The hottest Investing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Finance Topics

Getting investor introductions

Startup Real Talk • 485 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
💼 Business Investing
  1. Make targeted, tactical requests when seeking investor introductions.
  2. Research and connect with investors who are relevant to your business.
  3. Optimize for introductions made by founders of previous investments who can vouch for you.

The Passive Bid Crash Awaits

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 34 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Passive bidding in the stock market comes from retirement plans and ETFs buying stocks regularly, regardless of the price. This leads to a few big companies doing really well while the rest may not grow much.
  2. There's a concern that if job numbers fall, people might have to tap into their retirement savings instead of contributing more to the market. This could slow down the buying that keeps driving up stock prices.
  3. If the flow of money from passive funds stops, it could lead to a big sell-off in the market. Understanding how this works is crucial in a market that's heavily reliant on passive investments.

1/9/2024: InVision is Shutting Down

depression2022 • 39 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
💼 Business Investing
  1. InVision, a popular design collaboration app, is shutting down after facing stiff competition from Figma.
  2. The closure of InVision highlights the risks of startup investing and the challenges of managing investments without acquisitions or IPOs.
  3. 2024 may see more unicorn failures than successful IPOs, with many overfunded startups expected to fail.

MicroStrategy's $37B+ Bitcoin Bet (Is Just The Start)

SatPost by Trung Phan • 106 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
🔮 Crypto Investing
  1. MicroStrategy, a software company, has made a huge shift by investing over $37 billion in Bitcoin. This change aims to protect against inflation and economic instability by using Bitcoin as a long-term store of value.
  2. Michael Saylor, the company's CEO, believes that Bitcoin is the best asset for wealth preservation compared to traditional investments like gold or real estate. He sees it as essential for economic freedom and stability.
  3. By issuing convertibles and equity to raise money, MicroStrategy has created a unique business model that offers investors exposure to Bitcoin without the hassles of buying it directly. This approach is attracting various institutional investors looking for Bitcoin-linked financial products.
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Alternative Investment Guide #1 - Art

Concepts of Finance 🧠 • 99 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Art investing can be a lucrative opportunity, with some estimates showing returns of around 9% to 14%.
  2. The art market is large and valued at over $1.5 trillion, but it can be tricky for newcomers due to its complexity and the influence of wealthy insiders.
  3. There are more ways than ever to start investing in art, including art funds and fractional ownership, making it accessible for beginners.

What I read in December 2023

Asian Century Stocks • 39 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
💰 Finance Investing
  1. The post discusses strong competitive advantages of companies like Nintendo, Samsung C&T, Topcon, Japan Lifeline, Tai Cheung, and Medley.
  2. The information in the publication is not personalized financial advice and opinions can change.
  3. Readers are advised to consult financial advisors and do their own research before making investment decisions.

The Future of Investing 101

Investing 101 • 87 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
💼 Business Investing
  1. Writing helps clarify thoughts and ideas. It's surprising how much understanding comes from putting words on the page.
  2. Conversations with others can spark valuable insights. Talking about ideas can lead to new perspectives that writing alone might miss.
  3. Improving writing involves more than just writing. It includes reading, watching content, and engaging in dialogue to enhance learning and thinking.

Investing Update: Record Highs Here To Stay?

Spilled Coffee • 84 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
💰 Finance Investing
  1. The stock market has reached new all-time highs after a rough start to January, showing strong growth. The S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow have all seen gains already in the new year.
  2. There is a clear uptrend in the market as more stocks are moving upward, indicating a bull market. Historically, new highs in the market often ensure continued growth.
  3. Investor sentiment shifted from bearish to more positive as the market bounced back. When many investors lean towards negativity, it often leads to a rebound in optimism.

My road map for the next year, 2024 edition | #41

The Pole • 39 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
💼 Business Investing
  1. The main goal is to make $100k/year by working minimally and focusing on enjoyable activities.
  2. Identify roadblocks, brainstorm solutions, create a plan, set up a conducive environment, and execute towards the goal.
  3. Consider paths like becoming a YouTuber, thumbnail designer, scriptwriter, flipping websites, creating a content site, or writing a newsletter to achieve the financial and personal goals.

Introducing Steelhead

Steelhead • 39 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
💼 Business Investing
  1. The name 'Steelhead' for the substack comes from its connection to the challenging, yet rewarding nature of startup building and investing, similar to the difficulty of catching a Steelhead fish.
  2. Erik Zahnlecker's newsletter will focus on topics related to company building and investing, drawing from his personal experiences and industry trends.
  3. Starting a business or investing is tough and often comes with a low success rate, but the potential rewards can be significant for those who persevere through the challenges.

Crypto Rises, Agents Drop, Factories Hum

Alex's Personal Blog • 32 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
🔮 Crypto Investing
  1. Recent crypto regulations are moving forward in Congress, leading to rising values for digital assets. This makes it a good time for investors to take advantage of managed ETFs and explore crypto.
  2. There's a strong comeback for hardware startups, especially those in defense technology. Companies are focusing on building and manufacturing essential tech closer to home in response to global supply chain concerns.
  3. OpenAI has released a new tool called ChatGPT Agent that can handle complex tasks on your computer. This advancement suggests that AI is quickly evolving and could significantly impact white-collar jobs.

($) 2025: Year of (Software) Picks and Shovels

Interconnected • 92 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Investing
  1. In 2025, software tools like API platforms, databases, and GPU clouds will be key for AI applications. They are becoming just as important as hardware for building AI solutions.
  2. The focus on AI is shifting from just hardware to include software infrastructure that supports the creation of smarter, more useful AI agents.
  3. Investors should pay attention to emerging software tools and platforms as they will drive the next wave of innovation in AI. Recognizing which ones will succeed is crucial.

AI for Hedge Funds Tracker

Magis • 36 implied HN points • 22 Jun 25
💰 Finance Investing
  1. The list of AI startups for hedge funds is regularly updated to include new companies that are relevant to investors. It is centralized on a personal website for easier access.
  2. Startups chosen for the list are specifically focused on hedge fund needs and not just general productivity tools. This means only certain AI tools that cater to hedge funds are included.
  3. Future classifications of these startups will consider the backgrounds of their founders and the types of products offered, helping to identify patterns in the AI tools being developed.

Join New Wave

Venture Prose • 519 implied HN points • 11 Jan 21
💼 Business Investing
  1. Seed investments are taking on the role of traditional Series A funding, leading to a shift in investment strategies.
  2. Collaboration and partnerships with angel investors and operators are crucial for the success of seed funds like New Wave, focusing on founder-centric approaches.
  3. Teamwork and partnerships are emphasized in the journey of launching and growing an initiative like New Wave, highlighting the importance of collective effort for long-term success.

Amazon's $43B ad business, explained

SatPost by Trung Phan • 329 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
💼 Business Investing
  1. Amazon's ad business has grown significantly, reaching a revenue run rate of $43 billion annually, surpassing other social media platforms.
  2. Amazon's shift towards embracing ads was influenced by the need to reduce dependence on Google search slots and utilize its valuable first-party transaction data.
  3. Amazon ads have become highly profitable and could rival its AWS business in terms of generating absolute profits, signaling a significant shift in the digital advertising landscape.

How long is the long run?

Klement on Investing • 5 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Over nearly a century U.S. small-cap stocks beat large caps on average, but that average hides very long stretches of underperformance that can last decades.
  2. Factors like value and size can stop working for longer than investors can stay invested, so multi-decade waits make them impractical for many investors.
  3. Academic evidence for factor outperformance can be sample-dependent and misleading, meaning results that look strong in one historical period may reverse in another.

Understanding Cryptocurrency's Ponzi-nomics [Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 99 implied HN points • 03 Dec 22
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Some cryptocurrency firms were using tokens as collateral for loans, potentially allowing them to have infinite money, but this practice made the system very inter-connected and vulnerable to collapse.
  2. Using tokens as collateral is similar to companies using shares as collateral; if the value of the token or coin drops, the collateral becomes worthless, leading to the collapse of the ecosystem.
  3. The issue arises when multiple firms in the industry follow the same practice, creating a facade of liquidity, but in reality, the entire system is built on a risky foundation, vulnerable to collapses.

The Bull Case for Alternative Data

The Data Score • 59 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
💰 Finance Investing
  1. The Alternative Data industry is currently facing challenges but has the potential for long-term success by emphasizing clear client outcomes and building network effects.
  2. Understanding the value clients gain from data insights is crucial, as insights drive decisions and financial outcomes.
  3. Creating network effects and aligning data teams with critical client outcomes are key factors for the Alternative Data industry to move towards sustained growth and productivity.

The Jargonator T-800 Newsletter Entry

The Data Score • 59 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
💼 Business Investing
  1. The newsletter offers insights into data-driven decision-making for a range of professionals.
  2. The newsletter includes a section where jargon related to finance, data, and technology is defined in simpler terms.
  3. Top 5 most viewed articles from the Data Score Newsletter offer valuable insights on revenue estimates, alternative data, evaluating data partners, and more.

Death to Revenue Multiples: Long Live the DCF!

Equal Ventures • 59 implied HN points • 14 Jun 23
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Revenue multiples have been traditionally used for valuations in the tech world, but they are proving to be ineffective in determining the true long-term value of businesses.
  2. Companies shifting focus from forecasting future cash flow to revenue growth have faced challenges, as revenue multiples don't necessarily reflect future profitability, leading to discrepancies in valuation.
  3. As competition accelerates in the tech industry, companies with strong market captivity and efficient growth strategies are prioritizing developing competitive advantages and generating long-term free cash flow over chasing revenue multiples.

Coreweave is going public!

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 04 Mar 25
💼 Business Investing
  1. Coreweave is going public and has seen impressive revenue growth, largely due to a specific focus on AI workloads. They claim that their services are specially built to handle the demands of AI, allowing for high efficiency.
  2. The company is heavily reliant on just a few big customers, with Microsoft providing a significant portion of its revenue. This raises concerns about sustainability if Microsoft decides to cut back on their services.
  3. While Coreweave's expenses are high from investing in infrastructure, they expect to break even on these investments fairly quickly. However, future demand for their services is crucial for their ongoing success.

0% Rates Are Back

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 33 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Interest rates are likely to drop to 0% again. This could change how people save and borrow money.
  2. Jerome Powell, the head of the Federal Reserve, may soon be replaced. This could impact future economic policies.
  3. It's important to stay informed about these changes. They can have big effects on the economy and people's finances.

Founder-Led Stocks

Spilled Coffee • 32 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Founder-led companies are important to consider when investing in stocks. They often have a unique perspective and commitment to their business.
  2. Over the years, the number of founder-led companies has decreased, which is notable for investors. Fewer options could impact investment strategies.
  3. It's beneficial to research and understand how founder-led companies have performed. Their track records can offer valuable insights for potential investments.

☁ Datadog Q4: Platform vs. Optimization

Hard Mode by Breaking SaaS • 58 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
💼 Business Investing
  1. Announcement of SaaS 101 Live education workshops with a free 2-hour workshop covering Datadog
  2. Introduction of a shorter transcript focusing on key points of Datadog Q4, emphasizing on growth trends and financial results
  3. Discussion on Datadog's Q1 guidance, FY23 outlook, product innovation, financials, and customer usage patterns

The Lund Loop Daily Update - 02/23/23

The Lund Loop • 58 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
💰 Finance Investing
  1. DXY and the market have an inverse correlation - when one goes up, the other goes down.
  2. Watching the DXY test the 200EMA could indicate potential market movement.
  3. The market snapshot shows Information Technology as the winner and Consumer Discretionary as the loser.

Binance vs. SEC

Confronting the Future • 58 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
💰 Finance Investing
  1. The SEC alleges that Binance has operated in the US as an exchange, broker dealer, and has misrepresented their activities.
  2. The SEC's broad stance on cryptocurrencies could lead to a lack of clarity for businesses operating in the US.
  3. The SEC's extreme temporary relief requests against Binance reflect a power struggle rather than genuine consumer protection.

Ideas for angel investors #3

The Odin Times • 58 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Investing
  1. Be clear on your reasons for investing, focus on interesting journeys with great people, and aim for good overall returns.
  2. The craziest ideas can lead to big returns, so don't dismiss wild ideas right away. They may surprise you.
  3. When angel investing, figure out how you can provide valuable support to founders beyond just financial backing.

Intercom’s "top to bottom" AI bet 🏊‍♀️

The SaaS Baton • 58 implied HN points • 24 May 23
💼 Business Investing
  1. Intercom is exploring the impact of integrating generative AI on product strategy and cost structures.
  2. Maze learned to differentiate between churn they wanted to improve and churn they didn't.
  3. When fundraising, focus on pitching vision or traction but not both, aim to get the first check early, and recognize when investors are not interested.

Open House (3288-JP): Part 1

Guasty Winds Investment Ideas • 58 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
💰 Finance Investing
  1. Open House (3288-JP) is a successful niche homebuilder in Japan with a strong track record of growth and profitability.
  2. The company has maintained high returns on equity, shareholder-friendly practices, and a solid balance sheet.
  3. Despite being relatively unknown in the investment community, Open House has shown impressive sales, profit, and dividend growth since its IPO in 2013.