The hottest Funding Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

Only About 40% Of The Cruz "Woke Science" Database Is Woke Science

Astral Codex Ten • 31935 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Policy Funding Science Society
  1. Only about 40% of the grants flagged as 'woke' were truly related to wokeness. Many grants just added a sentence about helping minorities to meet certain criteria.
  2. A significant portion of the flagged grants included irrelevant claims about promoting equity, which likely resulted in them being incorrectly classified as woke.
  3. The process to identify non-woke versus woke grants could be done quickly and easily, suggesting the government's oversight missed many non-woke projects simply due to a lack of thorough review.

What if Congress Doesn't Specifically Reject NIH Indirect Cost Changes?

The Good Science Project • 48 implied HN points • 24 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Health Policy Budgeting Funding Regulations
  1. NIH can't just set a flat rate for indirect costs on all grants. Each university's costs need to be negotiated individually.
  2. If Congress removes rules preventing NIH from changing how they calculate costs, it doesn't mean they can bypass accounting regulations.
  3. Any exceptions to indirect cost rates must be well-documented and communicated in advance for specific grants, not applied broadly.

‘This is becoming the biggest issue for councils’

NN Journal • 178 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education Funding Policy Local government
  1. There is a huge budget crisis for special needs education, with a national shortfall of £4 billion. This could lead to some councils going bankrupt if the situation doesn't improve.
  2. Many councils are facing growing deficits in their budgets because more children need special education services, but funding is not keeping up with demand.
  3. Families are struggling to get the education and support they need for their children, with long wait times for necessary plans and some choosing to educate their kids at home instead.

Funding science is actually a badass thing to do

Experimental History • 9269 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🔬 Science Research Funding Policy Technology Education
  1. Funding science is essential because it helps us gain knowledge, which is the key to improving our lives. Every advancement we've made comes from learning and understanding more about the world.
  2. We need to be careful not to fall into traps of thinking we can solve problems by reducing knowledge. Instead, we should focus on increasing our understanding to overcome challenges.
  3. Fixing the science funding system could be simple. For example, by avoiding payments to for-profit publishers and reducing unnecessary grant application processes, we can make better use of our resources and support innovative research.

Founder Mode👨‍💼, The Extinction of VC💀, How to Build More Pipeline🚀

The VC Corner • 259 implied HN points • 15 Sep 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Funding Sales Growth
  1. The current landscape for venture capital is changing, and there are risks that could impact its future. It's important for founders to understand these shifts.
  2. Founders can take control of their growth strategies by focusing on building a solid sales pipeline. This can help them succeed even in uncertain times.
  3. Adapting to new growth approaches is necessary for SaaS businesses. Finding fresh methods can lead to sustained success and relevance.
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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.

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 Big Nonprofits Post

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1388 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
💼 Business Nonprofits Charity Philanthropy Funding AI risks
  1. There are many excellent charities to donate to right now, especially those focused on AI safety and existential risks. It can be hard to find good places to give money, but they are out there.
  2. When deciding where to donate, it's important to trust your own judgment and knowledge about what matters. Choose organizations that align with your values and how you believe change can be made.
  3. Consider giving unconditional support to individuals doing valuable work, as this can help them focus on their projects without the stress of constantly needing to prove their worth for funding.

Sunday Strip: DOGEing the Dems

Who is Robert Malone • 43 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Judiciary Funding Policy Activism
  1. The judiciary plays a crucial role in supporting the government and its actions, as highlighted by thinkers like Murray Rothbard.
  2. There are ongoing challenges in balancing governmental power and the role it plays in society, often causing tensions.
  3. The idea of saving the government contrasts with the obstacles posed by its own system and regulations.

€1 Billion VC Fund in Spain💸, 10 Books for Founders, by Founders📚, The Power of Niche🎯

The VC Corner • 579 implied HN points • 14 Jul 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Books Funding Entrepreneurship
  1. A new €1 billion venture capital fund has been launched in Spain to support startups. This fund aims to boost innovation and growth in the entrepreneurial landscape.
  2. There is a list of 10 books specifically for founders, written by those who have experience in building companies. These books can provide valuable insights and guidance for anyone looking to start their own business.
  3. Focusing on a niche market can be very powerful for businesses. It allows companies to stand out and cater specifically to the needs of a certain group of customers.

State Department Threatens Congress Over Censorship Programs

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 11152 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Censorship Transparency Funding Congress
  1. The State Department is threatening Congress over their censorship programs funding, showing resistance to disclosing details on how taxpayer money is being spent.
  2. The Global Engagement Center (GEC) has been involved in anti-disinformation work, which includes backing a UK-based agency that creates digital blacklists for disfavored media outlets.
  3. There is growing pushback against agencies like the GEC that operate with secrecy, with calls for more transparency and oversight, especially in programs that target American media consumers.

How startups beat incumbents⚔️, Bootstrapped vs. VC-Backed Startup🤔, Thinking about founder dilution👨‍💼

The VC Corner • 599 implied HN points • 30 Jun 24
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Funding Entrepreneurship Market Strategy
  1. Startups can succeed against big businesses by leveraging innovation and agility. They often adapt faster to market changes than larger companies.
  2. There are two main types of startups: bootstrapped, which rely on their own funds, and VC-backed, which get money from investors. Each has its own advantages and challenges.
  3. Founders need to think carefully about dilution, which is when they give away part of their company to investors. This can affect their control and ownership in the long run.

How DC Missed Deepseek

From the New World • 48 implied HN points • 05 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Government AI Funding Industry
  1. Washington, DC was unaware of DeepSeek until 2025, showing a major lag in understanding new developments in AI. It took a long time for new information to reach decision-makers.
  2. The focus of policymakers remained on old issues like export controls instead of adjusting to the realities of advancements in AI. This outdated approach led to missing out on important developments.
  3. There are many parts of the American AI ecosystem that still need funding and support to grow. Even with some companies well-funded, there's a need for more investment in research and experimentation.

The Slow Cancellation of Innovation: A critical look at modern funding

The Good Science Project • 74 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Innovation Funding Venture Capital Research Science
  1. Innovation funding is struggling because it often favors older, established ideas over new and creative ones. This means that new and exciting projects may not get the support they need.
  2. Many young scientists and entrepreneurs are finding it harder to get funding. They face longer waits and tougher competition, which can hold back breakthrough ideas that could change the world.
  3. New funding models are trying to support fresh ideas, but they often end up using the same old criteria for judging who gets funded. This makes it tough for unconventional thinkers to get recognized and backed.

Chinese Communist govt (CCP) is funding fraudulent research & science on mRNA Cancer vaccines - new CCP study (Mar.2024) called "Advances and prospects of mRNA vaccines in cancer immunotherapy"

COVID Intel - by Dr.William Makis • 2279 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Research Vaccines Funding China
  1. Chinese Communist government is funding fraudulent research on mRNA cancer vaccines.
  2. New study titled 'Advances and prospects of mRNA vaccines in cancer immunotherapy' is expected to be published in March 2024.
  3. The article behind a paywall raised questions that led to an interesting investigation.

Reader Question – What Should Disclosures in Weight Science and Weight Loss Research Include?

Weight and Healthcare • 499 implied HN points • 01 May 24
🏥 Health Politics Research Funding Conflicts of Interest Transparency
  1. Research in weight science and weight loss should prioritize scientific integrity over business interests.
  2. Disclosures in research should be easily accessible within the study and in front of any paywall to inform decision-making.
  3. Disclosures should include details on study funding, financial entanglements with companies, organizations, and personal benefits for researchers.

0 To $100 Million In 9 Months 🚀, AI for social good🌍, Governments are the biggest source of VC funds🏛️

The VC Corner • 359 implied HN points • 19 May 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups AI Funding Economic Growth
  1. A company can grow from nothing to $100 million quickly, showing how fast business can change these days.
  2. Using AI can be very beneficial, especially when it is aimed at making the world a better place.
  3. Governments are providing a lot of money for startups, more than traditional venture capitalists.

Resetting expectations for VC investing in health tech

Second Opinion • 1729 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Health tech Investing Entrepreneurship Funding
  1. Not every startup in health tech needs to be backed by venture capital.
  2. Health tech industry may not yield many billion-dollar exits, but there are numerous smaller exits ranging from $40 to $500 million.
  3. Venture capitalists should consider alternative sources of capital like private equity, government grants, family offices, and angel investors for health tech startups.

Some big news about The Mill

The Mill • 1808 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
💼 Business Media Investment Expansion Journalism Funding
  1. The Mill has successfully raised a total of £350,000 in funding from supporters to hire journalists around the country.
  2. The funding will be used for expanding the company and hiring new staff members in different cities.
  3. The success of The Mill's funding round is attributed to the support and belief of paying members and prominent figures in the media industry.

The High Tragedy of the Pandemic

Glenn Loury • 2856 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
📰 News Pandemic Research Funding
  1. The pandemic may have originated from a lab leak due to gain-of-function research.
  2. Fauci and others believed they were doing good by conducting this research, but it had unintended consequences.
  3. Cooperation and transparency from both Chinese and American authorities could have potentially prevented the pandemic from reaching a global scale.

Foxtrot Market's comeback?

Snaxshot • 419 implied HN points • 10 May 24
🍲 Food & Drink CPG Branding Funding Collaboration Innovation
  1. Foxtrot Market faced a questionable auction process with potential bidders feeling left in the dark, leading to speculations of a rigged setup.
  2. Brands like Blueprint by Bryan Johnson are stepping into the market with products like supplements and olive oils, potentially shaking up established brands like Athletic Greens.
  3. Various CPG brands are undergoing rebranding and major changes to stay relevant and attract customers, reflecting a rebranding trend in the industry.

Balsa Update and General Thank You

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1881 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Legislation Advocacy Funding Regulation
  1. The focus of the Balsa project is on repealing the Jones Act to make a positive impact.
  2. Another area of interest for Balsa is federal housing reform, aiming to address economic issues and expand policy reform.
  3. Balsa also plans to work on initiatives related to NEPA, aiming to replace current environmental regulations with cost-benefit analysis for development projects.

Japan’s Declining Commercial Innovation, Part I

Japan Economy Watch • 179 implied HN points • 05 Jun 24
💼 Business Innovation Science Funding
  1. Japan has experienced a decline in commercial innovation since the 21st century, with its share of important patents decreasing, putting it at risk of falling in global rankings
  2. There is a debate on the reasons behind Japan's innovation decline, with one side focusing on the lack of new breakthroughs in basic science and the other on corporations' inefficiency in utilizing scientific advances
  3. Japan faces challenges in funding and supporting PhD programs, leading to a decrease in the number of PhDs produced, impacting the country's scientific output and innovation potential

"So how's your $2.5M bet going?"

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 3 implied HN points • 04 Jun 25
🔬 Science Research Debate Technology Health Funding
  1. A $2.5 million bet is part of a heated scientific debate going on. This shows that people are really invested in the outcome.
  2. ChatGPT was used to rate the chances of winning in the debate, adding a tech twist to the situation. Technology is playing a role in modern discussions.
  3. The author believes this debate is significant and could attract a lot of attention. It highlights the importance of ongoing conversations in science.

Deep Dive on Aleph Alpha - Towards European AI Sovereignty

AI Supremacy • 491 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Startups Funding Models Ethics
  1. Aleph Alpha is a German AI startup focusing on AI governance, privacy, and ethics aligning with EU standards.
  2. Aleph Alpha's flagship product, Luminous, offers language models in multiple sizes and is known for its ability to explain outputs.
  3. Aleph Alpha's collaborative and 'sovereignty first' approach sets it apart from US AI companies, emphasizing data privacy and transparency.

Mantic Monday 4/24/23

Astral Codex Ten • 3923 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Data Analysis API Funding
  1. Using AI for forecasting future world events is a growing field with potential benefits over human forecasters.
  2. Metaculus has been found to be more accurate than low-information priors and its competitor Manifold Markets, showing the potential of crowdsourcing for predictions.
  3. Exploring AI forecasting through platforms like Polymarket, Metaculus, and Manifold provides insight into trends, such as the interest in prediction markets among sci-tech celebrities.

Marc Andreessen's Guide to Finding Product-Market Fit! | VC Remote Jobs

Venture Curator • 399 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💼 Business Startups Venture Capital Entrepreneurship Funding Job Opportunities
  1. Product-market fit means creating a valuable product that customers love and recommend.
  2. Experts emphasize the importance of finding product-market fit before focusing on scaling or fundraising.
  3. Metrics like retention rates, net promoter score, and customer feedback are key indicators of product-market fit.

The Paradox of Progress: Trying to Predict Impact Often Prevents the Highest Impact

The Good Science Project • 55 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🔬 Science Innovation Research Funding Technology Policy
  1. Predicting the impact of scientific research often stifles creativity and innovation. Instead of following strict guidelines, we should be open to unexpected paths that can lead to breakthroughs.
  2. Today's funding systems are overly cautious and focus on safe, predictable outcomes. This conservatism can prevent transformative ideas from getting the support they need.
  3. To encourage real progress, we need to embrace uncertainty and risk. Funding should support talented researchers and bold ideas, even when the results are uncertain.

Academic Apocalypse?

Unsafe Science • 146 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🔬 Science Research Grants Policy Academia Funding
  1. The NIH is cutting grant overhead from 50% or more down to 15%, which could deeply impact research funding. This change has caused a lot of concern among scientists about how it might hurt innovation in the U.S.
  2. Many academics fear that these cuts to indirect costs are a threat to vital research programs. Since a lot of university funding relies on these indirect costs, losing them could lead to fewer jobs and less support for important studies.
  3. Despite the worries, there is a possibility that reducing indirect costs could free up more money for actual research projects. This change could lead to a rethinking of spending priorities, focusing more on direct scientific work.

Celebrating Greek wins

The Greek Analyst • 339 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
💼 Business Startups Funding Tech Economy Unemployment
  1. Success should be highlighted, embraced, understood, and replicated, especially in a society that tends to focus more on negative news.
  2. Greece is seeing achievements across various sectors, from biotech companies and architectural studios to AI innovation and modern office buildings.
  3. There is a growing trend in Greek startups raising significant funding rounds, indicating a positive trajectory in the tech and business ecosystem.

How to Talk About Valuation Numbers When Investor Ask? | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 479 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startups Investing Funding Entrepreneurship
  1. When discussing valuation with investors, it's important to provide general ranges without giving a specific price to anchor their expectations.
  2. VCs may ask about your past funding to assess fit and potential valuation issues, so it's beneficial to be transparent about your previous funding details.
  3. A delicate balance is required when discussing existing investors participating in a new round to ensure harmony between new and existing investors.

How Startups Like Reddit Raised Funding With Just an Idea, Without Writing A Line Of Code? | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 399 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
💼 Business Startups Funding Venture Capital Investors Technology
  1. Investors may fund startups based solely on the idea, without requiring traction or revenue.
  2. Startups aiming for funding should focus on a scalable business model with evidence of potential growth.
  3. Key aspects for successful startup ideas include solving popular, urgent, and growing problems, starting with the problem before the solution, and having a clear unfair advantage.