The hottest Strategy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

How to Build a Revenue Operations Function From the Ground Up

beyondrevenueoperations • 0 implied HN points • 04 Oct 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Start by defining why you want a Revenue Operations function and set clear goals with measurable targets. Knowing the specific problems to solve helps everyone stay focused.
  2. Get buy-in from company leaders first. They need to understand how RevOps will benefit the business and support your efforts, including providing necessary resources.
  3. Assess your current situation thoroughly before implementing changes. Look at existing processes, the technology in use, and the quality of data to find gaps and areas for improvement.

Upstream decisions and time

Carl’s Substack • 0 implied HN points • 05 Oct 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Make wise choices early on in life, like who you marry and where you live, because they have a big impact on your future. It's important to focus on those key decisions.
  2. If you realize you made a mistake, don't worry too much. Your next decision can change everything, so keep moving forward.
  3. It's better to think things will take longer than they actually will. People often underestimate the time needed for big results, and that's okay.

Killing Product Management

honest product. • 0 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Product management is often confused with project management, but they serve different purposes. Product managers should focus on strategy, while project managers handle execution.
  2. Many companies are pushing product managers into more tactical roles due to pressures from investors and founders. This shift can weaken the strategic insights that product managers provide.
  3. There's hope for the future of product management, with companies like Airbnb recognizing the importance of storytelling in the role. This approach can help ensure that decisions are aligned with business goals and customer needs.

Poker, appendage sensory & game theories

The Strategy Toolkit • 0 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Understanding poker can help improve decision-making in life. Like in poker, you can use probabilities to assess risks and make smarter choices.
  2. Learning key poker concepts like pot odds and bluffing can enhance your strategy skills. These ideas apply not just to cards but to many situations we face.
  3. Successful people think strategically and take calculated risks. Adopting a mindset similar to a poker player can help you navigate challenges better.

🐿️ Sheriffs on the Spot - The Insanely Profitable Tech Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Instead of being a strict leader who just gives orders, it's better to involve your tech team in the decision-making process. This helps them feel valued and boosts their morale.
  2. Frequent updates and accountability are key. By having your team report their results often, you can help them stay on track and offer support when needed.
  3. Leaning back and letting your team take charge can lead to more action and better results. It’s important for them to demonstrate their value regularly, rather than waiting for orders from you.
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🐿️ Zealous Listening - The Insanely Profitable Tech Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Active listening is not enough; you need to understand the deeper reasons and emotions behind what people are saying. This helps in making better decisions.
  2. Repeating back what someone said, including their reasoning and feelings, builds trust and reduces risks in communication.
  3. Learning to listen to and reflect on everyone's ideas, even unusual ones, is essential for teamwork and problem-solving.

How challenger brand Bobbie disrupted a $70B industry to become the fastest growing brand in the infant formula category

the case for brand 💼 • 0 implied HN points • 02 Nov 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Bobbie is changing the way people think about infant formula. They focus on building trust with customers by addressing the emotional challenges that parents face when choosing formula.
  2. During a nationwide formula shortage, Bobbie prioritized existing customers over gaining new ones. This decision helped them build strong loyalty and trust with their audience.
  3. Bobbie stands out by creating meaningful content and advocating for parents, like pushing for paid parental leave. They understand their audience and take action on issues that matter to them.

Ranking and Rating

Kartick’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Ranking shows preferences clearly, like choosing cars in order of what you like most. It's straightforward for comparisons.
  2. Ratings provide more detailed info with scores, but they can sometimes lead to confusion or arguments over small differences.
  3. Information can be helpful, but too much can complicate things. Sometimes, a simple ranking is better to avoid overwhelm.

The Lost Age Of Abundance: a strategy game for deep thinkers

Demodexio • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Strategy
  1. The game allows players to lead families in a shattered empire, focusing on complex economics and sociology rather than just warfare. Players can choose their leadership style and aim to restore prosperity.
  2. Families in the game have individual histories and desires, influencing their decisions about loyalty and moving between territories. Players need to understand these dynamics to maintain their power and support.
  3. The primary goal of the game includes fostering freedom and happiness among families. Players must balance their actions to build a flourishing society while navigating challenges and aspirations of the peasants.

Game Theory Concepts Useful in Life

Kartick’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Aim for win/win situations where everyone can succeed together. It’s better to work as partners instead of fighting against each other.
  2. Life is not just a one-time game; it's more like a series of games. How you treat people now will affect how they treat you later.
  3. Sometimes, it's wise to walk away from a game that’s rigged against you. Recognizing when to step back can save you time and trouble.

#20 The Fresh Outlook: Articles and insights for founders and teams

Meliora by Ana Stoica • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Thinking about money over time is really important for business owners when they plan to sell their company. It helps them understand how to maximize what they get from the sale.
  2. Navigating an exit can be emotional and complicated. Founders should prepare for both the personal and financial aspects to ensure a smoother transition.
  3. Staying informed and learning from resources like articles and insights can really help founders with their growth strategies and better decision-making.

The Value of Money in Time: A Critical Factor in Your Exit Strategy

Meliora by Ana Stoica • 0 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Money has a time value, meaning getting cash now is better than getting the same amount later. This is important to remember when planning your exit.
  2. Consider not just the total payout but also how and when you'll get the money. Upfront payments or quicker payouts are usually better than delayed big sums.
  3. Negotiating the right deal structure can help reduce risks and uncertainties. Think about your personal needs and make sure the deal aligns with your financial goals.

Dear Marketers Podcast - Template Library

MKT1 Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🎙 Podcasts Strategy
  1. The podcast offers templates and resources that are only available to paid subscribers. These resources can help marketers improve their work.
  2. Listeners can access a template library that includes everything discussed in the podcast episodes. It's a great way to get practical tools for marketing.
  3. This initiative encourages marketers to subscribe for more valuable content and tools that can enhance their skills. Subscribing could be beneficial if you're serious about marketing.

Will Your CFO Enforce a One-Year AI Payback?

OSS.fund Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. CFOs want quick returns on AI investments. They expect companies to show profits within a year to keep funding going.
  2. Many businesses have too many AI projects without clear benefits. CFOs are pushing for proof that these projects are actually helping the company.
  3. To make decisions on AI funding, CFOs look for clear signs of cost savings, revenue growth, and compliance improvements. Projects that don't meet these standards might get cut.

Issue #5: B2B SaaS Founder, Paying the Hidden AI Tax?

OSS.fund Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 17 Apr 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Adding AI features to a SaaS product can lead to increased costs without improving sales, which is seen as the 'AI Tax'.
  2. Companies need to clarify the value of their AI features and ensure that pricing matches this value to encourage growth.
  3. It's essential to track how AI features are used and their associated costs to manage margins effectively and prevent losses.

Issue #2: The AI Funding Approvals Merry-Go-Round

OSS.fund Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 27 Mar 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. AI projects need special handling because they combine different business areas, making approval complex. It’s not just another tech upgrade; it affects finance, operations, and strategy all at once.
  2. CFOs want clear financial impacts and risks before they approve AI initiatives. If the proposal is vague or overly technical, it can get rejected, even if it's a great idea.
  3. Using a standardized template for AI funding requests helps everyone. It makes proposals clearer and helps tech teams speak the CFO's language, leading to quicker approvals.

#24 The Fresh Outlook: Articles and insights for founders and teams

Meliora by Ana Stoica • 0 implied HN points • 29 May 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Navigating a business exit means thinking about negotiation carefully. It's not just about the price, but how to structure the deal for long-term success.
  2. Preparation is key for founders looking to make a successful transition. They need to engage strategically and consider expert advice to get favorable terms.
  3. Asking the right questions about the deal can help in making better strategic decisions. It's important to think deeply about the options available during this phase.

Quick follow-up on the "Content Moat Blueprint"

Organic SaaS Growth • 0 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. The Content Moat Blueprint is a detailed content strategy plan that helps businesses understand their competitive position and content gaps.
  2. It's specifically aimed at B2B SaaS founders and marketers who want to improve their content but need a clear plan to follow.
  3. There are limited spots available for this pilot program at a special price, offering a great opportunity for those ready to enhance their content strategy.

#42 Content moat in the AI world

Organic SaaS Growth • 0 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. As AI-generated content becomes common, it's important for businesses to find ways to stand out and be memorable. This means creating unique content that can't be easily replicated.
  2. With AI tools providing direct answers to questions, businesses need to think of new ways to draw visitors to their websites. It's all about attracting people even when answers are just a click away.
  3. A well-planned content strategy can help businesses create a 'content moat.' This means building a strong foundation now so that they can thrive in the changing landscape of online content.

GACCS brief generator & template

MKT1 Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. The GACCS brief helps teams stay aligned on their goals and projects. It includes important elements like audience, creative ideas, and channels.
  2. There are tools available to help create GACCS briefs easily, like an app and Google Docs templates. These can be used for things like product launches and events.
  3. Using a structured brief can improve communication and planning within a team, making it easier to manage marketing campaigns effectively.

Fundraising Needs Vision and Execution

Tippets by Taps • 0 implied HN points • 21 Aug 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Having a clear vision is crucial for attracting investors. It helps them understand the potential future success of your company.
  2. Execution matters just as much as vision. Investors want to know that you have a solid plan to reach your goals and can make it happen.
  3. Being specific about your plans can make a big difference. Instead of vague statements, detail your concrete steps and timelines to show you really understand your business.

#37: Rant: AI Isn't the Bubble, Is It?

OSS.fund Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Blaming AI for high stock prices is wrong; the problem lies with our own expectations and decision-making. It's like blaming electricity for a company's failure.
  2. There are different perspectives on AI depending on whether you're an investor or an enterprise operator, and mixing them can cause confusion. Investors focus on stock values, while operators want to know how AI can improve their workflows.
  3. AI technology isn't failing; it’s just that companies are slow to adopt it. Learning to use it takes time, and sometimes it feels like we expect instant results too soon.

Slide deck: Gen Marketer Summit keynote

MKT1 Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. The Gen Marketer skillset is becoming the new baseline, so marketers must upskill in AI-driven tools and strategies to stay relevant.
  2. Effective campaigns in the AI era combine strategic thinking with AI-enabled creation and optimization to improve performance and scale.
  3. Slide decks, videos, and a template library explain these approaches, though some assets require a paid subscription to access.

I've been substacking all wrong

visa's voltaic verses ⚡️ • 0 implied HN points • 20 Dec 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Admit when your approach isn’t working and look for multiple layers of problems instead of blaming a single cause.
  2. The method being used was too small, too hard, and too slow.
  3. Thinking in tweets — favoring short, bite-sized ideas — makes it hard to produce the longer, deeper work that’s needed.

Profit From AI Without Chatting - Live in London

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Modern AIs like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can do fast, low‑cost research and analysis that replaces a lot of human thinking.
  2. Most people limit AI to the chatbox or simple copilots for small productivity gains, but AI can also be used in many other ways to learn from customers, cut costs, and transform how companies make money.
  3. A free live event for executives in Central London on 5 February 2026 will share practical, non‑technical tips to use AI for profit, and a recording is available for those who can’t attend.

Ignoring Black Friday

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Some deadlines are truly fixed and unavoidable, like holidays, elections, or launch windows. Others are socially created and movable, and those movable dates mostly drive herd behaviour rather than real necessity.
  2. Copying culturally specific sales events from elsewhere is usually pointless when they don't fit your market. Running sales on a different day can help your business stand out.
  3. Arbitrary internal deadlines are transparent and unmotivating, so don't use them. Use meaningful deadlines and methods like a glidepath or Procrustes to focus effort and force helpful trade-offs.

Oxygen Monopolies

Digital Native • 0 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Make your company synonymous with a clear category early so you become the go-to name in that space. Great product is the foundation, but strong marketing and positioning amplify how far you can go.
  2. Tell your own narrative and be proactive — if you don’t define your story someone else will take the spotlight. As categories get crowded, your message must get more specific.
  3. Hire a growth or brand marketer earlier than you think so distribution, messaging, and creative execution aren’t an afterthought. Put growth and brand skills on your early team to stay top-of-mind both online and offline.

🐿️ Reflexes - The Insanely Profitable Tech Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Small details and subtle signals can change meaning and outcomes. Building reflexes to notice and fix those small errors pays big dividends.
  2. Watch for three common thinking errors: assuming others' motives without asking, ruling out options too quickly, and deferring to authority. When you spot them, ask direct questions, explore alternatives, and choose what actually fits your situation.
  3. Train simple habits like pausing, interrupting to check assumptions, and coaching people to self-correct. Those habits make teams catch and fix cognitive mistakes quickly.

🐿️ Tomorrow’s Not Too Soon - The Insanely Profitable Tech Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Big changes can happen very fast when teams focus and use tight feedback cycles, with many goals reached in under three months and sometimes in weeks.
  2. Your mindset matters: believing you can learn and change quickly makes rapid transformation possible.
  3. Repeatable methods, lots of practice, and client commitment—like daily check-ins, genuine questions, and doing the hard homework—make fast, reliable results happen.

#49 A GTM Framework for the New Epoch

Organic SaaS Growth • 0 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Shift GTM from volume to precision: prioritize meaningful, contextual outreach and use AI to improve thinking and targeting, not just to scale activity.
  2. Run high-signal outbound with an adaptive, quantifiable ICP and signal-based qualification; let AI assist but keep humans in the loop to avoid burning TAM and improve conversion.
  3. Align multi-channel inbound with a machine-readable Strategic Manifest so autonomous agents produce consistent, high-trust content, and embed human oversight plus feedback loops to refine strategy over time.

🐿️ Management by Embarrassment - The IPT Newsletter

Squirrel Squadron Substack • 0 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Real, specific external threats or immovable deadlines motivate teams more effectively than made-up goals because they create meaningful consequences people want to avoid.
  2. Put responsibility in small, cross-functional teams with one engaged leader so work can’t be passed around and accountability rests where the results happen.
  3. Make progress highly visible with frequent demos and scorecards so the importance is reinforced, rapid corrections are possible, and public accountability (within a safe culture) drives delivery.

"Wait and See" Is Not a Strategy. It's a Slow-Motion Layoff.

On Engineering • 0 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Treating “wait and see” as a strategy is actually paralysis that quietly destroys teams: it blocks entry-level hiring, overloads mid-levels and seniors, and dries up the mentorship pipeline.
  2. Make hiring a deliberate decision with a clear, observable trigger (for example, when you become the bottleneck) and hire for adaptable capabilities instead of fixed task lists.
  3. Use AI as a force multiplier, not a headcount excuse, by redefining junior roles to direct and evaluate AI and by planning how to grow future senior talent rather than assuming you can always buy it later.

why finding real problems is everything

Organic SaaS Growth • 0 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Most growth problems in early-stage SaaS aren't what they first look like; surface symptoms often hide the real issue.
  2. Founders often keep trying new tactics and channels because they haven't diagnosed where growth is actually breaking.
  3. The right move is to find the root cause of the slowdown and fix that instead of constantly experimenting with new growth hacks.