The hottest Startup Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Beware of Scaled Agile

Ageling on Agile • 99 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
💼 Business Startup
  1. You don't need all the complexities of Agile scaling approaches to solve your issues.
  2. Start small and gradually add complexity based on your real needs.
  3. Focus on nailing the solution before trying to scale it.

🚪From idea to 5-figure exit in 4 months

No-Code Exits • 157 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
💼 Business Startup
  1. Paul Metcalfe successfully sold his product, Lettergrowth, in just 4 months after building it with no-code tools.
  2. He used a landing page, DMs, and a community to find users, and relied on sponsorships for revenue.
  3. The acquisition happened quickly via Telegram Chat, with the buyer seeing potential in the product for their own business.

Lending business equation for your startup

Rohit’s Newsletter • 157 implied HN points • 28 Aug 23
💼 Business Startup
  1. Lending businesses are competitive and require tight risk management.
  2. Key revenue drivers include interest, origination fee, servicing fee, merchant fee, and other fees.
  3. Focus on optimizing metrics like interest rate, cost of acquisition, default rate, and fraud rate for business growth.

Trends in CIAM

ciamweekly • 250 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Startup
  1. There are many new startups in authentication since Auth0 was bought. This is because developers can easily build and use these tools themselves.
  2. Self-hosting is becoming popular again with modern solutions available. Some companies make it tough to download these options so users rely on their SaaS services instead.
  3. Many businesses are moving away from creating their own authentication systems. They see it as something best handled by specialized vendors, which helps them focus on their main goals.
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The Hagakure #87: One Year In

The Hagakure • 92 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
💼 Business Startup
  1. It's important to build a connected system for your team that everyone understands and trusts. This helps improve productivity and makes sure everyone knows their role and responsibilities.
  2. Staying honest and present with your team is key. Being approachable and authentic can help build strong relationships, especially during tough times.
  3. Embracing change quickly is vital, especially when new technologies emerge. Don't hesitate to adapt your strategy and structure to meet new challenges head-on.

The Sequence Knowledge #685: About LMArena-Type Evals, Do They Work or Don't

TheSequence • 77 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Startup
  1. LMArena is becoming important in how we evaluate AI models. It helps compare different language models in a clear and fair way.
  2. The platform started as a research project but has grown into a successful startup worth a lot of money. This shows how valuable good benchmarking is in the AI field.
  3. The post also talks about a debated paper called 'The Leaderboard Illusion,' which raises important questions about how AI performance is measured.

Visualizing Funding Runway & Burn Rate

Venture Curator • 159 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
💼 Business Startup
  1. Understanding funding runway and burn rate is vital for startup founders to secure necessary resources.
  2. Calculating gross burn rate and net burn rate is essential to determine the financial health of a startup.
  3. Maintaining transparency about financial runway and frequently communicating with investors are crucial for successful fundraising.

Venture Capital Fund Modelling II : Masterclass

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 16 May 23
💼 Business Startup
  1. Discover how VC funds calculate target ownership in startups, providing valuable insights for founders and VC enthusiasts alike.
  2. Understand the costs associated with VC business, like organizational fees, operational fees, and management fees, to determine the total investment capital for startups.
  3. Learn about the average check size that VC funds invest in startups and how ownership percentage is calculated based on the investment amount and post-money valuation.

Where Should I Incorporate?

Points And Figures • 532 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
💼 Business Startup
  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.

Startups.email - $6k MRR is worth $300k

startupsemail • 137 implied HN points • 03 Jun 23
💼 Business Startup
  1. Building on top of an existing platform like Notion can be beneficial for startup success.
  2. Starting a newsletter business can lead to financial security without the need for coding skills.
  3. Jumping on the AI chat trend, even for a short period, can be a lucrative opportunity.

Understand Convertible Note Investment Option: The Valuation Game-Changer!

Venture Curator • 159 implied HN points • 10 May 23
💰 Finance Startup
  1. Convertible notes can be a helpful option for startups looking to secure funding without immediate valuation, allowing time to build the company's value.
  2. Convertible notes are ideal for early-stage companies, especially those with a proven product and solid concept, helping them raise funds and scale effectively.
  3. From an investor's perspective, convertible notes offer a riskier but potentially more rewarding opportunity to secure equity at a discounted rate or via a valuation cap.

Weekly Top Picks #59

The Algorithmic Bridge • 477 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Startup
  1. Artificial Intelligence may outsmart humans, depending on perspectives.
  2. Scientists from Google DeepMind may leave to start their own AI company.
  3. Different views on Transformer models and diffusion models in AI.

The 5 inevitable stages of working at a hyper-growth startup

startupdiaries • 118 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
💼 Business Startup
  1. Startup life involves adapting to evolving needs, rather than sticking to initial job descriptions.
  2. Working at hyper-growth startups can be rewarding but also lead to burnout, so it's vital to pace yourself and manage emotions.
  3. Transitioning through the stages of startup growth requires flexibility, being open-minded, and evaluating if the company still aligns with personal values.

Kopi Kenangan, the Shein of Coffee

Math Not Magic • 117 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
💼 Business Startup
  1. Kopi Kenangan has revolutionized the coffee industry by pioneering a grab-and-go model for efficient coffee consumption.
  2. Kopi Kenangan's success lies in its digital-first approach, low-cost storefronts, and ability to differentiate itself in the competitive coffee market.
  3. Kopi Kenangan is not just a coffee company but a growing F&B conglomerate with expansion into new food brands and FMCG products.

Benchmarking humanoid robots begins!

Robots & Startups • 39 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Startup
  1. 2024 is set to see the commercial release of several new humanoid robots, advancing capabilities in manufacturing, logistics, and retail.
  2. Benchmarking for humanoid robots is crucial for determining their success - factors like endurance and dexterity are key, surpassing simple speed comparisons.
  3. Industry leaders stress the importance of establishing common benchmarks in the field to support the emerging market and drive innovation.

How to find industry problem as young founder

Recontact • 39 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
💼 Business Startup
  1. Start by finding a common interest field, building hypotheses around it, and validating them. It helps provide direction in problem-solving.
  2. When searching for industry problems, focus on non-core issues that companies face. This approach can lead to valuable insights and potential solutions.
  3. Conduct interviews with a variety of people in the industry, from executives to lower-level employees, to gather a diverse set of perspectives and understand the depth of the problem. It can help in identifying the right problem to tackle.

A brief guide to building your first lending product

Rohit’s Newsletter • 98 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
💼 Business Startup
  1. Building financial products like credit cards or loans requires careful consideration of compliance regulations, risk models, operations, and funding models.
  2. Fintech infrastructure products can assist in building credit products, but integration can be complex due to a lack of standard setup.
  3. To effectively build a lending product, break it down into steps like acquisition, underwriting, origination, funding, and servicing.

The Startup Engineering Manager - achieving a bigger impact with a smaller team

Leading Developers • 43 implied HN points • 22 Jul 25
💼 Business Startup
  1. The course is designed to help startup engineering managers make a bigger impact with fewer resources. It focuses on giving practical tools that can be used immediately.
  2. Participants will receive personalized support through one-on-one sessions to address their specific challenges and improve their management skills.
  3. The course promises a money-back guarantee, offering a full refund plus an extra $200 if participants don't see results, ensuring accountability and quality.

February News Roundup

Intercalation Station • 219 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Startup
  1. Conflicts and lawsuits are arising over silicon anode technology in the battery industry.
  2. There is a growing demand for lithium for electric vehicles, requiring increased mining efforts.
  3. Major fundings are fueling the US battery industry, with Redwood Materials and Ford receiving significant investments.

GTM Foundation: How SaaS Founders grow from €0 to €1M ARR (Part 2)

Startup Business Tips 🚀 • 51 implied HN points • 15 Jun 25
💼 Business Startup
  1. Building a Go-To-Market (GTM) foundation is essential for growing a SaaS company from zero to one million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). This involves understanding your target market and developing proper strategies.
  2. GTM collaterals, like an effective homepage and sales deck, are vital tools for converting visitors into customers. They help communicate your value and guide potential buyers through their decision-making process.
  3. Choosing the right channels to reach your customers is crucial. Focus on a few primary channels first and gradually explore secondary options as you gain traction.

Announcing the Fastest Pitch Form in Venture Capital

Ubiquitous Thoughts • 78 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
💼 Business Startup
  1. Ubiquity Ventures offers the fastest pitch form in venture capital, responding to requests within 72 hours.
  2. The firm's focus on seed-stage startups moving software into the real world allows for specialized attention and quick decision-making.
  3. Ubiquity Ventures acts with agency, with the founder as the sole decision-maker, ensuring direct communication and avoiding delays.

Is Now the Time for Slow Commerce?

Life on the Trail • 78 implied HN points • 06 Jul 23
💼 Business Startup
  1. Slow commerce promotes reusing and sharing clothes to extend their life.
  2. Slow fashion brands prioritize sustainability, quality, and ethical practices.
  3. Lucky Sweater provides a community-driven platform for trading unique items and fostering personal style.

On investor updates

Luba’s Newsletter • 78 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
💼 Business Startup
  1. Investors usually want to help your startup, prioritize good investors
  2. Keep investor updates concise, under 1.5 pages, and send regularly
  3. Include key asks, key metrics, and management discussion in investor updates

July 2023

Product Composition • 78 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Startup
  1. Decipad is launching its beta version, focusing on making sense of numbers in a dynamic way
  2. AI in the industry should prioritize collapsing data to enhance clarity and facilitate action-taking
  3. The future of jobs is facing a drastic shift, with issues around productivity, social contracts, asymmetrical compensation, and poor job descriptions

1/9/2024: InVision is Shutting Down

depression2022 • 39 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
💼 Business Startup
  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.

Re-Introduction

Interconnected • 385 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Startup
  1. The author provides a re-introduction of their background in three phases: US Politics, Foreign Policy, Washington DC; Cloud Infrastructure, Open Source, Startup Operator; Global Lens, GitHub, Investing and Writing.
  2. Their experience ranges from working in the Obama administration, studying law and computer science, to engaging in early stage investing and working at GitHub.
  3. They emphasize the importance of achieving bilingual information symmetry between English and Chinese through their writing.

How Mercury is winning startup banking with a $3.5 billion valuation through clear positioning and community led growth 🪐

the case for brand 💼 • 29 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
💼 Business Startup
  1. Mercury focuses on making banking easier for startup founders. They know that founders need not just good tools, but inspiration and connection to build their businesses.
  2. Building a strong community is key for Mercury. They treat their customers like a community and create events that help founders connect and learn from each other.
  3. Mercury stands out in a low-trust industry by offering a delightful user experience. Their clear communication and useful resources make customers feel valued and respected.

Full Circle Moment in Midtown

Midwest Humble • 35 implied HN points • 25 Jun 25
💼 Business Startup
  1. Bamboo started as a small group of friends looking for a space to share ideas and support each other. They turned a 2,000 sq ft loft into a co-working area, which helped many entrepreneurs grow.
  2. The journey of becoming a business owner can be tough, especially if you come from a different background. Finding mentorship and support can make a big difference in building confidence and skills.
  3. Bamboo is opening a new location in Midtown Detroit this Fall, which will provide various workspaces and amenities to support local entrepreneurs and foster community growth.

July Summary

The Hive • 58 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
💼 Business Startup
  1. The author became the sole owner of Pico after splitting with the co-founder.
  2. In July, MRR decreased but new subscribers and visitors increased.
  3. Future focus for August is on improving the functionality of Pico and growing revenue.