The hottest Venture Capital Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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My Definition of Data Modeling (for today)

Joe Reis • 530 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Venture Capital
  1. Data modeling has various definitions by different experts and serves to improve communication, provide utility, and solve problems.
  2. A data model is a structured representation that organizes data for both humans and machines to inform decision-making and facilitate actions.
  3. Data modeling is evolving to consider the needs of machines, different use cases, and a wider range of modeling approaches for various situations.

Spotlight: Adam Niewiński - Co-founder and Managing Partner @ OTB Ventures

Space Ambition • 119 implied HN points • 14 Jun 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Investments in SpaceTech are expanding, especially in areas like in-orbit economy and debris removal. This is important for making space activities sustainable.
  2. European DeepTech startups are well-positioned to compete globally, but they need better funding and support from institutions. There's a gap in spending compared to the U.S.
  3. Investing in specialized areas like Industrial Automation is promising due to the massive data generated. Innovations in this sector can lead to smarter operations and decision-making.

The VC Corner 📰 #10

The VC Corner • 479 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Figma is lowering its company value, which shows that even well-known startups can face tough times. It's important for businesses to be realistic about their worth.
  2. Knowing how to value your startup is crucial for attracting investors. Different factors play a role in determining a startup's value.
  3. Generative AI is becoming a big topic and resource for many. Understanding it can help startups leverage technology for growth.

The Family

Venture Prose • 1058 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. The Family organization had a lot of ambitious individuals and a strong sense of community, but struggled to find a sustainable business model.
  2. Despite the energy and enthusiasm within The Family, they faced challenges with loose processes, lack of focus, and poor accountability.
  3. Individuals within The Family, like Oussama, played significant roles in both the success and failure of the organization, showcasing the importance of leadership and responsibility.

Having a Conversation With Myself: 2025

Investing 101 • 55 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Writing is primarily a tool for thinking and self-reflection, and doing it consistently compounds the creator even more than it grows an audience.
  2. Venture capital and startup culture have become noisy and scale-obsessed, so what’s needed are conviction-led or “adventure” investors and builders who focus on durable, mission-driven companies rather than chasing hype.
  3. In a hyperlegible, attention-driven world, embracing nuance, forming independent beliefs, and understanding interdependencies are essential to avoid being programmed by trends and to build things worth building.
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Why we need more startups and venture capital in cybersecurity, and what needs to change for the industry to mature

Venture in Security • 511 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Venture Capital
  1. The cybersecurity industry benefits from a large number of startups that lead to innovation and competition.
  2. Venture capital is crucial for cybersecurity startups to innovate, educate the market, and speed up the adoption of best practices.
  3. Investors need to better evaluate security startups, and the industry needs a reset of expectations to address real problems like navigating undifferentiated tools and poor go-to-market approaches.

The Software Slog

Buck on Software • 884 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Venture Capital
  1. The software industry may be facing a period of slow growth and low returns, akin to a tiring and boring slog.
  2. Consensus estimates predict a rebound in SaaS growth, resembling past historical market cycles.
  3. Zombie SaaS companies, sustained by oversized funding, create challenges for non-zombie competitors in terms of price competition and talent acquisition.

Snout

next big thing • 23 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Snout enables vet clinics to offer subscription-style wellness plans that cover routine vaccines, monthly meds, parasite screening, and unlimited telemedicine, making care more affordable and predictable for pet parents and clinics.
  2. The timing is strong because rising vet prices and a drop in visits left many pets without routine care, and Snout is showing product-market fit with millions in ARR, 5x year-over-year growth, and 250+ in-network providers.
  3. Investors are backing growth: Footwork led a $10M Series A and Snout secured a $100M non-dilutive capital line to fund clinic payments, giving the company resources to scale and hire across functions.

🚀 Propel Your Space Startup Journey with Space Ambition's Fellowship Program 🌌

Space Ambition • 279 implied HN points • 29 Mar 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. There is a fellowship program for people interested in starting space-related businesses. It offers guidance and support to help turn your ideas into reality.
  2. Participants will receive personalized feedback and insights on how to attract investors. This can help make your startup idea more appealing.
  3. The program includes online classes, individual coaching, and access to a network of resources. This structure is designed to assist you every step of the way in launching your space venture.

The inside story of why this once high-flying digital health startup failed

Second Opinion • 589 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Entrepreneurs should not avoid discussing failure, as it is part of the journey.
  2. Founders should be cautious of taking on too much at once, especially in terms of lobbying for policy changes while building a business model.
  3. When fundraising, founders should carefully consider investor relationships, future funding needs, and the value placed on patient experience.

‘American Dynamism’: How VCs Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Defense Tech...Hot Startup Funding Rounds...Byju's Leads EdTech Rout

Newcomer • 432 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Defense tech has become popular among venture capitalists due to global tensions and the U.S. government's increased investments.
  2. Success stories like SpaceX and Palantir have boosted investor confidence in companies focused on government contracts.
  3. Selling to the government, while lucrative, can be a slow and complex process due to procurement challenges.

Newcomer Is Hiring!

Newcomer • 845 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Newcomer is hiring for various roles like reporter, interns, and freelance writers.
  2. The company has experienced significant growth in revenue, is profitable, and is expanding its editorial team.
  3. Roles include full-time reporter, freelance opportunities, and intern positions for Summer 2023.

Becoming a Cult Leader

Investing 101 • 36 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Control mindshare: be the obvious voice in your category, deeply knowledgeable and present so people instinctively turn to you.
  2. Command capital: influence without funding can’t move the needle, so find the right forms of capital—VC, revenue, grants, or debt—that let you execute.
  3. Be the standard bearer: combine relentless public leadership and real financial resources to set the market’s rules and pursue your mission no matter what.

top 5 reading links for 2025

Five Links (and three graphs) by Auren Hoffman • 64 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Big-picture data and history reveal where success and talent cluster, so studying patterns can show who wins prizes and where modern geniuses hide.
  2. Private tech is reshaping defense and security, and building 21st-century military or AI systems brings practical bottlenecks like energy, logistics, and policy into focus.
  3. Everyday business and social skills matter: many data businesses aren’t ideal VC targets, venture firms often ignore their own advice, and simple moves like the right intro, hosting great dinners, or focused job hunting make a big difference.

Even Courts Cannot Stop Innovation

Points And Figures • 479 implied HN points • 28 Jun 25
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Innovations usually start with being ignored and mocked, but if they prove effective, they gain traction. It's common for people to doubt new ideas at first.
  2. When new technologies start taking market share, established companies often push for regulations to shut them down. This has happened with many services like Uber and cryptocurrency.
  3. States like Nevada are trying to regulate new markets like event betting, but they may lose this battle in court. Instead of fighting, they could evolve and embrace these innovations to stay competitive.

VCs are the worst run businesses … they never take their own advice

Five Links (and three graphs) by Auren Hoffman • 446 implied HN points • 29 Jun 25
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Venture capitalists often advise startups on management practices but don’t follow those rules themselves. For example, they say to have one CEO, yet their firms have multiple leaders.
  2. They encourage startups to go public and accept dilution, but many VCs avoid doing the same for themselves. They often take large salaries instead of low ones.
  3. While VCs tell founders to keep costs low and manage wisely, some of them spend on lavish expenses like private jets and high-end meals, showing a disconnect between their advice and actions.

Why Do You Need a Moat? & Why Are Founders Afraid to Talk About It? | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 219 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Having a moat is crucial for startups to maintain a competitive advantage over competitors, and founders should be able to clearly communicate this to investors.
  2. Successful companies need strong moats, which are built by having bold statements or visions that provide a unique and valuable experience for customers.
  3. Equity among co-founders should be split equally or close to equal, focusing on the work and challenges ahead rather than early contributions.

($) Lip-Bu Tan: the Tiger Dad Intel Needs

Interconnected • 401 implied HN points • 12 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Venture Capital
  1. Lip-Bu Tan is a highly accomplished tech CEO and venture capitalist who has had a successful career, including leading Cadence through a remarkable turnaround. His skills in managing multiple tasks and building connections have made him a powerful figure in the industry.
  2. He has a rich history of helping companies go public, with over 145 IPOs attributed to his career. This shows his deep understanding of the venture capital world and his ability to spot potential growth.
  3. Now at Intel, Lip-Bu Tan's leadership style combines discipline and fairness, which many believe is exactly what the company needs to regain its footing in the semiconductor industry.

Musk's Bid for OpenAI is Brilliant

startupdreams • 953 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Musk made a big offer of $97 billion to buy the for-profit part of OpenAI, much higher than the $40 billion OpenAI was planning to pay itself. This puts pressure on OpenAI's board to act responsibly.
  2. The offer complicates OpenAI's plans to turn entirely for-profit, making it harder for them to raise funds in the future. Musk's move puts the company in a tough position.
  3. Even after Musk's offer, OpenAI's leader, Altman, didn't address the implications in his response, suggesting he knows things are not going well for them.

How to Talk About Valuation Numbers When Investor Ask? | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 479 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. When discussing valuation with investors, it's important to provide general ranges without giving a specific price to anchor their expectations.
  2. VCs may ask about your past funding to assess fit and potential valuation issues, so it's beneficial to be transparent about your previous funding details.
  3. A delicate balance is required when discussing existing investors participating in a new round to ensure harmony between new and existing investors.

Why Do Great Ideas Often Fail The 'Elevator Pitch' Test? | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 179 implied HN points • 30 Apr 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Raising capital is a sales process where founders sell trust and confidence in building something valuable. Understanding VC decision-making dynamics increases the likelihood of closing deals.
  2. Knowing the structure and decision processes of VC firms can help founders navigate partnerships and improve their chances of success.
  3. The key to success in VC pitch meetings is building relationships with various partners within a firm to gain broader support and increase the probability of getting to a 'yes.'

How I Became a Venture Capitalist

The New Internet by Jeff Morris Jr. • 14 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. You can move from operator to VC by building a public, trackable investing record and a clear thesis—start small with SPVs or angel checks and share your work openly.
  2. Traditional scout programs are broken: access is closed to insiders, scout performance is hidden, and the programs mainly create leverage for firms rather than career paths for scouts.
  3. A new season-based Scout Program aims to democratize access by letting anyone apply, giving each selected scout $100K, public profiles and leaderboards, and mentorship to help scouts build real track records and potentially raise funds.

What happened to disruption?

Prime Future • 412 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. In the past, there was a lot of talk about disrupting industries but that has changed.
  2. Agtech once had high hopes for startups overtaking established companies quickly.
  3. Venture capital fueled the belief that startups could take on big industry players, but the reality looks different.

DOGE In the States

Points And Figures • 879 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Venture Capital
  1. Many government programs aiming to help entrepreneurs are seen as wasteful and do not deliver real results. It's often just a way to create jobs for government employees.
  2. Entrepreneurial ecosystems work best when driven by the private sector rather than government involvement. Government interference tends to complicate matters and can limit growth.
  3. Accountability in the private sector is focused on solving customer problems efficiently, while government often prioritizes expanding control and influence, resulting in wasted resources.

JPM, Stifel, & Lead Bank Join As Speakers at Newcomer Banking Summit

Newcomer • 353 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. JPM, Stifel, and Lead Bank will be speaking at the Newcomer Banking Summit on March 14 in San Francisco.
  2. The event will feature speakers like Jackie Reses, Melissa Smith, and Matt Trotter.
  3. The summit will delve into the impact of the Silicon Valley Bank crisis, the changing landscape of banking for startups, and the future of financial technology companies and banks.

The Great Sobriety for Venture Investing, Where To Start with AI, & Undeniable Data

Implications, by Scott Belsky • 707 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. The venture capital world is facing harsh realities and there are lessons to be learned about creating great products from failed ventures.
  2. Adopting AI requires a '4 P's' framework: Play, Pilot, Protect, Provoke.
  3. Financing for startups should prioritize product-led growth, focus, and discipline over raising large amounts of capital.

The VC Corner 📰 #13

The VC Corner • 319 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Y Combinator wants startups to focus on finding the right product metrics. This will help them measure success and make better decisions.
  2. Understanding the SaaS IPO landscape is important for startups. It gives insights into how to get ready for going public and attract investors.
  3. Raising capital can be easier with the right tools like Fundingstack.com. They help connect startups with a large network of investors.

Are You Working On A 'Tarpit Idea?' | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 219 implied HN points • 02 Apr 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Tarpit ideas can be deceivingly appealing at first but end up draining time and resources.
  2. Consumer ideas are common tarpit ideas due to the high bar set by successful consumer products and the crucial factor of timing.
  3. Recognizing and avoiding tarpit ideas, such as those with survivor bias or difficulty in scaling, is vital for a startup's success and founders should pivot strategically based on supply and demand dynamics.

Godspeed, OpenAI's Compute Flywheel

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Venture Capital
  1. OpenAI is chasing enormous amounts of funding to buy more compute because limited GPUs are constraining both research and product growth, and that compute race is driving huge investment into chip makers and related firms.
  2. China says it has an operational EUV prototype, and if it turns that into production it could break ASML’s chokehold on high-end lithography and shift chipmaking power away from Taiwan and its partners.
  3. Political and corporate money are merging in odd ways, exemplified by a Trump-linked media company pairing with a fusion firm backed by big tech, showing that access to capital and government influence is reshaping deal logic beyond pure business sense.

12 Things That Get VCs To Write A Check (Backed By 100+ Founder Interviews) | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 199 implied HN points • 11 Apr 24
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Successful VC fundraising starts by identifying the right fit - pay attention to signals VCs give about the types of startups they want to fund.
  2. Pitch big visions to VCs, focusing on disruptive opportunities with outsized returns to stand out in the competitive startup landscape.
  3. Key factors for VCs to invest include unique insights, good timing, clear messaging, scalable growth plans, strong moats, early traction, and founder's passion.

Fundamentally Broken IPO Market

Points And Figures • 319 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
💰 Finance Venture Capital
  1. When companies go public, there can be a big gap between their initial stock price and what it trades for right after. For example, Figma's stock jumped from $33 to $85 at the start, leaving a lot of money on the table for early investors.
  2. The current IPO process favors big investors and leaves retail investors with little chance to buy in at a fair price. This has led to a broken system that needs a rethink to be more fair for everyone involved.
  3. Direct listings could offer a better way for companies to go public. This approach could help more founders and investors keep profits instead of giving them to brokers and large funds.

No Pats On the Back

Points And Figures • 772 implied HN points • 27 Feb 25
💼 Business Venture Capital
  1. Chicago lacks the investment and willingness to take risks that cities like Silicon Valley and New York have. This makes it hard for startups to get support.
  2. Entrepreneurial ecosystems thrive when they focus on merit and tolerance for failure. Chicago is seen as outdated in these aspects.
  3. The culture in Chicago often emphasizes who you are instead of what you can achieve, which can hinder innovation and growth.