The hottest Investor Relations Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Naming and shaming in Japan

Asian Century Stocks • 884 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
💼 Business Corporate Governance Market Analysis Investor Relations Financial Performance
  1. Japan's corporate governance reforms, starting with Abenomics, have been driving positive change in the capital allocation practices of Japanese companies.
  2. The Tokyo Stock Exchange's new listing structure, especially the Prime Market, has raised standards for companies, promoting better corporate governance.
  3. The practice of naming and shaming low price/book ratio companies in Japan is pushing them to improve profitability, enhance investor communication, and comply with new capital allocation rules.

Why Do Great Ideas Often Fail The 'Elevator Pitch' Test? | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 30 Apr 24
💼 Business Venture Capital Startup funding Market Strategies Investor Relations
  1. Raising capital is a sales process where founders sell trust and confidence in building something valuable. Understanding VC decision-making dynamics increases the likelihood of closing deals.
  2. Knowing the structure and decision processes of VC firms can help founders navigate partnerships and improve their chances of success.
  3. The key to success in VC pitch meetings is building relationships with various partners within a firm to gain broader support and increase the probability of getting to a 'yes.'

Market Movers - 20 October 2023

The Wolf of Harcourt Street • 319 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
💰 Finance Stocks Earnings Investor Relations Acquisitions Logistics
  1. PepsiCo exceeded analyst estimates in Q3 earnings by focusing on consumer interaction and pricing for smaller packs.
  2. Adyen's Investor Relations Update hints at strong Q3 results and their launch of Tap to Pay for Australian retailers.
  3. Block, previously Square, made another costly acquisition with Hifi, a music-focused fintech startup, following previous less successful deals.

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

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 06 Nov 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Investor Relations Job Opportunities
  1. When discussing valuation with investors, avoid naming a specific price but instead give a general range to 'anchor' them and test their reaction.
  2. Be prepared to discuss your past fundraising, including the post-money valuation and amount raised, as VCs use this information to assess fit and potential issues.
  3. When asked if existing investors are participating in the round, balance showing their support with the need to meet new investor expectations while maintaining good relationships.
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Boeing Stock Rallies Along With Employee Suicide Rates in What Wall Street Is Calling “The Greatest Workforce Reduction Since Last Quarter”

Davidovits! • 59 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
💼 Business Stock Market Corporate culture Investor Relations
  1. Boeing stock is rising despite a surge in employee suicide rates, leading to a significant reduction in workforce and more profits
  2. Boeing leadership's controversial approach includes encouraging employees to end their lives to maximize profits, which is drawing criticism from economists
  3. Investors are pleased with Boeing's focus on reducing workforce and increasing profits, showcasing the unusual inverse correlation between employee happiness and financial gains

Wall Street investors punish Cigna for not promising them bigger profits.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 139 implied HN points • 04 Feb 22
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare system Insurance Industry Investor Relations Prescription drugs
  1. Cigna's stock dropped significantly because investors were unhappy with the company's profit expectations for the year. This shows how much pressure companies face to make big profits.
  2. Instead of using their money to help customers with lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs, Cigna preferred to buy back shares to boost profits just for shareholders.
  3. Overall, more people are feeling underinsured as healthcare costs rise, even with higher premiums, just so big companies like Cigna can keep investors satisfied.

The Big Reset in Seed to Series A Graduation Rates is Real and Permanent

Venture Reflections • 35 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Startup Ecosystem Fundraising Investor Relations Market Trends
  1. There is a significant drop in the percentage of seed-stage companies graduating to Series A rounds.
  2. The Series A market has been quiet in the past 18 months, especially outside of AI-related investments.
  3. The venture landscape is shifting towards more capital-efficient seed-stage companies with challenges in raising Series A rounds.

Dilution from Mega-Seed Rounds

Magis • 36 implied HN points • 19 Jun 23
💼 Business Startup funding Venture Capital Financial Strategy Investor Relations Entrepreneurship
  1. Startups can raise large upfront rounds to de-risk future fundraising and take advantage of money's present value.
  2. Founders should benchmark their equity dilution against similar funding rounds to understand ownership implications.
  3. Raising more capital than necessary can lead to giving away equity at a discount, especially for capital-efficient startups.

Clouded Judgement: IPO Process Overview - Are IPO Markets Opening Soon?

Clouded Judgement • 12 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
💼 Business Market Analysis Investor Relations Market Dynamics
  1. The IPO process involves selecting investment banks known as the "Bakeoff" where the company chooses banks to help with the offering.
  2. Before going public, a company prepares the S-1 document, audited financials, and a presentation for potential investors.
  3. After the IPO pricing, the company completes the Roadshow to meet with investors and determine allocations, leading to the first day of trading.

Finding “Founder <> Investor Fit”

Equal Ventures • 19 implied HN points • 16 Jan 21
💼 Business Venture Capital Investor Relations Startups Entrepreneurship Company dynamics
  1. Investor-founder fit is crucial in venture dynamics. This involves understanding if you need a cheerleader or a trainer investor.
  2. Investors can be categorized as cheerleaders or trainers - those who offer support and those who push for improvement.
  3. Knowing the type of investor you want, whether hands-on or hands-off, is important for aligning expectations and achieving success in your startup.

Uber's bad week: Doomsday Scenario or Business Reset?

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jun 17
💼 Business Corporate strategy Market Dynamics Investor Relations Financial Analysis
  1. Uber has had a lot of negative news recently, especially with leadership changes and controversies. But while these issues are serious, they might not completely doom the company.
  2. The company's unique business model has allowed Uber to grow rapidly without heavy investments in cars or drivers. However, competition and rising losses could limit its future profitability.
  3. Despite recent struggles, many customers and investors still support Uber because it offers convenience and value. The real challenge is finding a new CEO who can lead the company effectively moving forward.

The Yahoo! Chronicles! Is this the End Game?

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 07 Dec 15
💼 Business Corporate strategy Mergers & Acquisitions Investor Relations Tech Companies Market Valuation
  1. Yahoo has struggled to find its place in the tech world after losing the search engine battle to Google. Most of its value comes from investments in Alibaba and Yahoo Japan, not from its own business.
  2. Marissa Mayer, Yahoo's CEO, faced a tough challenge because she had little control over the company's most valuable assets. Many thought she could turn things around, but the odds were against her from the start.
  3. Instead of taking massive risks to try and save the company, experts suggest Yahoo should focus on selling off its operating business and return value to shareholders. This could mean changing its focus to just being a holding company for its more successful investments.

If Tim Cook does not care about the "bloody ROI", does he care about the "bloody stock price"?

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 03 Mar 14
💼 Business Corporate Governance Social Responsibility Investor Relations
  1. Tim Cook's focus on social responsibility may conflict with the business goal of maximizing profits. Companies should balance doing good with making money.
  2. Transparency is key in corporate social responsibility. Companies need to share how much they are spending on social initiatives with shareholders.
  3. Shareholders should have a say in how companies operate, especially regarding spending on social issues. Not including them in the conversation can create mistrust.

Google splits its stock and spits on its stockholders

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 13 Apr 12
💼 Business Corporate Governance Stock Market Investor Relations Financial Analysis Market Dynamics
  1. Stock splits don’t change a company's fundamental value; they just change how many shares you own. After a split, you might have more shares, but each one is worth less, so your overall value stays the same.
  2. Splitting a stock can affect how people view a company and how likely they are to invest. Some think splits show confidence in future growth, while others view them as a distraction from real issues.
  3. Google’s decision to create shares without voting rights shows a shift in control towards the founders. This move may concern shareholders as it limits their say in company decisions, which could lead to future controversies.

Executive Compensation Caps

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 05 Feb 09
💼 Business Compensation Corporate Governance Investor Relations Regulation Government Economics Legislation Business Taxation
  1. Government should not set limits on executive pay, as it can cause problems in the job market. It might lead to unexpected consequences that could worsen the situation.
  2. Companies that accept government help should allow taxpayers to have a say in executive compensation. If they rely on public funds, they must be accountable to the public.
  3. Stockholders need to take a stand to ensure that executive pay is reasonable, rather than relying on the government. Investors should push for rules that involve them in the decision-making process regarding pay.

Accounting Fraud

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 07 Jan 09
💼 Business Corporate Governance Investor Relations Regulatory Compliance Corporate Governance Accounting Fraud Investment Risk management
  1. Self-interest is often more powerful than accountability in companies. When people face conflicts, they usually prioritize their own benefits.
  2. Good corporate governance is important to prevent fraud. Having a board that asks smart questions can help keep management honest.
  3. New accounting rules won't stop fraud. Companies often find ways to cheat around regulations, so being skeptical can save investors from losses.

Founders' Secret Weapon: Scaling Your Startup with Smart Data Management

Database Engineering by Sort • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
💼 Business Startups Data Management Growth Strategy Team Collaboration Investor Relations
  1. Good data management is key for startups to avoid confusion and bad decisions. When teams grow, data needs grow too, and simple spreadsheets won’t cut it anymore.
  2. Sort provides a single source of truth, helping teams work with the same up-to-date information. This reduces mistakes and boosts confidence in decision-making.
  3. As your business expands, Sort scales with you, making data management easier. It tracks changes and keeps everyone accountable, so you can focus on growing your startup instead of fixing data issues.

Pitch me: How to make sure your startup wins at investor relations & contracts

The Green Techpreneur • 0 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
💼 Business Startup Investor Relations Contracts Venture Capital Sustainability
  1. Investor-founder relationship is evolving as VC funds grow in the cleantech sector, emphasizing constructive relationships to drive companies forward and manage risks.
  2. Pre-agreed partnership contracts help clarify terms and expectations between investors and founders, gearing towards strategic support beyond funding.
  3. Successful investor-founder relationships involve mapping startup capabilities with investor strengths, focusing on targeted growth areas rather than trying to please too many customers.

How to keep investors happy when you have an open source startup

Bold & Open • 0 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
💼 Business Startup funding Investor Relations Open Source Financial sustainability Business Models
  1. Open source projects can thrive by sharing ideas without locking them behind restrictive intellectual property rights.
  2. When seeking funding for an open source startup, consider the need for funding based on growth and profitability.
  3. Investors look for viable projects with clear market fit, competitive advantage, a strong team, scalability potential, and a clear exit strategy.

GT Biopharma: A Pump-and-Dump Built on the Hopes of Dying Cancer Patients

funnybusiness • 0 implied HN points • 03 Sep 21
💰 Finance Financial Performance Investor Relations
  1. GT Biopharma has a long history of failures, with many unsuccessful product launches leading to massive losses.
  2. The company, under CEO Tony Cataldo, has never made a profit, has a significant accumulated deficit, and has awarded millions in stock-based compensation.
  3. Cataldo has a track record of aggressive stock promotion, insider dealing, and ties to shady characters, making GT Biopharma a risky investment.

Disclosure Dilemma: When more (data) leads to less (information)!

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jul 21
💼 Business Corporate Governance Financial Reporting Investor Relations Regulatory Compliance Market Analysis
  1. More disclosure doesn't always help investors understand companies better. In fact, long and complicated reports can make it harder to find important information.
  2. Corporate filings like the 10-K and S-1 have gotten longer and more complex over the years. This means that reading them has become more confusing and less helpful for investors.
  3. There should be a balance in disclosures. Regulators need to consider what information truly benefits investors, not just add more rules that lead to information overload.