The hottest Investment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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☁ How to Build an ARR Book (Part 1)

Hard Mode by Breaking SaaS • 39 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
💼 Business Investment
  1. An ARR book is essential in SaaS analysis to track customer contracts and calculate key metrics.
  2. The underlying data for an ARR book comes from customer contracts, detailing customer information and contract specifics.
  3. To convert contract data into an ARR book, organize logos and periods, calculate ARR changes, and categorize them into New Logo ARR, Expansion ARR, Logo Churn, and Downsell/Shrinkage.

Housing Starts Decreased to 1.256 million Annual Rate in May

CalculatedRisk Newsletter • 28 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
💰 Finance Investment
  1. Housing starts in May were lower than expected, at an annual rate of 1.256 million, which shows a decrease from both April and last year.
  2. Single-family housing starts went up slightly, but overall they are down from last year, while multi-family starts are doing better this year.
  3. Building permits also dropped a bit, indicating that new construction might slow down in the coming months.

It's power laws all the way down

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
💼 Business Investment
  1. Venture capital in the U.S. is becoming more concentrated, with a few big firms controlling most of the funds. This trend means fewer opportunities for new investors and startups.
  2. The amount of money raised by new venture capital firms has dropped significantly, reaching lows not seen since 2015. This indicates a tough environment for emerging investors.
  3. The influence of large venture firms like a16z is growing, shaping what types of startups receive funding and driving the conversation in the tech industry.

How we built a business out of recession - chapter 52 - tick tock, one year and counting.

The ZIPster • 26 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
💼 Business Investment
  1. CitNOW started from a small kitchen table and grew significantly over time, eventually selling for £30 million. It shows that with hard work and determination, big things can begin in small places.
  2. During the sale process, Tenzing had concerns about CitNOW’s growth potential, which led to a renegotiation of the sale price based on achievable sales targets. This illustrates the importance of clear, honest projections in business.
  3. The final sale agreement included a performance target that required the remaining team to prove they could generate more revenue. This highlights the necessity of aligning incentives to ensure everyone works towards the same goal.
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June 2025 Residential Home Sales

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 21 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
💰 Finance Investment
  1. Home sales have been flat and inventory has been rising for about 8 years. This long trend can be surprising and hard to understand.
  2. Looking closely at housing data requires careful interpretation; many factors like COVID can distort the view.
  3. Understanding the housing market involves recognizing patterns that might not change quickly, which can be frustrating for those expecting quick shifts.

Absurd Seed Rounds Arguments

Venture Prose • 359 implied HN points • 05 Jan 21
💼 Business Investment
  1. Ownership percentage isn't everything. What matters is belief in your venture and ambition from investors.
  2. As a founder, maintain control of your cap table. Choose investors based on their value, not just their reputation.
  3. When raising a large seed round, consider working with multiple institutional investors to manage risks and dynamics effectively.

How we built a business out of recession - chapter 51 - the final hurrah

The ZIPster • 26 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
💼 Business Investment
  1. CitNOW started from a small kitchen table business and grew into a successful company, eventually being sold to a private equity firm. This shows how businesses can thrive even in tough times.
  2. During the sale process, the founders were treated as outsiders, which created tension among the team. Good communication is key to maintaining relationships in business.
  3. When presenting to potential buyers, it’s important to focus on the future and not dwell on past issues. The right mindset can help create a positive atmosphere for everyone involved.

On Carlota Perez's "Technology Revolutions and Financial Capital"

Parth's Playground • 25 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
💼 Business Investment
  1. Technology goes through cycles of creation and adoption every 50 years. These cycles start with new technology being developed and then used by people, leading to big changes in society.
  2. Financial crises often happen in the middle of these cycles to clear out old ways of doing things and make space for new technologies to grow and connect with each other.
  3. Each new technology builds on past innovations, creating new opportunities. So, understanding where a technology is in its life cycle can help you know its potential and value.

Bitcoin or Bit Con?

Diane Francis • 379 implied HN points • 25 Feb 21
🔮 Crypto Investment
  1. Bitcoin is not a traditional currency; it's more like a digital file stored with complex passwords. If you forget your password, you could lose access to your Bitcoin forever.
  2. The Bitcoin market is very volatile and can swing wildly based on social media posts, especially from influential people like Elon Musk. This makes it risky for anyone looking for stable investments.
  3. Bitcoin mining uses a huge amount of energy, harming the environment. Plus, there isn't much regulation around it, so people can easily get scammed or misled.

It's all happening in Nova Scotia

mainstreetjournal • 39 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
💼 Business Investment
  1. In Nova Scotia, there are Community Economic Development Investment Funds (CEDIFs) that allow people to invest in community-focused projects.
  2. FarmWorks, a CEDIF in Nova Scotia, has raised over $4.6 million and provided loans to local food businesses, with investors receiving a return on investment and tax credits.
  3. Regional investment funds in the U.S. could learn from Nova Scotia's model by involving local grassroots investors and prioritizing community needs over outside investments.

House Hacking a $1.3m Duplex in SF

The Leonard Letter • 39 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
💰 Finance Investment
  1. House hacking involves living in one unit and renting out the rest.
  2. Consider key expenses like mortgage, insurance, and taxes when analyzing a property deal.
  3. Getting creative with property use may be necessary to make a house hack work in expensive cities like San Francisco.

ESSAY 9: VALUE, SOCIETY, MONEY & WORK

Engineering the Future • 39 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
💼 Business Investment
  1. Humans are hardwired to work for survival and growth.
  2. Capitalism incentivizes innovation and wealth creation but has flaws like valuing money over true value.
  3. Success in work is not just about hard work; it's about adding value, enjoying the process, and making money in a meaningful way.

Edition No. 2 - LexNews+ Weekly

⚔️ LexNews+ ⚖️ • 39 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
💰 Finance Investment
  1. United States Representative pushes for new legal standard for crypto regulation, based on the 'Torres Doctrine'.
  2. Multiple Bitcoin ETF applications submitted to SEC, including from major firms like BlackRock and Fidelity.
  3. UK government rejects proposal to regulate crypto like gambling, focusing on financial service regulation instead.

Apartment Crisis Coming?

Pinecone Weekly Brief • 39 implied HN points • 05 Mar 23
💼 Business Investment
  1. There may be a coming apartment crisis that could impact multifamily and macro industries.
  2. Consider subscribing to Pinecone Weekly Brief for more insights and a 7-day free trial.
  3. Existing paid subscribers can sign in for full access to the post archives.

Digest 5/23/23

axialdaily • 39 implied HN points • 23 May 23
💼 Business Investment
  1. Axial partners with inventors in early-stage life sciences.
  2. Syntex pioneered the birth control pill and shifted focus to oral contraceptives.
  3. ReNAgade Therapeutics raised $300M to develop RNA medicines.

India’s AI Moment is (Not) Here

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 39 implied HN points • 03 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Investment
  1. India needs more investment in AI from big tech companies and local firms. Without this funding, progress will be slow.
  2. Government support is also crucial for a fair and open AI market in India. This helps the country compete better globally.
  3. Recent announcements show that companies like Google and Amazon are making significant investments in India to boost its digital economy. This could create more jobs and growth.

Investors still have faith in lab-made meat, despite plant-based industry’s tough year

Callaway Climate Insights • 39 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
🍲 Food & Drink Investment
  1. Investors are still confident in lab-made meat despite challenges in the plant-based industry.
  2. Alternative proteins, including lab-grown meat, are receiving significant funding from high-profile investors.
  3. The commercialization of lab-grown meat may face challenges in terms of production scalability and cost competitiveness.

Office Sales Roundup

Warden Capital • 39 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
💼 Business Investment
  1. Recent office investment sales market has shown positive trends after a period of minimal activity.
  2. Notable sales like RBC Gateway in Minneapolis and Boston Bunch in downtown Boston highlight strong values and positive outcomes.
  3. Buyers acquiring large office deals across the country provide clarity on pricing levels and signal potential market recovery.

Series A Activity: June 2023

Magid and Co • 39 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
💰 Finance Investment
  1. There was a significant decrease in Series A deal activity from June 2022 to June 2023, with 290 deals in 2022 compared to 146 in 2023.
  2. It's crucial for founders to closely monitor individual firm actions rather than just market-level statistics, especially when major players from previous years are less active.
  3. Founders seeking funding should focus on understanding which investors are actively writing checks and building relationships with these firms, even if they are less known or harder to reach.

9. Describing Agency Problems in Serfdom, Employment and Entrepreneurship

Insight Axis • 39 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
💼 Business Investment
  1. Serfdom involved extreme inequality but had direct mutual interest between lords and serfs for protection and survival.
  2. Employment dynamics often have high inequality and may involve agency problems if the employer is not a significant shareholder, highlighting indirect mutual interest.
  3. Entrepreneurship with venture capital introduces extreme inequality similar to serfdom but adds an agency problem where venture capitalists may not have a direct stake, calling for more equitable investment models.

Series B Activity: August 2023

Magid and Co • 39 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
💰 Finance Investment
  1. Series B deals over $100M declined over the years - from 15 deals in 2021 to none in 2023.
  2. Series B deal volumes decreased significantly in two years, indicating a shift in deal trends.
  3. Data on Series B deals worldwide (ex-China) shows deals with a raised amount above $5M and non-therapeutics companies.

Different Strokes For Different Folks

Investing 101 • 69 implied HN points • 26 Oct 24
💼 Business Investment
  1. Different venture funds have unique strategies. Some focus on raising large amounts of capital for many investments, while others prefer to make fewer, more targeted investments.
  2. Success in venture capital isn't guaranteed, no matter how fancy the fund. It's crucial for firms to find their own style and approach to increase the chances of success for their startups.
  3. Having a clear focus can be a big advantage. Smaller funds can compete effectively by honing in on specific areas and being selective about their investments.

Nuke My Money

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 39 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Investment
  1. Big tech companies are investing heavily in nuclear energy, especially fusion technology, which aims to provide unlimited zero-carbon electricity.
  2. Helion, a startup backed by Y Combinator, has gained attention and funding from major players like OpenAI and Microsoft for its fusion power developments.
  3. Google has also joined the race by partnering with TAE Technologies, another fusion startup, to enhance it with AI and computational resources.

The Agtech Disruption Myth

Prime Future • 19 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
💼 Business Investment
  1. Not all agtech investments have led to clear disruption in the industry.
  2. The impact of disruptive technologies in agtech may not be measured by the number of fallen giants.
  3. There is a need for a new ethos to guide agtech innovations in the coming decade.

Commerce Flows vs. Capital Flows

Equal Ventures • 39 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
💼 Business Investment
  1. The strategy of focusing solely on DTC (direct-to-consumer) is no longer a sustainable path for most brands.
  2. There's a significant mismatch between the amount of venture capital flowing into ecommerce businesses and the actual share of commerce that DNVBs (digitally native vertical brands) hold.
  3. More investment is needed in areas like brick-and-mortar retail, off-price channels, and wholesale, where the potential for economic growth far exceeds current VC interest.

Achieving Government Efficiency Requires More, Not Less, Investment

The Good Science Project • 44 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Investment
  1. Government efficiency means getting more value from every dollar spent, not just cutting costs. Investing wisely can help achieve better results.
  2. To make government work better, we need to invest in research and development. This can help find smarter ways to deliver public services that benefit everyone.
  3. Cutting government spending isn't the answer to making it more efficient. We need to assess which programs work best and invest in them to create more social value.

Klarna's going public, and I'm excited as hell

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
💼 Business Investment
  1. Klarna is planning to go public, which is exciting news for the fintech industry. Their recent financial improvements and a strong market for BNPL companies are driving this move.
  2. Klarna's growth has been mixed, with rapid increases followed by significant losses in previous years. However, they have managed to reduce losses and improve revenue in the last year.
  3. The current market favors companies like Klarna due to rising stock prices in the fintech sector. This suggests that investors believe there will be less strict regulations on their lending practices.

October 2024 Residential Construction

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 63 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
💰 Finance Investment
  1. Home construction costs have risen over time, but the price hikes for new homes are affected more by land costs and less by construction costs. This means that it's getting harder for average families to afford homes, as they are paying more for existing homes due to limited supply.
  2. In higher-end markets, the quality and size of new homes aren’t keeping up with rising incomes. Despite inflation, average people are struggling more because the character of new homes is changing despite high land values.
  3. The overall housing market reflects different trends for rich and average buyers. Wealthier buyers usually track new home costs, while average buyers feel the squeeze from existing home prices influenced by constrained supply.

💥New Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing - GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A.💥

PETITION • 19 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
💰 Finance Investment
  1. GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy with a $950 million DIP commitment.
  2. The airline's growth played a significant role in Brazil's air travel expansion but faced challenges with its fleet, especially with Boeing 737 models.
  3. To address financial struggles, GOL made efforts to secure liquidity, negotiate leases, and handle outstanding obligations.

The rapid rise of ChatGPT.

Jon’s Newsletter • 79 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Investment
  1. ChatGPT is growing very fast, reaching over 100 million users in just two months. People are really excited about how powerful and useful this AI technology is.
  2. Investors are jumping on AI-related stocks, making them rise quickly, especially when companies mention using AI. This hype shows how much people believe in AI's potential, even if some experts say it's not super innovative.
  3. Microsoft's large investment in ChatGPT is making a big splash, leading to discussions about how AI will change jobs and industries, similar to how the iPhone changed technology in the past.

Startup News: Wealthon raises $133 million to scale SME financing in Central Europe

Startup Strategies • 42 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
💼 Business Investment
  1. Wealthon, a fintech company, raised $133 million to help small and medium businesses in Central Europe. This money will be used to grow their services and reach more customers.
  2. They provide quick financing options to businesses, allowing them to get loans as fast as seven minutes. Their digital approach makes it easy for companies to access funds with less paperwork.
  3. Wealthon is becoming a leader in Poland's lending market by tripling its financing volume in 2024. They focus on innovative financial solutions tailored specifically for SMEs.

Case-Shiller: National House Price Index Up 3.8% year-over-year in November

CalculatedRisk Newsletter • 47 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
💰 Finance Investment
  1. The Case-Shiller National House Price Index increased by 3.8% year-over-year in November, indicating rising home prices. This is a good sign for homeowners as it shows property values are generally going up.
  2. House prices rose by 0.3% in November according to the FHFA index, showing a slower growth rate compared to previous years. It suggests that higher mortgage rates might be affecting buyers' demand.
  3. New York had the highest annual home price increase at 7.3%, while Tampa saw a decline of 0.4%. Different regions are experiencing varying trends in home price changes.

What are the essential things investors need to know about the regulatory landscape?

Tech + Regulation • 19 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
💼 Business Investment
  1. Understanding the regulatory landscape is key for investors in startups. Companies that plan for future regulations can reduce risks and stand out from competitors.
  2. New laws in Europe are making it harder for larger companies, creating chances for smaller businesses to thrive. Startups can take advantage of these rules to grow.
  3. Investors should ask about how companies are preparing for regulations, especially if they use AI or target specific audiences like kids. Knowing the compliance strategies can help in making better investment choices.

WELCOME TO MSJ EXTRA!

mainstreetjournal • 19 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
💼 Business Investment
  1. MSJ Extra offers deep-dive interviews with local investment leaders.
  2. Subscribers get access to nationwide listings of investment opportunities.
  3. Paid subscribers can enjoy a 7-day free trial with full post archives.

Lou Jiwei on China's banking, PE/VC, IPOs, and Big Tech's role in lending

Pekingnology • 49 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
💰 Finance Investment
  1. Finance should support high-quality development by improving access to loans for private companies. This includes reducing risks for banks and treating all companies equally, whether state-owned or private.
  2. Government-backed venture capital funds need to focus more on market-driven models. This will help them foster innovation while allowing for some tolerance of failure among startups.
  3. It's important for internet platforms to share the risk in lending to small businesses. By co-lending a portion of the loans, they can help prevent systemic risks in the financial system.

House hacking a $1.05m fourplex in Boise

The Leonard Letter • 19 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
💼 Business Investment
  1. House hacking a fourplex in Boise with renting possibilities near the university could be a smart move for your portfolio.
  2. Initial financial analysis shows a slight monthly loss, but potential to increase income by furnishing rentals and bundling utilities.
  3. Consider leveraging student housing demand and available options to generate additional income and potentially turn the property profitable.

Rising existing inventory in Texas and Florida

Erdmann Housing Tracker • 42 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
💰 Finance Investment
  1. Rising home inventory in places like Texas and Florida doesn't always mean a bad market. It can show real demand or a strong market too.
  2. Many people wrongly believe that too many houses lead to market crashes, but actually, drops in demand usually cause these issues.
  3. In past downturns, like in 2008, price drops happened after demand decreased, not because of oversupply. Understanding this helps make sense of current housing trends.