The hottest Investment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

How to get funding from deluded, self-congratulatory investors

Penelope Trunk's Substack • 419 implied HN points • 21 Apr 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investment Gender Equality Networking Workplace dynamics
  1. Having a male co-founder can improve a female founder's odds of raising funding due to biases in the investment industry.
  2. Focusing on showcasing a reckless passion and working long hours can help female founders combat gender biases when pitching to investors.
  3. Building a network of male connections can be essential for female founders in navigating the challenges of the venture capital landscape.

How we could return to the productivity growth of the 1990s

Noahpinion • 4705 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
💼 Business Productivity Economic Policy Investment Labor Market Monetary Policy
  1. Productivity growth is crucial for controlling inflation, maintaining a stable economy, and improving living standards.
  2. To boost productivity growth, a combination of macroeconomic factors like full employment, investment incentives, and stable supply-side conditions is essential.
  3. Three key factors that fostered productivity growth in the 1990s were full employment, high fixed investment, and stable supply with low inflation; replicating these conditions today would require strategic policy interventions.

Recent AI failures are cracks in the magic

The Intrinsic Perspective • 10335 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Industry Investment Ethics
  1. Recent AI models like GPT-4 and Sora are showing concerning failures in understanding basic concepts like physics and object permanence
  2. The AI industry's economics are being questioned due to the high costs involved in training large models, as well as the influence of major tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon in directing AI development
  3. The current AI industry landscape is seen as a flow of VC investment being funneled into a few major tech giants, raising fundamental questions about the industry's structure and sustainability

Measurement Army

Doomberg • 5751 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
💰 Finance Environmental Investment Regulation Markets Economy
  1. Modern economic systems struggle to account for environmental costs, leading to government interventions and frustrations among capitalists and landowners.
  2. The global focus on carbon emissions has led to the rise of carbon counting professionals, but many argue their value is limited.
  3. A proposal to create Natural Asset Companies (NACs) faced controversy when seeking to put a market price on nature, highlighting potential unintended consequences and opposition.

"This Is a Hell of a Statement I'm About to Make—But He Superseded Miles"

The Honest Broker • 7846 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎶 Music Streaming Jazz Culture Media Investment
  1. Spotify is facing challenges with fake artists, playlists, and financial losses, raising concerns about the music streaming service's business model.
  2. The shift from macroculture to microculture is evident in the media industry, with traditional legacy outlets experiencing layoffs while alternative platforms like Substack thrive.
  3. There is a trend towards investment firms buying song catalogs, the decline of live music reviews in mainstream media, and interest in the transformative power of sound highlighted through the work of Hans Jenny in 'Cymatics'.
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ACX Grants Followup Impact Market

Astral Codex Ten • 1858 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
💼 Business Grants Investment Charity Philanthropy Finance
  1. ACX Grants involves an impact market where investors crowdfund grant proposals with potential for big profits if successful.
  2. Only 44 out of approximately 140 qualified participants have signed up for the impact market so far, with a different approach allowing non-accredited investors to participate.
  3. Investing in impact certificates through this system has risks like potential project failure, but also benefits such as tax deductibility.

The Big Development Project: How much should it cost?

Dev’s Substack • 13 HN points • 25 Apr 24
💼 Business Finance Budgeting Investment Development Analysis
  1. Performing a double worst-case analysis can help determine a reasonable price for a software investment based on the project's business value.
  2. ROI (return on investment) calculation considers total benefits, total costs, and time horizon to assess project profitability.
  3. Setting a target cost for development budget based on the minimum acceptable ROI and apportioning costs between development and operational can guide budget planning.

WOAH: Bill Gates invested MILLIONS in BioNTech JUST BEFORE covid

The Freedom Corner with PeterSweden • 4304 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
📰 News Conspiracy COVID-19 Investment Mainstream Media
  1. Bill Gates invested millions in BioNTech just before Covid, which turned out to be very profitable for him.
  2. Bill Gates donated $20 million to the BBC, which reportedly misrepresented the risk of Covid to increase public support for lockdown.
  3. Bill Gates' foundation committed $1.27 billion to advance Global Goals, including funding for global digital ID.

A Billion-Dollar Fraud In Plain Sight

Where's Your Ed At • 10237 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
💰 Finance Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud Bankruptcy Regulation
  1. Gemini's
  2. Earn
  3. program misled customers into investing in risky lender Genesis Capital.
  4. The NY Attorney General filed a significant fraud suit against Gemini, Genesis, and Digital Currency Group for misleading customers and covering up losses.
  5. The Winklevoss twins actively deceived customers, putting billions of dollars into an unstable lender and reaping profits while customers faced losses.

My Pitch Framework

Venture Prose • 1517 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investment Networking
  1. The goal of a first meeting is to trigger a second one; good investor asks the right questions, bad one slows you down.
  2. Important elements of a good pitch: timing, preciseness, energy, and emotion to keep investors engaged.
  3. Entrepreneurs need optimism, clarity of vision, and ability to adapt quickly; assess qualities like learning from experience and embracing learning from others.

Whither China 5: No, China is not competing with India for Wall Street's attention.

Chartbook • 1316 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Globalization Investment Trade Geopolitics Economy
  1. Wall Street is pulling billions from China's economy and shifting focus to India, creating a significant change in global markets.
  2. Financial flows in China show a trade surplus, with global investors moving away from China and towards India.
  3. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into China has drastically decreased since 2022, reflecting investor concerns about geopolitics and domestic policies.

The robotics company working with OpenAI to eat every warehouse worker's lunch

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 642 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Robotics Artificial Intelligence Automation Investment Competition
  1. Brett Adcock's humanoid robot company aims to replace human workers in warehouses with subscription-based robots that can work 20 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  2. Figure AI collaborates with OpenAI to combine robotics and AI, aiming to create 'embodied AI' by leveraging OpenAI's strengths in language models and Figure's expertise in robotics.
  3. Adcock positions Figure AI to compete with Elon Musk's humanoid robotics effort 'Optimus' and dismisses other competitors due to limitations in hardware or software capabilities.

Don't Give Up

Venture Prose • 459 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investment Marketing Strategy Success
  1. In crowded markets, strive to show unique insight, act fast, and execute well.
  2. If there's a clear leader, consider different strategies - like targeting a different geography or being more capital-efficient.
  3. Entering small or tough market sectors can still work if you start niche, focus on profitability, and learn from previous attempts.

♾ 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.

How to mine without mining

Irina Slav on energy • 1002 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
💼 Business Mining Commodities Investment Environment Clean Energy
  1. Copper prices are forecasted to jump by 75% in 2025 due to energy transition and decline in the U.S. dollar.
  2. There are concerns about copper shortages, but traders often don't consider long-term impacts when trading commodities.
  3. Mining companies are facing challenges from resource nationalism and must find ways to mine sustainably to support the global transition to clean energy.

Election Countdown, 258 Days to Go: The New Politics of Place.

Breaking the News • 487 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Election Policy Opportunity Investment Economy
  1. Place has always been significant in American personal stories and national politics, influencing decisions to stay or go.
  2. Federal policies are beginning to bring more opportunities to historically neglected areas, such as the Rust Belt, by strategically directing investments.
  3. There is a shift towards more planned and effective federal initiatives that focus on boosting local economies and communities, recognizing the importance of place-based growth.

❄️ 📈 Meta et Apple, une bonne idée ? La fin de Google Search ?

Snowball • 727 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
💰 Finance Technology Market Analysis Company performance Investment Economic Trends
  1. Apple announces mixed quarterly results, with higher iPhone and wearables sales but lower revenues in China.
  2. ESG funds' popularity drops due to rising interest rates.
  3. Startups like Perplexity and Arc are reshaping internet search with artificial intelligence, possibly challenging Google's traditional method.

Viking Therapeutics has an $8 billion market cap with 27 full time employees. This is their story.

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 373 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💼 Business Biotech Investment Startups Pharmaceuticals Economics
  1. Success in biotech often involves licensing and developing existing molecules, rather than creating completely new ones.
  2. To thrive in biotech, it's crucial to strategically select candidates and navigate clinical trials efficiently with the available resources.
  3. Viking Therapeutics' success was built on wisely choosing profitable indications, selecting the right molecules, and executing their development program effectively.

Where Should I Incorporate?

Points And Figures • 532 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
💼 Business Startup Legislation Location Investment
  1. Institutional investors prefer C-Corps for specific tax benefits and legal protections.
  2. Nevada is emerging as a compelling option for business incorporation due to favorable legal environment and objectivity of judges.
  3. Nevada's business-friendly culture, favorable weather, and infrastructure make it an attractive choice for startups over traditional options like Delaware.

The Latest Media Death Is Somehow Even Darker Than Usual

Discourse Blog • 668 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
📰 News Media Journalism Layoffs Investment
  1. The Messenger, a media company, shut down abruptly after burning through a large investment and employing 300 journalists with no severance.
  2. The way The Messenger handled layoffs was exceptionally cruel and poorly managed, even by industry standards.
  3. The closure of The Messenger is an example of how some companies fail to treat their employees with decency during layoffs.

Philip Morris International: More More More

Invariant • 511 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Finance Marketing Strategy Investment Industry
  1. Philip Morris International is focusing more on next-gen products like IQOS and its heated tobacco units, with efforts to transition users from traditional cigarettes - showing promise for future growth.
  2. Despite some challenges like higher costs and FX pressures, PMI is maintaining its position in the market by introducing innovative products and investing in its portfolio.
  3. ZYN, another product spreading rapidly, faces questions about its popularity among underaged consumers, but it still shows strong growth due to being a preferred choice over competitors.

Sustainability by any other name

Irina Slav on energy • 864 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
💰 Finance Investment Sustainability ESG Reporting
  1. French government banning oil and gas investments in certain sustainable funds may set a precedent for future regulations.
  2. The rigorous certification process for ESG labels includes evaluating impact indicators like CO2 emissions and renewable energy output.
  3. Investors may face challenges if funds in different countries have conflicting preferences for including oil and gas stocks in ESG portfolios.

CryptoWinter is Over

Points And Figures • 266 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🔮 Crypto Investment Technology Regulation Market Trends
  1. CryptoWinter is over, as indicated by the strong performance of Coinbase stock and Bitcoin hitting $60k per token.
  2. Bitcoin is viewed more as a speculative instrument than a hedge against inflation or store of value, and the thawing of purse strings among crypto VCs suggests a positive shift.
  3. The emergence of physically deliverable crypto-assets, like on Bitnomial, underlines the potential for improved risk management in the crypto market, but the absence of widely used applications built on crypto remains a concern.

Genesis Wins Court Ruling to Sell Tranche of GBTC Shares

Bitcoin Magazine Pro • 432 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💰 Finance Cryptocurrency Legal Market Investment Debt
  1. Genesis won a court ruling to sell millions of GBTC shares, aiming to reimburse creditors and stabilize Bitcoin's price.
  2. A large sale of GBTC triggered a market decline for both GBTC and Bitcoin in the past, causing concerns within the Bitcoin community.
  3. Despite legal disputes and setbacks, Genesis is moving forward with plans to sell GBTC to settle debts, potentially impacting Bitcoin's valuation.

❄️ ⚡️ Tesla et Chine, le bon moment pour investir ?

Snowball • 550 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
💰 Finance Investment Stocks Economy Cryptocurrency Personal Finance
  1. Tesla stock has dropped significantly, raising questions for long-term investors.
  2. The Chinese government aims to regain investor trust in their financial markets after a significant drop in the CSI 300 index.
  3. Generative AI is disrupting the entertainment industry, potentially leading to more immersive storytelling experiences.

“Sniper investor” Allen Zhu is slowing his investment pace, focusing on in-depth project research

Ginger River Review • 707 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Investment Global expansion Entrepreneurship
  1. Investor Allen Zhu is reducing his investment speed to focus on thorough project research, showing a change in Chinese investors' priorities.
  2. Investors who rushed into Large Language Models (LLMs) in 2023 faced losses, signaling a shift in focus to vertical market segments.
  3. Zhu emphasizes the importance of discipline in investment decisions, with a focus on profitability and slower, more thoughtful investment strategies in 2023.

Top Links 373 Ordeal by Roses, US bank worries, Gazprom's losses, misfiring missiles & Bismarck's legacy

Chartbook • 286 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
💰 Finance Banks Real Estate Investment
  1. Top Links 373 include the Ordeal by Roses photos, US bank concerns, Gazprom's losses, misfiring missiles, and Bismarck's legacy.
  2. US banks like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America have seen a decrease in reserves for commercial real estate debt.
  3. This post is available for paid subscribers and includes insights on various topics related to finance and geopolitics.