The hottest Startups Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Platform vs. Product

Brick by Brick • 54 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
💼 Business Startups
  1. Startups should understand that platforms usually win because they serve many needs across different teams, making them appealing to buyers. A product that only solves a specific problem may struggle in comparison.
  2. To compete with platforms, startups can either become their own platform by expanding their services, create a product that is vastly better, or find a niche that the platform doesn’t cover well.
  3. If startups don't take action to differentiate themselves, they risk becoming irrelevant or 'zombies,' where they exist but lack growth or recognition.

The VC Corner 📰 #2

The VC Corner • 79 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. The VC Corner is a newsletter that shares news and resources for people involved in startups and venture capital. It's helpful for both new and experienced investors.
  2. The newsletter is written by Ruben Dominguez Ibar, who also works on an investment team at Mundi Ventures. He aims to provide valuable insights through his writing.
  3. Readers can sign up for a free trial to access more content and get a deeper understanding of venture capital topics.

News from Space Ambition

Space Ambition • 79 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. Space Ambition hosted a successful pitch session with 11 startups and over 25 investors from around the world. It was a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas.
  2. A spacetech internship for high school students in Singapore gave them hands-on experience in venture capital and inspired them to consider careers in the aerospace sector. Learning directly from experienced professionals can really spark interest in young minds.
  3. The recent Spacetech meet-up connected people online and offline in six countries, focusing on important aerospace topics. Events like these help build a community and keep passion for space exploration alive.

The More Boring, The More Exciting !

Venture Prose • 199 implied HN points • 05 Nov 22
💼 Business Startups
  1. Opportunities may be hidden in industries that seem boring or overlooked.
  2. Venture capital investors are attracted to companies with unique vision and strong customer satisfaction.
  3. Startups can succeed by offering better customer care and higher organic growth, even when competing against large incumbents.
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So, you found a co-founder. Now what?

The Founder Memo • 19 implied HN points • 12 Jun 24
💼 Business Startups
  1. It's really important to discuss how you'll split equity with your co-founder before diving into your startup. This helps avoid confusion and potential disputes later on.
  2. You should clarify each person's roles and responsibilities right from the start. Knowing who does what can prevent misunderstandings as you work together.
  3. Taking the time to talk about your motivations for starting the business will keep you aligned on goals. It's vital to be on the same page about why you're building this company together.

Five steps to get and evaluate startup ideas

A Bit Gamey • 13 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
💼 Business Startups
  1. Start with a problem instead of an idea. This helps you understand what people really need and keeps you motivated.
  2. Find people to discuss problems with. Collaborating with others can sharpen your ideas and potentially lead to great partnerships.
  3. Create a simple version of your product first. This way, you can learn quickly from real users and improve it based on their feedback.

Learning From the French Revolution In Startups

Japan Economy Watch • 179 implied HN points • 02 Feb 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Using tax incentives to direct investments towards startup companies can have positive effects on entrepreneurship drive.
  2. Professional management of angel funds can help reduce risks for retail investors interested in startups.
  3. Models like France's tax incentive plan have successfully supported the growth of startups and innovation in a country.

Viking Therapeutics has an $8 billion market cap with 27 full time employees. This is their story.

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 373 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💼 Business Startups
  1. Success in biotech often involves licensing and developing existing molecules, rather than creating completely new ones.
  2. To thrive in biotech, it's crucial to strategically select candidates and navigate clinical trials efficiently with the available resources.
  3. Viking Therapeutics' success was built on wisely choosing profitable indications, selecting the right molecules, and executing their development program effectively.

The VC Corner #1

The VC Corner • 79 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. European tech startups are experiencing a lot of downrounds, which are when companies' valuations decrease. This is the highest level of such downrounds since 2014.
  2. The VC Corner provides important news and analysis for both seasoned investors and those new to venture capital. It aims to help readers stay informed about the latest trends and updates.
  3. The newsletter offers a 7-day free trial, allowing people to explore its archives and get a sense of the content before subscribing. This is a great way to see if the information is useful for you.

Can PLG beat Salesforce?

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 599 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Product-led growth is disrupting many software categories, but CRM remains dominated by traditional players.
  2. Attio successfully launched a product-led growth CRM platform after three years of development, achieving rapid customer adoption.
  3. Attio strategically designed their pricing and packaging, experimented with freemium pricing, and focused on customer engagement for user acquisition.

Is it SAFE?

The Founder Memo • 39 implied HN points • 29 Mar 24
💼 Business Startups
  1. Using Safes for fundraising can lead to founders selling too much of their company without realizing it. This often happens when multiple Safes stack up over time, causing unexpected dilution.
  2. Legal issues can pile up with Safes because many founders don't do thorough due diligence early on. When they finally need legal help for a priced round, hidden problems can cost them more to fix.
  3. It may be better for founders to consider priced rounds instead of Safes, especially for larger raises. This can help maintain ownership and reduce complexity in legal documents.

An abundance of opportunities for robotics companies...

Robots & Startups • 99 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. Robotics companies have an abundance of opportunities available despite challenges like funding.
  2. Talented and experienced individuals in the robotics field are seeking new opportunities, especially in robotics companies.
  3. Silicon Valley Robotics member companies have access to information and resources related to robotics opportunities.

3 hard truths from Nigeria's top VCs

Afridigest • 43 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
💼 Business Startups
  1. Understanding local markets is key for startup success in Africa. Knowing what customers want can make or break a business.
  2. Access to funding is often a challenge for startups. Many businesses struggle to find investors willing to take risks.
  3. Building a strong team is essential. A good team can adapt to challenges and drive the company forward.

🙌🏽 Community spotlight: hottest AI startups & tools, funds that lead pre-seed rounds, term sheet guide, VC trends, Barbie and more

Lolita's Newsletter • 98 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Monthly newsletter for underestimated founders, funders, and friends with curated insights and resources
  2. Importance of leaning on community for personal and professional success, highlighted with examples like Beyoncé and Barbie
  3. Announcements of funds raised by various ventures and empowerment initiatives for underrepresented founders

Unscalable *and* effective ⛰

The SaaS Baton • 98 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Not everything needs to be scalable, doing unscalable things can still be effective in startups
  2. Hiring a finance executive early on can bring valuable insights and help with key financial tasks
  3. Monetizing an open-source product through SaaS can present challenges but also lead to product maturity for different use cases

"I've Seen This Before, It Didn't Work" Startups

Cool, I Can • 98 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Old startup ideas that failed are coming back, which is a good thing.
  2. Successful companies often resemble previously unsuccessful ones with a few key differences.
  3. When faced with skepticism about a familiar idea, do your homework to understand why it failed and how you can be different.

Network Effects (part 2)

The Odin Times • 98 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Startups
  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.

Scaling Decision Making

Suzan's Fieldnotes • 98 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Scaling companies need to pay attention to decision-making processes as they grow
  2. Organizations should delegate decision-making power throughout the company
  3. Centralizing decisions and leaving key voices out can hinder scaling and lead to organizational dysfunction

Pierre-Damien Vaujour, CEO of Loft Orbital, is making space simple for 2 new $100M+ customers

Ubiquitous Thoughts • 98 implied HN points • 16 May 23
🕹 Technology Startups
  1. Loft Orbital simplifies space access by providing infrastructure for customers to deploy missions on.
  2. The company evolved from physical to virtual missions based on customer needs for accessible space deployment.
  3. Pierre-Damien Vaujour emphasizes the importance of talking to customers, iterating product features, and being inspired about exploration in his professional and personal life.

Startups.email - Issue #2

startupsemail • 98 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Having a bucket of 40-50 ideas can lead to more success than just focusing on one idea.
  2. Using platforms with large user bases to build tools like Feather.so can be a successful strategy.
  3. Building complex, evergreen products like CraftMyPDF around widely used tools like PDF can create long-lasting businesses.

Building Mighty Small Businesses

Investing 101 • 110 implied HN points • 15 Feb 25
💼 Business Startups
  1. The American Dream means having the freedom to live as you wish, owning a home, getting an education, and starting a business. Many people still seek these goals, especially the chance to run their own business.
  2. Venture capital often pushes founders to aim for very large, unrealistic goals, which can lead to many startups failing. Most entrepreneurs should focus on building small, sustainable businesses instead.
  3. It's easier to start a small business today than ever before due to new tools and platforms. Don't feel pressured to chase after massive funding; instead, choose a path that fits your goals and lifestyle.

When venture incentives and founder needs diverge

Alex's Personal Blog • 164 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
💼 Business Startups
  1. Venture capitalists can make money off their 2% fees without needing successful company exits. This creates a situation where they might prioritize raising more funds over helping founders succeed.
  2. Large venture funds may overpay for investments to quickly deploy capital, which can lead to problems for founders who might be offered too much money at high valuations.
  3. There's a debate about how much authors should be paid for their work being used in AI training. Some authors feel $2,500 per book isn't enough compensation for potentially being replaced by technology.

Lessons from My Year of Yes

Perspectives • 4 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
💼 Business Startups
  1. Saying yes opens unexpected opportunities and brings more connection, projects, and meaning into your life.
  2. You don’t have to be perfect or fully ready — showing up and pushing beyond your comfort zone is often enough to help you grow.
  3. Make time to process and reflect, and accept that some necessary yeses are hard; creating space helps you choose what matters next.

We need to talk about Nvidia.

Jon’s Newsletter • 199 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
💼 Business Startups
  1. Nvidia has become a leader in AI hardware because their chips are powerful and in high demand. This change began when they opened up to the AI community and built partnerships with big companies.
  2. Microsoft's investment in OpenAI and the success of ChatGPT have boosted interest in Nvidia's stock. More companies are now investing in AI, which also helps Nvidia's sales.
  3. Despite past challenges and some competition, many analysts believe Nvidia is well-positioned for future growth in the AI market. Their strong reputation and market share give them an advantage.

The Inception of Acheel.com

Venture Prose • 419 implied HN points • 05 Jan 22
💼 Business Startups
  1. Acheel.com achieved over €10M in annual revenue in just 6 months with an 86 NPS, utilizing a unique strategy.
  2. Forming strong, genuine relationships with founders is crucial for investors to make a true impact.
  3. Despite initial challenges and doubts, Acheel.com has thrived, demonstrating the importance of perseverance and vision.

Phoenix Rounds

Equal Ventures • 59 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
💼 Business Startups
  1. Phoenix Rounds refer to unique investment opportunities where struggling companies pivot drastically to build something new and stronger with investor support.
  2. These rounds offer a chance for investors to deeply engage with founders, understand their potential, and collaborate on innovative business plans.
  3. Investing in Phoenix Rounds requires vision, patience, and the willingness to see hidden potential in companies facing significant challenges.

Rox

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 152 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
💼 Business Startups
  1. Rox is creating a new kind of CRM that's built around AI. They want to help salespeople work better by giving them smart tools that can handle data quickly and effectively.
  2. AI won't replace all sales jobs, but it will make the best salespeople even better. The goal is to help strong sellers do their job more efficiently, not to take their roles away.
  3. Rox is focused on getting companies to connect their data to their system. By doing this, they can become a key part of how those companies operate, leading to better sales results.

July 14: the Startup Luncheon, with Lawrence Krubner and The Fourth Effect

Respectful Leadership • 54 implied HN points • 19 Jun 25
💼 Business Startups
  1. The Startup Luncheon brings together top minds in New York City's startup scene. It's a great chance to learn from experienced professionals in the industry.
  2. Attendees can enjoy a meal while listening to insightful talks from various speakers. This makes networking both appealing and informative.
  3. Tickets are available at a discount for early birds, and loyal subscribers can attend for free. This creates good opportunities for continued learning and connection.