The hottest Strategy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Forward: Escape the Fold

Have You Played? • 58 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🕹 Technology Strategy
  1. In "Forward: Escape the Fold", you advance through a dungeon by moving onto cards with power-ups.
  2. The game is a roguelite, meaning no save points, randomization, and replaying for new strategies.
  3. Balancing short-term gains and long-term risks is key in playing and succeeding in Forward.

Seven Powers in Life Sciences

axialdaily • 58 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Scale Economies in business help reduce costs as production volume increases
  2. Network Economies create value as more customers join, creating barriers for new entrants
  3. Counter-Positioning involves pursuing a business model that incumbents cannot copy without damaging their existing business
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

An introduction

Baptiste’s Substack • 58 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🚌 Education Strategy
  1. The author is an independent researcher specializing in Strategy, Wargaming, and Artificial Intelligence.
  2. The author aims to make academic writings more accessible through this Substack platform.
  3. The majority of content will be free to access, with a weekly newsletter for paid subscribers.

Steps to Strategy

Seth’s Substack • 58 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Make time for big picture thinking and strategy in your leadership role.
  2. Remember to prioritize self-care to be more effective in your strategic work.
  3. Consider specific prompts like wish lists and worry lists to guide your strategic planning.

The consulting grass needs watering to be greener

Kenny’s Sub • 39 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Freelancing allows for more control and fulfillment in your work. You can choose projects that excite you instead of being stuck in a regular job.
  2. It's important to build strong relationships and always keep your pipeline full. Referrals can greatly help in getting new clients and sustaining your business.
  3. Shifting your mindset about value and time is crucial. It's about delivering impact, not just billing hours, and you can charge for the value you bring.

10 Years of Solo Consulting (Part 2)

burkhardstubert • 79 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. It's important to charge more for strategic advice compared to implementation work. Clients often don't realize the value they get from your expertise, so it's beneficial to price according to the value you create.
  2. Using productized services can save time and increase income. These services combine a standard product with a small amount of customization for each client, allowing you to charge more consistently.
  3. Setting your own payment terms can lead to better cash flow and less hassle. By charging clients upfront or setting clear rules about payments, you can avoid the stress of late payments and complicated contracts.

📈 How Tracksuit built a B2B brand valued at $142.9 million AUD to take the brand tracking world by by becoming champions of brand building with tracksuits, drinks and case studies 🧢

the case for brand 💼 • 72 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Tracksuit is changing the B2B game by making brand tracking easier and more affordable for businesses. They offer a fun and approachable way to connect brands with their customers.
  2. Their brand strategy focuses on building a supportive community for marketers, making them feel less alone in their roles. They do this through friendly events and a casual, relatable style.
  3. Tracksuit shows that B2B marketing can be exciting! By mixing in real-life events and a more relaxed atmosphere, they make brand tracking engaging and meaningful.

Lessons For Startup Founders From A TPM

Building Rome(s) • 5 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Keep clarity even when the future is uncertain: set a simple vision, tactical goals, timeframes, and clear owners so the team can scale without heavyweight process.
  2. Prioritize ruthlessly and learn to say no; using a “no log” helps the team see what you intentionally set aside and keeps focus on what matters.
  3. Build minimal, evolving systems that prevent chaos and surface hidden work—use a single roadmap, release-based planning, regular demos, decision logs, and launch checklists to make dependencies and debt visible.

How to optimize your pricing page

Kyle Poyar’s Growth Unhinged • 315 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Reinforce the value proposition on your pricing page to help prospects understand how your product solves their pain.
  2. Focus on the foundational aspects of your pricing page before diving into pricing hacks.
  3. Avoid overwhelming prospects by providing clear and concise information, emphasizing benefits over features.

Deep dive: Claude's product marketing

Mehdeeka • 6 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Claude's product marketing focuses heavily on their website with clear product information, but it sometimes misses a cohesive brand message. It’s important to showcase both product features and your brand personality in marketing materials.
  2. Social media strategies aren't well defined for Claude. Each platform should cater to a distinct audience, but currently, their content overlaps too much, which can confuse potential customers.
  3. Keeping core marketing materials updated with rapid product changes is tricky. It's crucial to have consistent messaging across all channels, especially when introducing new features or rebranding efforts.

WOData: CrossFit Open 24.2

Austin's Analects • 19 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🎾 Sports Strategy
  1. The author shares their strategy and analysis for CrossFit Open Workout 24.2, achieving a high score and feeling proud of their performance.
  2. The workout consists of a 20-minute AMRAP involving rowing, deadlifts, and double-unders, with the author focusing on efficient transitions and pacing throughout the routine.
  3. By analyzing their execution in terms of time per round, movement, and transitions, the author reflects on areas where they excelled and areas for potential improvement, like quicker transitions for better performance.

Ski Lift Pricing and the Lessons from Vail’s Challenge

Gad’s Newsletter • 70 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Skiing in the U.S. is becoming very expensive and often feels exclusive. Many ski resorts focus on making money rather than being inclusive to all skiers.
  2. The Epic Pass has changed how skiing works by giving access to multiple resorts. However, this has led to long wait times and overcrowded slopes, making the skiing experience less enjoyable.
  3. In Europe, ski resorts are often more affordable and competitive, allowing more people to enjoy skiing. This makes skiing feel less like a luxury and more accessible for everyone.

4 key metrics to track for solofounders

Tiny Empires • 85 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Track your monthly net profit to see if your business is healthy. If profits drop for too long, figure out why.
  2. Know your Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) to understand how stable your income is. This helps you plan for the future.
  3. Focus on a few key metrics for marketing and sales, like the cost per lead and conversion rates, to make better decisions. Don't get lost in too much data.

Preventive decisions are underrated

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 39 implied HN points • 28 Nov 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Preventive decisions are often overlooked but can save a lot of trouble later. It's better to act early to avoid bigger problems in the future.
  2. Building and maintaining strong relationships with your team or board is essential for effective leadership. Good communication can prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.
  3. Learning from the experiences of companies like OpenAI can provide valuable insights into making better strategic decisions. Watching their ups and downs can teach important lessons for everyone in business.

I talked to the creator behind my favourite Are.na board

The Social Juice • 66 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. The author interviews creators and marketers regularly. This gives insights into the world of marketing and helps readers learn from the experiences of others.
  2. There's a community aspect where subscribers can join a Discord group and WhatsApp chat. This allows for interaction and sharing among like-minded individuals.
  3. The newsletter offers a mix of marketing resources and news updates. This helps keep readers informed about the latest trends and strategies in the marketing field.

The light

The Strategy Toolkit • 251 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🚌 Education Strategy
  1. Geography is about the relationships between people and the land they live on.
  2. Maps are powerful tools used to convey power and influence.
  3. Mapmaking is influenced by subjective knowledge and various factors like politics and beliefs.

The Hagakure #86: One Job

The Hagakure • 61 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Giving control to your team is important, but first, you need to make sure they understand their tasks clearly. This way, people can make better decisions without relying on just one person.
  2. To help your team succeed, they need competence in their roles. This includes being good at problem-solving, communication, and understanding processes.
  3. As a leader, your job is to create a clear vision and help develop your team's skills. This allows everyone to work better together and feel more empowered.

Infinite Sudoku

Infinitely More • 23 implied HN points • 12 Jul 25
🚌 Education Strategy
  1. Sudoku is typically a solo puzzle where you fill a 9x9 grid with numbers, ensuring that each number appears only once in each row, column, and 3x3 box.
  2. There's a fun two-player version called the Sudoku game where players take turns placing numbers on an empty board, trying to outsmart each other without breaking the Sudoku rules.
  3. The Sudoku game can be played on larger or different shaped boards, and there are even ideas for playing infinite versions of the game on larger grids.

✅ Status report: artificial intelligence in public relations

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Public relations is using AI mainly for testing new ideas, but there's a need for better tools and data management. Companies need to be more organized with their use of AI technology.
  2. AI can help create basic drafts but often lacks quality and can make mistakes. As AI gets better, the quality of its writing is improving.
  3. Jobs at the entry level may be at risk because AI can automate basic writing tasks. Skills like adaptability and managing relationships will be important for staying relevant in the industry.

Apple's M&A Strategy, Explained

SatPost by Trung Phan • 79 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Apple's approach to mergers and acquisitions often focuses on acquiring talent rather than large companies. They prefer smaller deals to bring in experts for new technologies.
  2. Chick-fil-A has become hugely successful with only a few thousand locations by keeping their restaurant experience efficient and engaging. Their franchise model is very selective, ensuring high-quality operators.
  3. Duolingo emphasizes user engagement over strict educational methods because they know it’s crucial to keep users motivated in a competitive app landscape.

Why CEOs are the very last job that AI will replace

The Future of Life • 19 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. CEOs are more than just financial managers; they serve as agents of the owners and have a broad range of responsibilities. Their main job is to implement the company's mission and make key value judgments that drive the business's success.
  2. AI may become very smart, but it can't replace the human ability to make complex value judgments. For example, deciding which products align with a company's values requires deep understanding and insight that AI doesn't have.
  3. Maximizing profits is not just about cutting costs; it's about pursuing a clear mission. Just like individuals find success by following their goals, businesses need a strong mission to guide their decisions.

❄️ How Deer Valley turns $329 lift tickets into a love letter to skiers and the romance of the West ⛷️

the case for brand 💼 • 58 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Deer Valley Ski Resort focuses on providing a luxury experience by offering premium services and a limited number of tickets. This makes their skiing experience feel exclusive.
  2. Their marketing emphasizes storytelling and nostalgia, which helps them connect with their guests on a deeper level. They want visitors to feel like they're part of a special tradition.
  3. Deer Valley stays true to its unique identity by avoiding snowboards and promoting an image of an independent, family-owned resort, even though it's part of a larger corporation.

A New Year’s dialogue with... my AI coaching app

Building the Builders • 3 implied HN points • 31 Dec 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. A scarcity mindset—seeing time, opportunities, and energy as nonrenewable—undermines creativity, relationships, and risk-taking, while an abundance view treats resources as renewable and compounding and enables bolder moves in work, experiments, and family life.
  2. Slow-feedback projects and subtle social moments need intentionally built feedback loops to sustain momentum and confidence; simple habits like session-level notes, prompts, or visible reminders turn distant progress into immediate, learnable signals.
  3. Deliberate identity work helps you "remember what you know": study persistent builders, free-write without censoring, and act opposite scarcity-driven fears so repeated practice and risk-taking produce the evidence that cements an abundant, builder mindset.

How to find your own best practices

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 19 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Look for best practices inside your own organization first. You've already tested these ideas, so you know they can work for you.
  2. Using what you already have saves you the trouble of making big changes or learning new systems.
  3. Finding internal best practices helps you build on your own successes instead of starting from scratch with outside ideas.

Acceleration over Position

Deeply Nested • 83 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Focus on improving your team's acceleration instead of just hitting short-term goals. This will help you achieve better long-term outcomes.
  2. Hiring more people won't solve issues caused by technical debt or poor processes. Instead, it can actually make problems worse.
  3. Identify and address real obstacles to progress, like code complexity or support issues, so you can change direction effectively and make real progress.

Engaging Your Staff to Drive Success

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 19 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Most strategies fail during implementation because the planning phase is fun, but putting plans into action is hard. Engaging staff is vital to convert plans into reality.
  2. Engaging staff before creating a strategy helps gather useful feedback and ideas. This can be done through surveys, townhalls, or one-on-one conversations.
  3. After a strategy is made, leaders should support staff by explaining how it benefits them personally and providing the tools they need. Keeping changes simple helps everyone adapt better.

When to Dig a Moat

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 232 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Companies with the best products and fastest growth need moats for protection.
  2. Startups should start building moats as soon as they achieve success to fend off competition.
  3. Deciding when to focus on building moats depends on the level of uncertainty in the business.

How Elon became the taxman

Socratic Tech Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Tesla's early investment in a charging network gave them a competitive edge in the electric vehicle market.
  2. By letting other automakers use their chargers, Tesla turned a cost into a revenue stream and created a moat.
  3. Similar to other tech firms, Tesla has found success by setting tech standards and monetizing them.

Below the crowd

Nate is Learning • 39 implied HN points • 20 Jul 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. In crowded environments, successful communication requires moving to a quieter space.
  2. In business, success lies in having a great story, product, and fostering word of mouth.
  3. Marketing effectiveness comes from distributing unique and special products below the crowded noise.

Different Strokes For Different Folks

Investing 101 • 69 implied HN points • 26 Oct 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Different venture funds have unique strategies. Some focus on raising large amounts of capital for many investments, while others prefer to make fewer, more targeted investments.
  2. Success in venture capital isn't guaranteed, no matter how fancy the fund. It's crucial for firms to find their own style and approach to increase the chances of success for their startups.
  3. Having a clear focus can be a big advantage. Smaller funds can compete effectively by honing in on specific areas and being selective about their investments.

Drivers of success

Tech and Thoughts • 2 HN points • 31 Jul 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Good communication is really important for success. It helps everyone understand each other and work better together.
  2. Having the right information and logistics is key. When things are organized and everyone has the info they need, success comes more easily.
  3. Competence matters, but it shouldn't overshadow other factors like communication and logistics. Balancing all these elements leads to better results.

Why won't they give us the resources?

Sunday Letters • 159 implied HN points • 12 Jun 22
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Deciding when to invest in new projects is tricky for companies because they need to balance costs and benefits. Too much spending too quickly can lead to financial problems.
  2. Finance teams focus on overall company health, like cash flow and profit margins. If a new project risks the company's profitability, they might hesitate to fund it.
  3. To get funding for new ideas, it's helpful to understand the financial risks and show how the project can improve profit margins. Developing strategies to lower risks can increase chances of approval.

People.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 60 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Companies can make plans for change, but it's really the people who need to adapt for those changes to happen. If the changes aren't good for people, they won't work.
  2. While technology like AI is important, it's the people using it that will truly make a difference in a business. Great talent and leadership can help a company reimagine itself successfully.
  3. Transforming a company takes time because people change slowly. Companies need to start preparing early for any big shifts in their industry.

5 Pricing Ideas to Steal this Week

Good Better Best • 2 implied HN points • 02 Jan 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Use AI usage limits and subtle price differences to nudge customers into preferred plans. Adjusting discounts and per-feature limits can reshuffle plan value without big visible price changes.
  2. Simplify your plan lineup and clearly position the remaining plans to reduce friction. Consolidating plans and using value-driven banners helps customers pick the plan that fits them.
  3. Offer flexible monetization like seasonal seats and temporary usage boosts to match customer needs and improve retention. Creative promotions that add value for existing customers can drive goodwill without changing contracted prices.