The hottest Venture Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Networked Conviction 005

Investing 101 • 55 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
💼 Business Venture
  1. Multidisciplinary skunkworks like Imagineering bring artists, engineers, storytellers, and others together to turn creative uncertainty into tangible products. They act as permanent studios that translate ideas into real experiences.
  2. Flagship Pioneering is a repeatable biotech incubator model that has spawned huge winners like Moderna and demonstrates how a discovery mechanism can generate major portfolio value. It shows the power of intentionally building companies from uncertainty.
  3. With AI creating exponentially more uncertainty, there’s a clear opportunity to adapt the Flagship model to systematically find and build AI deployment businesses. Replicating that incubator approach could turn AI-driven uncertainty into productive, investable companies.

Welcome to the AI bubble

The Down Round • 98 implied HN points • 14 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Venture
  1. The AI industry may be experiencing a bubble similar to what the crypto industry went through before.
  2. There are signs of hype and questionable practices in AI, such as companies quickly pivoting to AI and non-experts making bold claims.
  3. Being cautious and vigilant in an AI bubble is important to avoid getting caught up in unrealistic narratives and disconnected market valuations.

Networked Conviction 001

Investing 101 • 4 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
💰 Finance Venture
  1. Publishing weekly builds a habit and keeps you focused on consistency instead of chasing perfection.
  2. Having paying readers creates accountability and pushes the writer to produce more serious, unfiltered research and thinking.
  3. The newsletter serves three purposes: portfolio updates, Requests For Startups, and generating investing ideas, lessons, and frameworks.

Dominant Assurance Contract Experiment #2: Berkeley House Dinners

Arjun Panickssery • 78 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
💼 Business Venture
  1. The writer experimented with a Dominant Assurance Contract, but didn't reach the required number of funders and lost money.
  2. The writer is trying a real-world Dominant Assurance Contract for hosting weekly dinners, where participants can pay to attend.
  3. Participants in the dinner contract can pay at least $20, with the writer hosting the dinners if $700 is raised, or providing a partial refund if the target is not met.
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On the Importance of Mental Models in Investing

Equal Ventures • 0 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
💰 Finance Venture
  1. Venture investing can be unstructured with limited data, requiring investors to develop independent conviction in opportunities.
  2. Successful investors use mental models to structure thoughts and make better decisions, developing a unique approach based on a latticework of models.
  3. Leveraging mental models inspired by seasoned investors can significantly impact professional growth and decision-making, creating structure in the chaotic venture environment.

Startups are like TV Series

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 16
💼 Business Venture
  1. Startups and TV series share similarities in terms of complexity and organized storytelling.
  2. Success in startups, like in TV shows, comes from the convergence of details towards a compelling story.
  3. Building a successful venture requires entrepreneurs to excel by handling details effectively and avoiding a messy narrative.