The hottest Platforms Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Why It's Smart to Write on Medium in 2023

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 419 implied HN points • 10 Feb 23
💼 Business Writing Platforms Freelancing Digital Media Content creation
  1. Writing on Medium can help you get exposure and build an audience, even if the pay isn't great. It's a good place to test your writing and try different topics.
  2. You get paid based on how much time readers spend on your stories, which means engagement is key for earnings. Even if the money is small, you can get paid quickly.
  3. Medium offers you creative freedom and flexibility to write on your own schedule. You can connect with others and even grow your reputation as a writer.

Calm down, it’s Only Monday

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 79 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Government Policy Startups Platforms
  1. The Indian government's new AI advisory has sparked mixed reactions in the AI community. Some people feel it's not a good decision.
  2. IT minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar clarified that the advisory is meant for large platforms only. Startups will not be affected by these new regulations.
  3. There is concern about how this advisory may impact innovation and the growth of AI in India, especially among startups.

The Sequence Engineering #464: OpenAI’s Relatively Unknown Agent Framework

TheSequence • 42 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Engineering Frameworks Research Platforms
  1. OpenAI Swarm is a new framework designed for multi-agent systems. It helps coordinate the actions of several agents to create complex behaviors.
  2. This framework is mainly for learning and experimenting, not for real-world production use. It doesn’t come with official support from OpenAI.
  3. The Sequence is launching various series on AI engineering, research, and insights to explore important topics and advancements in the AI field.

Platform Economics- Why Meta made a Profit and Uber did not [Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 159 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
💰 Finance Platforms Economics Profitability Tech industry Monopoly
  1. Platform economics often prioritize scale over short-term profitability, relying on network effects to eventually generate revenue.
  2. Successful platforms like Facebook and YouTube maintained a competitive edge through extensive user profiles and built-in loyalty, unlike Uber.
  3. Uber's failure was attributed to factors like the ease of replicating its service, lack of customer loyalty, and the unrealistic expectations for profitability in the on-demand service industry.
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"AI, no ads please": 4 words to wipe out $1tn

12challenges • 147 HN points • 07 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Ads Platforms Chatbots
  1. AI could threaten the $1 trillion adtech industry by reducing the number of ads we see, impacting both demand and supply sides.
  2. The availability of advertising space (inventory), which is essentially our attention sold by Big Tech, underpins the adtech industry's massive revenue.
  3. AI operating systems and advancements could play a major role in reducing ad consumption, potentially affecting giant tech companies like Meta and Alphabet.

The Unbundling of Twitter

ceonyc • 137 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Social media Networking Platforms Engagement
  1. Consider the shift towards posting on platforms that are more specialized for specific topics or verticals.
  2. Analyzing the engagement on different social media platforms can provide insights on audience relevance and interaction.
  3. Reflect on how the trend of unbundling services, like seen with Craigslist, could impact the microblogging and newsfeed landscape.

The long and winding road of TikTok Shop

Tech Buzz China Insider • 99 implied HN points • 09 Dec 23
🕹 Technology E-commerce Logistics Platforms
  1. TikTok expanded its e-commerce business internationally, but faced challenges with live commerce in Western markets like the UK due to cultural differences and difficulty in replicating the success seen in China.
  2. There were issues with long delivery times, poor customer service, and cultural clashes within TikTok's e-commerce division in the UK, causing difficulties and staff turnover.
  3. Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms are encountering challenges abroad due to changing regulations, such as increased postage costs, compliance requirements, and consumer protection concerns.

Are you a platform?

Developer GTM – by Calyx Consulting • 99 implied HN points • 14 Jun 23
💼 Business Platforms Ecosystems API Consultancy Product Development
  1. Platforms come in various forms, not just through APIs, and successful platforms connect different parts of the value chain.
  2. Organic growth is crucial for platforms to succeed, and the relationship between platform and ecosystem is interdependent.
  3. Building a platform requires internal buy-in from leadership and alignment with company goals to ensure long-term success.

Tools & Platforms in 2023

Aashay's Newsletter • 98 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Tools Platforms
  1. Entrepreneurs leverage technological advancements as building blocks for new companies.
  2. Tools are essential in the development workflow for startups, aiding in replacing repetitive processes.
  3. Platforms provide startups with unique data or distribution, enhancing their product experience.

Network Effects (part 2)

The Odin Times • 98 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Network Effects Startups Software companies Platforms
  1. Network effects are crucial for predicting outlier returns in venture capital investments.
  2. Different types of network effects exist in modern software companies, each with varying degrees of value and defensibility.
  3. Software companies with network effects have seen tremendous value creation in the tech industry, making network effects a significant factor for successful startups.

Winner takes all? Blockbusters’ effect on competition in platforms

Platform Papers • 39 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
💼 Business Competition Platforms Crowdfunding Digital Strategy
  1. Digital platforms have to decide between focusing on blockbusters or long-tail content strategics based on their benefits. Blockbusters can drive significant traffic and users but may also intensify competition by monopolizing user attention.
  2. On crowdfunding platforms, blockbusters can have positive spillover effects by attracting attention and increasing funding for other projects. Related blockbusters have a stronger effect on a project than unrelated ones.
  3. For platforms or businesses, promoting blockbusters strategically can lead to increased user participation, spillover benefits, and competitive advantages. Leveraging blockbusters can drive growth and attract new users to a platform.

Willy Wonka and weird-ass AI

The Rectangle • 84 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Social media Business Artificial Intelligence Platforms
  1. The Glasgow Willy Wonka Experience showcases the modern use of AI-generated content in marketing and event organization.
  2. AI can significantly lower the barrier of entry for individuals to create and promote businesses and events, potentially leading to unexpected outcomes like the Willy Wonka Experience.
  3. The story highlights the importance of having checks and balances in place when relying heavily on AI to prevent misguided or poorly executed ventures.

First SEC-Registered Crypto Platform To Offer Ether Services

Daily Digest • 39 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🔮 Crypto Platforms Tokens Market Expansion
  1. Prometheum is the first SEC-registered crypto platform offering Ether - a big step for integrating crypto with traditional finance.
  2. ERC-404 token emerged with unique hybrid properties, hitting a $170M market cap - showing a new trend in token creation.
  3. Ethereum's Dencun upgrade is in final testing, potentially enhancing efficiency and lowering transaction costs - a significant advancement for the platform.

Be Mindful of the Power of Platforms

Equal Ventures • 79 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
💼 Business Platforms Ecommerce Retail Investing
  1. Platforms like Salesforce, Apple, and Amazon have significant power over not only customers but also business partners, with potential risks for those who rely heavily on them.
  2. Shopify, once a DTC favorite, is now making strategic moves to increase its own revenue through actions like tightening control over checkout and fulfillment services, affecting both merchants and app developers.
  3. Amazon's dominance in the retail platform space has grown, leading to concerns for sellers regarding fees and limited alternatives, emphasizing the importance of balancing platform reliance with diversification.

Startups.email - Issue #4

startupsemail • 78 implied HN points • 05 May 23
💼 Business Startups Entrepreneurship Technology SaaS Platforms
  1. Building a business with a huge platform risk can lead to high success chances, even though it comes with potential downsides.
  2. Businesses heavily dependent on popular platforms like Notion, Airtable, or Shopify can tap into a large user base and market.
  3. Examples like Notion Forms, Datafetcher, and Wildmetrics show that businesses with high platform risks can achieve substantial monthly recurring revenues.

Genre Grapevine Twitter Update (Including Info on Alternatives)

Genre Grapevine • 78 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media Platforms Alternatives Issues Connections
  1. Twitter is facing challenges with its verification system and user experience.
  2. Alternative social media platforms like Mastodon, Hive, Post, and Tribel Social have not gained traction.
  3. Spoutible is emerging as a potential Twitter alternative with interactive features, but it's still new and not widely adopted yet.

The Power of Generativity in Platform Systems

Platform Papers • 39 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
💼 Business Innovation Ecosystems Platforms Leadership Regulation
  1. In platform ecosystems, generativity plays a crucial role in driving innovation by allowing third-party developers to continuously create new offerings that enhance the core product's value over time.
  2. Balancing generativity is essential for platform success; too much generativity can lead to free-riding behavior where developers exploit the efforts of others, while the right amount can signal growth opportunities and encourage high-quality contributions.
  3. As platform ecosystems mature, business leaders and policymakers must navigate the challenges of maintaining a balance between positive reputation spillover effects and negative free-rider effects to ensure sustained innovation and user satisfaction.

4 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Mastodon — The Anti-Twitter

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 119 implied HN points • 17 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Social media Platforms Digital Communication Content creation User engagement
  1. Mastodon is growing while Twitter is losing users. Many people are leaving Twitter, and Mastodon is gaining traction as a new option.
  2. Creators are seeking alternatives to Twitter due to the changes made by Elon Musk. Mastodon offers a decentralized space where users can have more control.
  3. On Mastodon, you can post short messages called 'toots' that are up to 500 characters long. This is a great way for users to connect and share their thoughts.

Vertical Integration of Platforms and Product Prominence in Online Hotel Booking

Platform Papers • 79 implied HN points • 12 Jan 23
💼 Business Platforms Recommendations Digital economy Regulations
  1. Digital platforms can influence consumer choices by steering them towards certain products and suppliers. This can raise concerns about biased recommendations and the impact on consumer interests.
  2. Regulations like the European Digital Markets Act aim to restrict the power of large online platforms, particularly concerning practices like self-preferencing.
  3. Studies suggest that vertically integrated meta-search platforms may prioritize affiliated sales channels, potentially affecting search quality and competition. Empirical analyses highlight the need for better data to understand these dynamics.

The Summary Problem, or why AI in search is attractive

The End(s) of Argument • 39 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🕹 Technology AI Search Information Platforms
  1. AI in search can help provide concise answers to specific queries, reducing cognitive load for users
  2. Platforms and users find AI attractive in search due to the potential of turning articles into direct answers, addressing user frustration and error
  3. Improving the user experience in search results, such as through summaries, snippets, and direct answers, remains a known but persistent challenge which AI aims to tackle

Platform Papers 2022 Year in Review

Platform Papers • 59 implied HN points • 29 Dec 22
🕹 Technology Research Academic Platforms Competition Regulation
  1. In 2022, there was a record number of academic papers published on platform competition, with a significant increase in marketing-related research.
  2. The research themes in platform competition covered ecosystem governance, network effects, heterogeneity within platforms, and corporate scope.
  3. Academic articles highlighted topics such as differential revenue sharing, collective governance, positive demand spillover, local network effects, and decentralized platform governance.

The Best Web to App Converters in 2024

The journey of a solopreneur (by David Journeypreneur) • 19 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Apps Web Platforms Tools
  1. Transitioning from web to app is crucial for businesses to enhance user engagement and expand reach.
  2. Various web-to-app converters offer unique features, pricing, and capabilities for app development.
  3. Leading platforms like WebToApp.app, Convertify, and Appilix provide excellent customer service, quick conversion, and user-friendly interfaces.

The passion economy is a ploy

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 139 implied HN points • 03 Mar 21
🕹 Technology Platforms Labor Economy Tech AI
  1. The gig economy and the 'passion' economy are seen as one phenomenon that depletes the labor ecosystem, extracting value from workers.
  2. Examples of unalienated labor can be found among artisans and in spaces like Black hair salons, where people genuinely love their work.
  3. Empowering workers in the digital age involves creating platforms that they have control over, ensuring they benefit from the value they produce.

Promoting Platform Takeoff and Self-Fulfilling Expectations

Platform Papers • 19 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
💼 Business Marketing Promotion Entrepreneurship Research Platforms
  1. Successful launch of new platform ventures is crucial for expansion and innovation in online platforms.
  2. In platform industries, marketing involves more than just creating awareness; it's about coordinating market actors to shift from one equilibrium to another.
  3. Promoting new platforms should focus on creating expectations of a large future user base rather than revealing small current user numbers.

Five Platform Competition Trends to Watch in 2022

Platform Papers • 59 implied HN points • 24 Jan 22
🕹 Technology Platforms Regulation Curation Cryptocurrency Blockchain
  1. The platform economy is dominated by big players like Amazon and Apple, but they face increasing scrutiny for their dominance from antitrust agencies. Self-regulation could be an alternative to government intervention.
  2. Platforms are not just marketplaces; they play a significant role in curating products. They promote certain products strategically to shape their ecosystems and drive revenue.
  3. Complementors, who rely on platforms like Apple App developers, are starting to push back against platform dominance. Strategies like disintermediation and building competing platforms are being employed to reduce dependence on major platforms.