The hottest Startups Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Why Most Startup Events Suck for Both Investors and Founders

ceonyc • 235 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Organizers need to be intentional and curated in planning events to ensure value for everyone involved.
  2. Invite speakers with relevant experience and who are willing to provide honest and useful insights to the audience.
  3. Consider empathy towards attendees by managing event timings and providing opportunities for engagement without feeling trapped.

VCs Adjusting

Sriram Krishnan’s Newsletter • 235 implied HN points • 29 May 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Venture capital funds have raised the bar for investments.
  2. Late-stage funds are shifting focus towards seed and series A companies.
  3. Some emerging funds are adjusting strategies to increase exposure to new investments.

Food Quality Reimagined

Startup Pirate by Alex Alexakis • 235 implied HN points • 26 May 23
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. The current system of food quality labeling is based on assumptions and can lead to a lot of food waste.
  2. BlakBear uses patented sensor technology to measure food freshness in real-time, reducing waste and improving sustainability.
  3. BlakBear's technology benefits various parts of the food supply chain, including producers, transportation, retailers, and consumers.
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Your Chatbot has Arrived

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 99 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. A new chatbot named KRUTRIM by Ola was launched in public beta. It aims to improve as feedback is gathered from users.
  2. The founder believes this chatbot will have fewer errors in Indian contexts compared to global platforms. They are committed to fixing any issues that arise.
  3. User feedback is encouraged to help make the chatbot better over time, highlighting the importance placed on community input.

The Otonomist - May 2023 Special Issue

The Otonomist • 439 implied HN points • 31 May 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. You can invest in Otonomos through the Funding Club on their online portal.
  2. By investing, you get exposure to a tech ecosystem without direct risk from individual ventures.
  3. Owning Otonomos Mirror Tokens gives you a stake in the special purpose LLC and guarantees equivalent dollar shares in Otonomos Holdings.

Inside the guts of Figma's S-1 Filing

Alex's Personal Blog • 131 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
💼 Business Startups
  1. Figma is growing fast and has lots of international users. Most of its revenue comes from outside its home country, showing there's still room to grow.
  2. The company is profitable and has strong customer retention. Figma has improved its profits in recent years and continues to attract big accounts.
  3. Figma's IPO is important for the tech industry. A successful listing could encourage more companies to go public and bring new excitement to the market.

The New Fundraising Playbook: Seed-Strapping

Tanay’s Newsletter • 126 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
💼 Business Startups
  1. Seed-strapping is when a startup raises a small amount of money and then grows instead using its own revenue. This lets founders keep more control over their company.
  2. AI has made it easier for startups to succeed without needing lots of funding. Companies can now build products faster and sell them sooner, leading to quick profits.
  3. While seed-strapping offers benefits like less dilution and more financial discipline, it can also come with challenges like competition from better-funded startups and limitations on growth.

Interesting Take on the Figma IPO

startupdreams • 105 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
💼 Business Startups
  1. Figma's IPO was a big surprise because it opened at a much higher price than expected. The shares were initially priced at $33 but quickly jumped to over $120.
  2. Investors and the company lost a lot of potential money because the IPO was underpriced. This means they could have made billions more if they priced it correctly.
  3. There might be legal issues ahead because the underpricing upset many investors, especially big-name venture capitalists who feel they missed out on huge profits.

#4 Prototyping / Pre-Order Campaign

Mountain Labs Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 27 May 24
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. Mountain Labs successfully got 77 pre-orders for their Air Quality Monitor in just 6 weeks. This is a good sign of interest from customers.
  2. They have a clear prototyping process, starting from a breadboard to a punched-card prototype, before making the final PCB design. Each step helps them test and improve their product.
  3. Collecting pre-orders helps Mountain Labs plan their first batch of manufacturing. They aim to sell the product at $99, making it affordable for many people.

Thinking about Writing Down your Investment?

SaaS Engineering • 137 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
💰 Finance Startups
  1. Understanding the difference between preferred and common stock is crucial for calculating holding values.
  2. Writing down investments only makes sense if a company's value decreases below the size of its liquidation preference relative to the investment.
  3. High valuations may not always benefit investors due to misaligned incentives, especially in scenarios where the company's valuation is higher than its true worth.

What Exactly Is Venture Capital?

Concepts of Finance 🧠 • 279 implied HN points • 15 Aug 23
💰 Finance Startups
  1. Venture capital is a type of funding provided to early-stage companies that have high growth potential. It's different from private equity, which usually invests in more mature companies.
  2. Many startups need venture capital to expand, but it's not the main way new businesses get funding. A lot of startups rely on personal savings or small loans instead.
  3. There are common myths about venture capitalists, such as their wealth or ability to innovate. In reality, not all VCs are rich and many investments don't yield huge returns.

Where Do The Great Startup Ideas Come From - Stripe & Airbnb Case?| OpenAI Saga Explained | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Startups like Airbnb, Coinbase, and Stripe succeeded by challenging existing players and aiming to do things 10 times better, turning competition into inspiration.
  2. Successful founders like those of Airbnb and Stripe ignored naysayers and pursued their wild ideas, pushing through doubt and expert skepticism.
  3. Timing, unique ideas, and unexpected market sizes played key roles in the success stories of startups like Airbnb, Stripe, and Coinbase, showing that unconventional approaches can lead to great outcomes.

The Game-Changing Clause For Entrepreneur , VC Funds Are Mostly Just Wasting Their Time and Your Money, VC Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 219 implied HN points • 19 Aug 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. In negotiating convertible notes, entrepreneurs should include a clause to prevent early investors from taking advantage of rising valuations.
  2. A study by Morgan Stanley calls into question the superior returns claimed by VC funds, highlighting challenges and inconsistencies in the industry.
  3. Investors often face struggles in accurately valuing equity in VC investments due to complex structures, contributing to potential overvaluation.

Spotlight: Rob Desborough - Managing Partner @ Seraphim Space & CEO Seraphim Space Accelerator

Space Ambition • 219 implied HN points • 25 Aug 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Rob Desborough leads a major space-focused venture capital firm that helps many spacetech startups grow. They are not only funding new space ideas but also managing a special trust that invests in this sector.
  2. There is a growing interest in spacetech investments, with more people and companies getting involved. Recent years have seen a rise in new investors and significant funding, especially in Europe and Asia.
  3. Space technology is now focused on important issues like climate change and global security. The industry is looking at exciting areas like sustainability and space mining to solve big problems on Earth.

Hidden Clauses In The Term Sheet that Every Founder Should Know | 2008 Venture Capital Market Recovery | How To Convince Investors? | VC Remote Jobs & Internships and More

Venture Curator • 219 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Understanding hidden clauses in term sheets is crucial for founders to avoid disputes and confusion in the future.
  2. Knowing the economic aspects of term sheets, such as valuation, investment amount, and anti-dilution, can help founders negotiate effectively with VCs.
  3. Founders and investors should remember that a term sheet is a tool for communication and does not guarantee success; a strong business does.

How a Convertible Note Converts During Priced Round (e.g- Series A, B) ? | 2008-09 Global Startup Ecoystem & More

Venture Curator • 219 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Convertible notes convert in three ways: Pre-money Method, Percentage Ownership Method, Dollars Invested Method, catering to different preferences of founders and investors.
  2. Key parameters to consider in evaluating a convertible note include Discount Rate, Valuation Cap, Interest Rate, and Maturity Date, which affect the conversion process during priced rounds like Series A or B.
  3. Understanding the math behind the conversion of convertible notes during priced rounds involves calculations based on factors like pre-money valuation, discount rates, and valuation caps, influencing the final ownership percentages.

Your complete guide to board rooms

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 276 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
💼 Business Startups
  1. Know who's in the room during board meetings. The CEO, CFO, and tech leaders each have specific roles and responsibilities that are crucial for a productive discussion.
  2. Keep your board meetings under 3.5 hours. Long meetings can tire everyone out, so aim for a focused agenda that encourages valuable input from all members.
  3. Send out materials for the meeting 48 to 72 hours in advance. This allows everyone to prepare without being overwhelmed, and it helps keep the meeting on track.

How Repl.It 25x'ed ARR to $100m in <1year

Enterprise AI Trends • 126 implied HN points • 25 Jun 25
💼 Business Startups
  1. Repl.It achieved amazing growth by tapping into the 'learn to code' audience. They built a strong presence in schools and coding bootcamps over several years.
  2. The company focuses on users who want to create apps without worrying about the technical details. This means they cater to a specific market that's eager to learn and build without complex barriers.
  3. Repl.It has a unique strategy that sets it apart from competitors like Cursor. They have a solid foundation and can keep growing, but there are still risks they need to manage.

Joe's Nerdy Rants #7

Joe Reis • 216 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. The data community deserves better events free of vendor influence.
  2. The major data platforms are in an intense competition and push to capture attention.
  3. Attending big-vendor conferences often involves dealing with aggressive selling tactics.

5M

Sriram Krishnan’s Newsletter • 216 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Investors use frameworks like the 5M framework to categorize and assess startups.
  2. Having frameworks in place upstream makes it easier to make investment decisions downstream.
  3. Different Ms in the 5M framework are applied as startups progress from idea to product to traction.

Best of March in Asia-Pacific

kalanis • 216 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Don't get trapped in chasing productivity without focusing on the right problems.
  2. Vietnam's coffee culture has survived despite a low number of Starbucks locations.
  3. China's aging population may lead to economic challenges similar to Japan's lost decade.

All hail the demise of Adobe-Figma

Alex's Personal Blog • 98 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
💼 Business Startups
  1. The economy is not as strong as it seemed, with job data showing a slowdown and rising long-term unemployment. This means we may be facing challenges ahead instead of stability.
  2. The failed acquisition of Figma by Adobe is seen as a positive outcome for Figma and its investors, allowing them to see a larger increase in value without being bought out.
  3. Increased competition in the market is beneficial for users and smaller companies, reminding us that antitrust actions can protect growing startups from larger corporations.

Hidden Trap Of Convertible Note and Liquidation Preference Multiples | Marc Andreessen On Risk-Cash Relation | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. One should be aware of the hidden traps of convertible notes and liquidation preference multiples, especially in funding rounds.
  2. Founder should keep the liquidation preference multiples in check to prevent undesired outcomes for themselves.
  3. To tackle the impact of multiple liquidation preferences, founders can consider issuing sub-series of preferred stock for protection.

January 2024

Product Composition • 117 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. Alex Vilinskyy is looking for specific roles to fill in his ventures like Payment Integrationist, Email Expert, and Head of Design.
  2. He's also seeking partners interested in addressing issues in the Future of Work, Communication, Computing, Entrepreneurship, and Media.
  3. The post shares info about the authenticity of Instagram, upcoming plans for new products, and recommends cool apps like PhotoStudio and Factorio.

The return of the press release

Alex's Personal Blog • 98 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
💼 Business Startups
  1. Press releases are becoming more important again because companies want to share news, and AI tools are hungry for information. This makes companies release more press releases to get noticed in AI searches.
  2. With the rise of AI, press releases may start to be longer and more focused on providing a lot of information instead of being catchy for humans. This could change the way companies communicate important updates.
  3. As press releases grow more valuable, companies may make bolder claims without the usual human skepticism. This means PR work will become even busier and might lean more on AI tools.

Introducing The Generalist's Reading and Deal Clubs

The Generalist • 260 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
💼 Business Startups
  1. The Generalist has started two clubs: a Reading Club and a Deal Club to share interesting articles, books, and startups.
  2. Every Friday, members can participate in the Reading Club by sharing and discovering new information and insights together.
  3. On Mondays, the Deal Club will focus on interesting startups and funding news, allowing members to discuss and learn from each other.

Sonder’s Sudden Collapse: What Went Wrong?

Gad’s Newsletter • 29 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
💼 Business Startups
  1. Sonder expanded too quickly without a solid plan. They treated their hospitality business like a tech startup, which led to high costs and financial problems.
  2. Sonder struggled to make money because their fixed costs were too high. Even when occupancy rates were good, they still lost money due to ongoing expenses that kept piling up.
  3. Partnerships can fail if companies are not aligned. Sonder's deal with Marriott seemed good, but their different customer expectations and technology issues hurt both businesses.

PostHog vs. The Industry

Alex's Personal Blog • 131 implied HN points • 17 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. PostHog is a startup doing things differently in the software world, like offering mostly free and open-source tools for product development. They focus on customer-friendly policies instead of typical sales tactics.
  2. There’s increasing investment in defense and AI startups, showing a trend towards innovation in these sectors. Companies like Helsing and xAI are raising significant funds to grow their projects.
  3. High costs for coding tools are becoming more common, as shown by Anysphere's price increase for its AI coding service. Developers might need to adjust to spending more to access advanced technology.

How I Built This In Public: Marko Saric

Build In Public Newsletter • 210 HN points • 10 Mar 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Plausible Analytics was built in public from the first line of code, attracting early users and customers.
  2. Building in public brings transparency, feedback, and support from the community, but requires more than just sharing on social media for startup success.
  3. In building in public, create valuable content, be different, focus on creating a product people want, and learn effective communication strategies.

Security by design is hard

Frankly Speaking • 355 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. Security by design is a good idea but hard to implement. Most companies prioritize speed over security, treating security as an afterthought.
  2. Many existing cybersecurity solutions focus on adding security measures after a product is built instead of integrating it from the start.
  3. Tools like Pangea help address security issues early in product development, making it easier for developers to implement security as they build.

Sierra's AI Strategy in a Nutshell

Enterprise AI Trends • 126 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. Sierra is an AI agent platform focused on building customer-facing AI interactions. It aims to take over all customer communications for businesses, starting with support.
  2. The success of Sierra could influence how other AI startups are viewed, especially those targeting the enterprise market. If Sierra struggles, it might signal challenges for similar companies.
  3. Sierra has a solid foundation with experienced founders and strong funding, but it faces risks like change management and vendor lock-in when companies consider using its services.

Revolutionizing IoT Beyond Earth | Challenges & Innovations in Satellite-Enabled IoT

Space Ambition • 259 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. Satellite technology is changing how we connect and communicate, especially in remote places. Smaller, cheaper satellites help devices send and receive information directly from space.
  2. Using satellites for IoT can improve many areas like farming, disaster response, and environmental monitoring. These systems can gather essential data from hard-to-reach locations and help address big challenges.
  3. While satellite IoT offers great opportunities, it also faces hurdles. Issues like regulations, energy needs, and ensuring data security will be important as this technology grows.