients to maintain growth.

Finding a more profitable business within your existing business.

The Ask Newsletter — by Ellen Donnelly • 12 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Marketing Career development Personal Branding Finance
  1. Focusing on one specific area of your business can lead to greater success. By concentrating on Emceeing, it's possible to streamline efforts and see better results.
  2. Accepting discomfort is part of the growth process in business. It takes time to adjust to changes and trust your own instincts.
  3. Saying no to some income opportunities can actually open doors for better financial stability and free time for other important aspects of life.

Chartbook 266 Israel's downgrade

Chartbook • 844 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Israel Finance Budget War
  1. Moody's downgraded Israel's ratings due to ongoing conflict with Hamas, weakening its institutions and fiscal strength - a first in Israeli history.
  2. Despite the financial toll of the war with Gaza, Israel's debt-to-GDP ratio remains stable, thanks to local currency borrowing and market confidence.
  3. The aid promised by the US to Israel amidst the conflict serves more as a political statement than a financial necessity, relieving pressure on Israel's domestic priorities.

Black Gold: The Smithsonian Connection

ᴋʟᴀᵾs • 825 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Espionage Intelligence Finance Corruption Conspiracy
  1. Smithsonian Institution was involved in covert operations such as hidden military and intelligence programs, despite its public image as a museum.
  2. The Smithsonian faced Congressional investigation for financial misconduct, including converting public funds into private money and secretive financial accounts.
  3. The institution's past connections to intelligence networks and illicit activities suggest a deep entanglement in hidden finance and corrupted power structures.

Oxford Nanopore Interim Results

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
💼 Business Finance Investing Market Analysis Corporate News Tech Companies
  1. Oxford Nanopore reported total revenue of £183.0 million in 2024. This shows the company is generating significant income.
  2. The company’s performance is being compared to a steady growth rate of 12% from 2020 onward. This indicates they have been growing consistently.
  3. The interim trading update was released before a major presentation, highlighting its importance for investors and stakeholders. This kind of update can be crucial in informing decision-making.

Logista: Old Roots, Green Sprouts

Invariant • 491 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
💼 Business Finance Pharmaceuticals Distribution Mergers & Acquisitions Companies
  1. Quaking aspens have a unique way of growing, with all trees in a colony connected as part of the same single organism.
  2. Logista, a Spanish distribution company, is diversifying away from tobacco distribution and focusing more on next-generation nicotine products and pharmaceutical distribution.
  3. Logista is strategically growing through acquisitions, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, aiming for inorganic growth to expand its reach.

The Difference Makers: Key Person(s) Value!

Musings on Markets • 579 implied HN points • 10 Dec 23
💼 Business Valuation Management Finance Entrepreneurship Investment
  1. Key people can significantly impact a business's value, whether it's a small practice like a doctor or a large company like Tesla. Even at bigger companies, certain individuals can make a big difference in how the business performs.
  2. Understanding who key people are in a company is crucial. These can include founders, top management, or even important employees at different levels who contribute unique skills.
  3. Companies can take steps to manage the risks that come with relying on key people, like using insurance or succession planning. These strategies can help ensure that the loss of an important individual does not as heavily affect the business.

Tech Overload: Business Goes Under Water

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 479 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
💼 Business Finance Economics Startups Market Trends Investment
  1. OpenAI is expected to make $1.6 billion in revenue in 2024, which is a big jump from last year. This money comes mainly from subscriptions and API sales.
  2. Anthropic, another AI company, might make $850 million in 2024, up from just $100 million last year, showing huge growth in the AI market.
  3. Building advanced AI models is very expensive; for example, OpenAI spent $10 billion to develop its technologies, which highlights the massive investment needed in this field.

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY’S TOBACCO HISTORY PART VII - CONWOOD: A REMARKABLE COMPANY

Reflections on "Going Down Tobacco Road" and Investing • 452 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
💼 Business Management Finance Marketing Sales Operations
  1. Conwood was a unique and successful company acquired by Reynolds American in 2006.
  2. The management at Conwood had a dedicated leadership team that contributed to its success.
  3. Conwood's unique culture and focus on product quality and cost control made it a profitable venture.

Why newsletter signups should always be your north star

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 723 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
💼 Business Media Entrepreneurship Finance Marketing Content creation
  1. Focus on growing newsletter signups as a key metric for success, as platforms can impact content creators' reach and livelihood unpredictably.
  2. Media entrepreneurs should be cautious of relying solely on tech platforms for distribution, as policies and algorithms can mistakenly impact their work.
  3. Entrepreneurs in media should consider covering niche news sites, video channels, podcasts, newsletters, and affiliate/ecommerce to succeed independently.

Juan Soto's $765 Million Contract Is A Bad Deal (But Steve Cohen Doesn't Care)

Huddle Up • 46 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
🎾 Sports Athletes Contracts Baseball Analysis Finance
  1. Juan Soto's $765 million contract is seen as a bad deal due to the risks involved. It raises questions about long-term investments in sports players.
  2. The high value of Soto's contract can create pressure for him to perform consistently. This could impact his performance and overall career.
  3. Steve Cohen, the owner of the New York Mets, doesn't seem to mind the potential downsides of the deal and is willing to invest heavily. This shows a willingness to take risks for big talent.

A Business Upended: The Streaming Disruption of the Movie & Broadcasting Business

Musings on Markets • 759 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
💼 Business Entertainment Streaming Media Finance Television
  1. The rise of streaming services like Netflix has drastically changed how we consume movies and shows. Many people are moving away from cable TV and preferring the convenience of streaming platforms.
  2. The movie industry may face a fate similar to the music industry due to streaming disruptions. Just as music labels struggled to adapt, traditional movie companies might find it hard to survive without significant changes.
  3. Streaming has led to increased content production but also rising costs. While there's more choice for viewers, the quality can sometimes suffer, leaving many overwhelmed by the options available.

Edging Armageddon

The Dollar Endgame • 758 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Economics Finance Debt Legislation
  1. The debt ceiling is a legal cap on how much money the US government can borrow to pay for its expenses. It's a self-imposed limit to control borrowing.
  2. A US debt default would have severe global consequences like loss of confidence in US financial stability, spike in interest rates, and turmoil in financial markets.
  3. The recent debt limit deal promises two years of complete debt limit suspension until 2025, new spending caps, and potential removal of budgetary limits on government spending post-2025.

The 20 Year Fall of Japan's Sharp Corporation

The Asianometry Newsletter • 1692 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
💼 Business Technology Leadership Finance Manufacturing Acquisition
  1. Sharp Corporation, a giant in consumer electronics, faced a 20-year decline due to reliance on the challenging LCD panel business.
  2. Founder Tokuji Hayakawa's journey from a young apprentice to creating iconic products like the Hayakawa Mechanical Pencil and Sharp radios.
  3. Sharp's move towards LCD technology led to financial strain, intense competition, and ultimately being acquired by Foxconn in 2016, marking the first foreign takeover of a major Japanese electronics firm.

Fruit Vendors & Market Makers

DeFi Education • 739 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🔮 Crypto DeFi Finance Trading Blockchain
  1. A good market maker, like the apple vendor, is always ready to buy and sell, which helps keep prices stable and customers happy. This reliability makes people trust them.
  2. Being a market maker comes with risks, such as buying too much stock or competitors entering the market. It's important to be aware of these challenges.
  3. Creating a fair and stable market is better for long-term success than using tricks to drive prices up. People will appreciate and trust a vendor who plays fair.

Different Kinds of Winning

The Crucial Years • 966 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Fossil fuels Adaptation Finance Policy
  1. There is a potential victory on pausing LNG exports, which could impact Biden's campaign and the planet positively.
  2. Campaigners and new data have highlighted the detrimental impact of LNG exports on the climate and American consumers.
  3. The administration's decision on LNG exports can be a crucial win for climate action and Biden's re-election efforts.

How to Save a $70B Business We Don't Know What To Do With

The Ankler • 353 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
💼 Business Entertainment Technology Finance Industry Leadership
  1. The movie industry is facing challenges due to poor decision-making and leadership, which is threatening its survival.
  2. Hollywood should focus on creating hits to attract audiences and regain financial stability.
  3. Instead of blaming streamers, the film industry needs to adapt and overcome bad habits and thought patterns to thrive.

Amazon, Dr. Gupta, Lilly and Other Thoughts

Martin’s Newsletter • 687 implied HN points • 10 May 23
💼 Business Technology Healthcare Finance Media Journalism
  1. Amazon has had negative free cash flow but is worth $1T, proving traditional valuation models may not apply.
  2. Dr. Gupta's AI healthcare system has received positive feedback with interest for nationwide deployment, highlighting the need for innovative healthcare solutions.
  3. Lilly's Mounjaro product showed impressive sales potential, indicating a shift in the pharmaceutical industry.