The hottest Strategy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

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

Startup Business Tips 🚀 • 51 implied HN points • 15 Jun 25
💼 Business Strategy
  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.

Winner takes all? Blockbusters’ effect on competition in platforms

Platform Papers • 39 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
💼 Business 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.

Improving the conversion rate 💰

André Casal's Substack • 1 HN point • 09 Sep 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Improving the conversion rate is a top priority, and the focus will be on enhancing the landing page to stand out and attract more customers.
  2. A solid marketing strategy is being developed, which includes identifying the right channels, testing, and scaling successful approaches.
  3. The next steps involve making the product even better with new features and improved documentation to surprise and delight customers.
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How you package is how you sell

Good Better Best • 3 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Product-led and sales-led motions don’t compete — they complement each other. Build systems that connect product usage to pricing so both acquisition and monetization can scale together.
  2. Pick pricing metrics that pass two simple tests: customers feel you earn more of their wallet as they grow, and a sales rep can explain the metric in about 15 seconds. Apply the same clarity to secondary usage metrics to make upgrades obvious.
  3. Limits are the connective tissue between self-serve and enterprise — they create signals and opportunities to nudge customers or involve sales. Make limits observable with telemetry and automate product notices and sales alerts so you can act when usage spikes.

✅ Owning public relations as a management discipline

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 179 implied HN points • 02 Feb 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Public relations is more than just writing press releases; it should be seen as a management discipline. Practitioners need to highlight its strategic role in building relationships and trust.
  2. A recent Deloitte report shows that public relations has become important in top management roles. It emphasizes that practitioners should contribute to decision-making and planning before diving into tactical communications.
  3. There is a need for public relations practitioners to own their identity and definition. Using alternative terms can weaken their position and influence, making it harder to communicate its true value and potential.

Late-Cycle Investment Theory

European Straits • 49 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. We're in a late phase of technological revolution where innovation focuses more on efficiency rather than creating new disruptions. Companies now need to refine their strategies and embed existing technologies into the real world to succeed.
  2. As traditional tech models mature, new strategies will emerge to manage complex global systems, shifting the power dynamics within organizations and industries. It's no longer just about being innovative but being smart about implementation.
  3. Countries like China are emerging as leaders by mastering manufacturing and integrating it with new technologies, especially energy management. This trend suggests that future economic dominance will hinge on industrial capabilities rather than just financial prowess.

The virtue of indifference to outcome

Strategy Notes • 78 implied HN points • 29 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Strategy
  1. Having a sense of indifference to outcomes in competitions and challenges is important for strategists.
  2. Although outcomes matter, it's beneficial to approach challenges with indifference in the heart and mind.
  3. Strategists should cultivate a sense of indifference to the outcome of any given challenge for long-term success.

The Best Businesses are the Worst

MoneyLemma • 78 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Great companies are a myth - even the best ones have flaws and imperfections.
  2. Focus on doing the job at hand well, not on perfection - being good enough is the key to success.
  3. The best companies excel in certain areas but may be lacking in others - it's a trade-off due to scarce resources.

The Only Way to Know is to Do

Ways of Working • 78 implied HN points • 30 Sep 23
🎙 Podcasts Strategy
  1. Everything is built step by step, take that first step to create anything.
  2. Collaboration can be a force multiplier, choose partners who amplify you.
  3. Know your 'why' to guide your actions and decisions towards your goals.

☁ Benchmarking 101

Hard Mode by Breaking SaaS • 78 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Benchmarking helps you compare your company's performance with your industry peers and make strategic decisions.
  2. Choose the right benchmarks based on factors like size, growth, and time to ensure accurate comparisons.
  3. Find benchmarking data from public company SEC filings and aggregated private company reports.

Permission to Act: The Psychology of Effective Planning | LSW#59

The Leading Sapiens Weekly • 120 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Plans help us take action, even if they're not perfect. They give us the confidence to start exploring without needing everything to be figured out.
  2. Taking steps forward can bring clarity. Instead of waiting for a perfect plan, moving can help us learn and adjust along the way.
  3. Sometimes, acting on a not-so-accurate map can be better than seeking perfection. It allows us to move forward and learn from our experiences rather than staying stuck.

Firefighting

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 99 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Teams should be designed to adapt quickly to change rather than stay rigid. This means creating temporary project teams that can be evaluated and disbanded if they're no longer needed.
  2. Instead of focusing on strict, clear KPIs, organizations should promote flexibility. This allows teams more freedom to make the right choices based on changing situations.
  3. Employees should be encouraged to take on roles that allow for continual change. This mindset helps everyone prepare for shifts in their jobs and the organization as a whole.

Driving Extreme Clarity

Perspectives • 7 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Prefer a clear no to a messy yes because vague agreements hide real disagreements and cause wasted work later.
  2. Prioritize by force-ranking hard choices; if prioritization doesn’t feel painful, you aren’t prioritizing clearly enough.
  3. Capture decisions in writing (prework, live notes, restatements, and a running alignment document) so alignment lasts and people can act confidently.

Make Your Future a Little Less Uncertain

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 39 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Success can come with unexpected challenges, which can be hard to talk about. It's important to recognize and address these challenges as they arise.
  2. Changes in society, like those seen during the pandemic, can really impact how organizations connect with their clients. Adapting communication methods is crucial for effective outreach.
  3. Issues like inflation and increased stress in people's lives can lead to more divorces and conflicts. Organizations need to be ready to support their clients through these tough times.

The Platform Risk

Tiny Empires • 49 implied HN points • 29 May 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Don't rely too much on platforms you don't own because they can change rules suddenly. Build your own website and email list to keep control.
  2. Create a safety net by spreading your revenue across different platforms. This way, if one platform changes, your business won't fall apart.
  3. Always stay in touch with your audience through multiple channels. This keeps you connected, even if some platforms go away.

Selling Better.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 27 implied HN points • 17 Aug 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Focusing on solutions is key when selling. Customers want to know how you can solve their problems, not just what products you have.
  2. Keep interactions simple and accessible. Make it easy for people to understand and engage with what you offer.
  3. Make your presentations concise. Aim for no more than 9 slides, highlighting the main ideas and actions needed to keep your audience's attention.

Making Sense of The Après-Ukraine.

Trying to Understand the World • 7 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Strategy
  1. You can’t easily draw universal lessons from Ukraine because the war’s context is unique, political, and many lessons won’t be practical or agreed on.
  2. Logistics, ammunition and sheer numbers often matter more than individual platforms: large stocks, resupply and integrated command let forces fight for years, and massed missiles or drones can overwhelm defenses.
  3. Drones and new technologies are important but conditional — defenses will adapt, the West will adopt them slowly and unevenly, and these tools will create unexpected civilian, criminal, and military uses.

Invert, always invert

The Engineering Manager • 10 implied HN points • 23 Nov 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Inversion is a problem-solving technique where you think about how things could fail instead of just focusing on how to succeed. This helps you spot potential problems before they happen.
  2. Using inversion in engineering projects can reveal blind spots we often miss when we only plan for success. By anticipating failure, we can create better strategies and avoid disasters.
  3. Next time you're starting a big project, try doing an 'inversion pass.' Ask what could go wrong and work to prevent those issues, which can lead to more successful outcomes.

Startups: Stop innovating so damn much

CommandBlogue • 1 HN point • 06 Sep 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Startups should focus their innovation efforts on fewer things that really matter. Trying to change everything can slow your progress and make things confusing.
  2. Innovation comes with risks, especially if a startup decides to ignore proven methods that have worked for successful companies. It's often safer to go with what’s already known to work.
  3. Not all areas need innovation. It's smarter to copy what works well in job roles, company structure, and communication tools, so you can spend your energy on truly valuable changes.

Silenced Warnings

The Radar • 39 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Ignoring warnings can lead to significant consequences in any endeavor.
  2. Desensitization to repetitive cues can result in catastrophic loss.
  3. Leaders should encourage open challenge and avoid an autocratic approach to prevent missing important cues that could save the organization.

The Power of Disruption

Build To Scale • 59 implied HN points • 09 Nov 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Successful companies can usher in new technology waves that disrupt industries.
  2. Disruptive innovation targets new audiences with different needs, not just incremental improvements.
  3. To succeed with disruption, tap into new markets, play by different rules, and understand the power of open source models.

Markets, Windows, and Why Now?

sidkasbekar • 39 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Software businesses evolve through stages from creation to stabilization.
  2. Having a strong opinion on market development stage is crucial for founders.
  3. Understanding industry direction is more critical than just 'Why Now?' for founders.

Procrustes - en francais!

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 3 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Be ruthless about scope: focus your team on solving the real business problems in priority order and cut anything not necessary to be ready by the deadline.
  2. Make hard decisions early so the team can finish the core work on time rather than stretching to satisfy endless custom requests.
  3. Use a skilled account manager to manage client expectations, reframe requirements as requests, and deliver what users need instead of promising every requested feature.

Procrustes - auf Deutsch!

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 3 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Ruthlessly focus on the customer's real business problems and cut anything nonessential so the team can meet an immovable launch date.
  2. Use experienced customer-facing people to manage expectations, reframing many requests from “requirements” to “wishes” and disappointing customers tactfully when needed.
  3. Avoid micromanaging by scheduling regular update checkpoints in your calendar and making the team accountable for progress so you only act when issues are reported.

Intellectual Laziness

MD&A • 404 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Intellectual laziness can lead to catastrophic corporate failures, as seen in the case of GE and SVB.
  2. Managers who prioritize manipulating short-term earnings over creating long-term shareholder value are intellectually lazy.
  3. Intellectual rigor is essential in identifying underrated managers and avoiding overrated ones.

The strategy behind the fastest growing sport in America

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 19 implied HN points • 09 Apr 24
🎾 Sports Strategy
  1. Pickleball is popular because it's easy to learn, making it fun for beginners. Players can quickly develop their skills and enjoy the game without a long learning curve.
  2. The sport is affordable, with cheaper equipment compared to tennis. This lower cost makes it easier for more people to try and stick with the game.
  3. Community plays a big role in pickleball's growth. The social aspect encourages players to connect with others, which keeps them coming back for more.

Sacrifice revenue for simplicity

Tiny Empires • 98 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Sometimes, it's better to simplify your business model even if it means making less money. This can save you time and reduce stress.
  2. Instead of making custom offers for every client, create standard packages to streamline sales. This way, you spend less time on individual deals.
  3. Automating your sales process can help you focus on growth. With self-serve options, clients can buy directly from your website, which saves you effort.

Screenshot roundup and 🤖 AI positioning in ads

Mehdeeka • 5 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Small UX and copy choices — like using navigation to show value propositions or a blunt “what is X” line — make websites much clearer and reduce user confusion.
  2. Short, creative activations (limited digital giveaways, playful Gen Z copy, or logo-as-art) are scroll-stopping and build goodwill, though they often rely on strong existing brand recognition.
  3. Be careful with AI messaging: only call out AI when you can clearly explain what it does for users, because vague AI claims spark short-term interest but then invite skeptical questions.

"I don't want to do our cheat way of getting 12 objectives by bundling everything under three things"

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 4 HN points • 23 Jul 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. It's really hard to focus on just three priorities because teams often want to tackle too many things at once. Picking fewer goals helps you actually get more done.
  2. Organizations keep adding new projects and ideas without removing old ones, which creates overload. It's important to occasionally remove tasks or projects to avoid burnout.
  3. Having too many ideas can slow down progress, so it’s essential to have a way to filter them. Voting or aligning them with key priorities helps decide which ideas to pursue.

Welcome to Upon Reflection!

Upon Reflection • 39 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. This space focuses on topics like personal and professional growth, executing strategy, evolving company culture, and building high-performing teams relevant to modern-day leaders.
  2. The platform is intended for those pursuing meaningful work, leading authentically, feeling stuck, or first-time leaders looking for a fresh approach.
  3. Subscribing offers insights gathered from numerous sources like books, coaching clients, and case studies to equip leaders with tools and mindsets for effective leadership.

What makes an organization great at strategy?

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 19 implied HN points • 02 Apr 24
🎾 Sports Strategy
  1. Great organizations learn from the best in sports, like the NBA. They adapt and apply successful strategies to stay competitive.
  2. Focusing on teamwork and individual talent is key for success. Just like in basketball, each player's strengths contribute to the overall performance.
  3. Instead of getting caught up in drama, it's important to concentrate on what makes teams and players excel. This mindset can also apply to business.

Tactics versus strategies in the theory of games

Infinitely More • 25 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
📖 Philosophy Strategy
  1. Tactics are focused, short-term moves in games, while strategies are broader plans that consider the entire game history. Think of tactics like specific plays in a game of chess compared to a strategy that shapes the whole match.
  2. In game theory, a tactic works with just the current state of play, while a strategy includes the whole journey to that point. This means tactics can be very specific to the moment, without knowing the past turns.
  3. Understanding whether a game has winning tactics or strategies helps players decide their best moves. It's important to know if there's a guaranteed win for one player or if both can only draw.

What Year One of Building an AI Company Taught Me

The Incrementalist • 4 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Speed and constant shipping don’t create clarity; clarity comes from restraint, simplifying the product, and tightening the loop so the product feels obvious not just impressive.
  2. You can’t outsource judgment — you earn it by sitting with ambiguity, watching what actually works in your specific context, and updating your beliefs based on results.
  3. The real product is judgment and reliable systems that handle messy, real work; build systems that remember, can be inspected and corrected, and manage exceptions over time.

What the demise of Sears teaches us about strategy

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 59 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Knowing who you are as a business is really important. Sears changed its identity multiple times, which helped it grow in the beginning, but not knowing who they were later on hurt them.
  2. Sears' shift from a catalog seller to a retail store showed that businesses should adapt to changes in the world. They had to think ahead about where their stores should be to meet customer needs as habits shifted.
  3. When businesses don't have a clear identity, they can make confusing decisions that lead to failure. A strong identity helps guide choices and keeps companies focused on what they do best.

How To Run An Offsite

Build To Scale • 59 implied HN points • 03 Oct 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. An effective offsite meeting should have a clear purpose, such as planning for strategic changes, setting priorities, or working on challenging problems creatively.
  2. Include the next-level up-and-coming leaders in executive offsite meetings to have a broader impact and develop managerial talent.
  3. To tackle hard problems, gather a diverse group of people from different areas within the company to brainstorm solutions, as fresh perspectives can lead to creative breakthroughs.

FriendTech: The Good, The Bad & The $

The Loop News • 58 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
🔮 Crypto Strategy
  1. The FriendTech platform has bugs and is not yet up to Web2 standards.
  2. The onboarding process for FriendTech may not attract retail users.
  3. Speculation and farming are prevalent on FriendTech, but there are strategies for trading and farming for both small and large portfolios.