What Substack Isn't Telling You About Your Audience
The post highlights a critical distinction on Substack between followers and email subscribers. Followers receive notification‑style emails but remain tied to the Substack platform, while subscribers can be exported and used elsewhere. Backed by substantial funding, Substack is likely to push a prominent follow button, steering the product toward a social‑network model. Creators are urged to examine their analytics to see which audience segment they truly own.
The YouTube (and Reels/Shorts) Retention Iceberg
Manish Pandey’s post breaks down YouTube, Reels, and Shorts retention into three layers—surface, below, and critical—highlighting the first 60 seconds as the decisive moment for audience stay‑or‑go. He outlines concrete tactics such as storytelling arcs, rapid visual changes, on‑screen graphics,...
Duvel Moortgat Acquires American Craft Beer Pioneer
Duvel Moortgat, via its U.S. arm Firestone Walker, is buying Stone Brewing from Japan’s Sapporo, adding the iconic craft label to its portfolio. The deal follows Duvel’s recent purchase of the Trumer pilsner brand, expanding its presence in the American...
STOXX Leads European Equity ETF Q1 Inflows as Benchmark Funds Weather Market Sell-Off
European equity ETFs tracking STOXX and DAX indices pulled in a net $10.6 billion in the first quarter, accounting for 36 % of all new passive European equity inflows. Despite a 9 % plunge in the EURO STOXX 50 in March, global equity ETFs...
Why Growth Without Cash Flow Is a Fast Track to Failure
Growth without cash‑flow discipline is a recipe for failure, even when revenue climbs. The article warns that relying on personal hustle during quiet periods exposes a lack of systematic cash management. It advocates a 90‑day cash buffer and tight control...
Zai Lab to Announce First Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Recent Corporate Updates on May 7, 2026
Zai Lab Limited announced it will disclose its first‑quarter 2026 financial results on May 7, 2026, ahead of the U.S. market open. The earnings release will be accompanied by a conference call and webcast at 8:00 a.m. ET, with registration required for...
SAP SuccessFactors 1H 2026 Release Makes Connections Seamless Across HR and the Business
SAP announced its SuccessFactors 1H 2026 release, adding suite‑wide agentic AI that spans recruiting, payroll, learning and talent development. The update also introduces a workforce knowledge network and AI‑driven Q&A within Learning, delivering expert guidance and instant answers inside the flow...
Haleon Selects SAP Solutions to Accelerate Growth
Haleon, the global consumer‑health leader, has chosen SAP Business Suite to modernize its digital backbone and embed artificial intelligence across core functions. The move will consolidate finance, supply‑chain, HR and sales processes into a single, real‑time platform, replacing fragmented legacy...
Strait of Hormuz Disruption and the Long Tail of Higher Oil Prices
The war in Iran has triggered the most severe physical disruption to global energy since the 1970s, according to IEA chief Fatih Birol. Damage to Middle‑East infrastructure and a choke‑point in the Strait of Hormuz have halted oil flows and filled...
Brian Henry Jr., Walk On’s Sports Bistreaux
Brian Henry Jr. has been appointed Director of Operations Services at Walk‑On’s Sports Bistreaux, where he oversees the creation of scalable systems, modern training platforms, and execution models for both corporate and franchise restaurants. As the brand’s first leader in...
Construction M&A Activity Continues in 2026
Construction M&A surged at the end of 2025 and has accelerated into 2026, as both traditional builders and construction‑technology firms pursue acquisitions to broaden digital capabilities. Procore bought AI firm Datagrid, Autodesk added data‑visibility startup Rhumbix, and Trimble snapped up...
Term Sheet: BNP Paribas Plans an SRT, a UK Retail CMBS Gets Underway, MERA Eyes Preferred Equity Deals
BNP Paribas is weighing a synthetic risk transfer (SRT) to shed credit exposure, marking the latest European bank to consider such structures. In the UK, a new securitisation of the Westfield Stratford City shopping centre will launch a fresh retail CMBS,...
EU Relaxes Clean Energy and Fertiliser Subsidy Rules in Response to Iran War
The European Commission unveiled AccelerateEU, a package that eases clean‑energy and fertilizer subsidy rules amid the Iran‑triggered energy shock. It proposes a lower tax on electricity than natural gas and grants member states the ability to subsidise up to 50%...
Repay Attracts $1B Takeover Offer
Repay Holdings received an unsolicited $1 billion takeover proposal from Forager Capital Management, offering $4.80 in cash per share—a 75% premium to the 30‑day volume‑weighted average price. Forager, which already owns a 13% stake, disclosed the offer in an SEC filing...
Germany Halves GDP Forecast From 1% to 0.5% Due to Iran War Fallout
Germany’s government has halved its 2026 GDP growth forecast to 0.5%, citing a severe energy shock from the ongoing Iran war. The revision also drags the 2027 outlook down to 0.9% from 1.3%, indicating prolonged stagnation. Italy mirrored the move,...
Venezuela Sanctions, Licenses, and Complications - April 2026
The Trump administration continues its sanctions regime against Venezuela while issuing a new set of licenses that allow U.S. firms to conduct limited transactions with the Venezuelan Central Bank and other designated financial institutions. These authorizations extend earlier oil‑and‑mining licenses,...
SaaS Branding Crisis: The Term Is Fading
SaaS has a branding problem... Conferences don't even want the 4 letter acronym in their name anymore When did 'SaaS' become a dirty word? Me and Kyle Poyar explore the death of SaaS our latest episode of Mostly Growth https://lnkd.in/e5V-Canp
KBRA Direct Lending Deals: News & Analysis – 4/20/2026
KBRA released its latest Direct Lending Deals (DLD) default index covering the trailing twelve months through April 21, 2026. The index shows a modest decline in default rates to 1.2% and loss severity staying below 30%, while deal issuance rose 8% year‑over‑year....
SiriusXM Media Becomes Exclusive Audio Advertising Representative for YouTube in the United States
SiriusXM Media announced it will serve as the exclusive audio advertising sales representative for YouTube in the United States. The deal integrates YouTube’s audio‑first inventory—podcasts, music and talk content—into SiriusXM’s ad‑supported portfolio, which includes Pandora and a broad podcast network....
Brace for the Plastic-Price Hikes
The Iran‑Israel conflict has shut the Strait of Hormuz, choking the flow of naphtha and other oil‑derived feedstocks that feed Asia’s petrochemical complex. Shortages have forced force‑majeure notices and triggered price spikes of 30% or more for polyethylene, polypropylene and...
Industrial Policy: A Policy Menu
The World Bank’s April 2026 report by Fernandes and Reed presents a menu of fifteen industrial‑policy tools, split into first‑rank and second‑rank options, and outlines a four‑step decision sequence for governments. It stresses that strong, insulated institutions and basic economic fundamentals...
DOL Proposes New Joint Employer Rule
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a proposed rule to create a single, nationwide definition of joint‑employer status under the FLSA, FMLA, and MSPA. The rule relies on a four‑factor test for vertical joint employment and narrows the scope...
DOL Proposes New Joint Employer Rule
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has issued a proposed rule to create a single nationwide standard for joint‑employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker...
Tech Mahindra Q4 Results: Headcount Falls by 1,993 as IT Giant Pushes for AI-Driven Efficiency
Tech Mahindra reported a quarterly headcount decline of 1,993, bringing its workforce to 147,623, as it accelerates an AI‑led transformation. The Indian IT services firm posted a 19% YoY profit increase to ₹1,356 crore (≈ $163 million) and a 48.3% YoY jump in...
Dead Air Silencers Hires Senior Product Manager for Accessories
Dead Air Silencers announced the hiring of Cris McRae, a veteran from Magpul Industries, as senior product manager for accessories. McRae brings over a decade of firearms‑industry experience in product development, commercialization, and market analysis. In his new role, he will...
Where Is the China-Honduras Relationship Headed?
Honduras deepened its ties with the People’s Republic of China after breaking with Taiwan in 2023, extending cooperation into telecommunications, public security, energy and technology training. Major projects include a $400 million solar park funded by a Chinese Texhong subsidiary and...
Indian Med Student Rakes in Thousands with AI-Generated MAGA Hottie
A 22‑year‑old Indian medical student created an AI‑generated, MAGA‑aligned Instagram persona named Emily Hart, a blonde nurse who posts bikini and political content. Leveraging Google Gemini’s advice, he targeted the conservative niche, amassing over 10,000 followers and millions of Reel...
Will AI Solve Rich Countries’ Debt Woes?
Kenneth Rogoff cautions that the optimism surrounding artificial intelligence’s productivity boost may be misplaced when it comes to solving the chronic budget deficits of wealthy nations. While AI could generate higher tax revenues, the gains are unlikely to offset the...
Mortgage Rates Poised to Climb Despite Low Oil
I find it interesting how many people think mortgage rates won't up from here. Despite $100 a barrel oil, total unknowns in the Middle East, and the fact that mortgage rates are historically HIGHEST in the months of May and June. Seems...
Boeing CEO Says 'All Systems Are Go' To Increase 737 Production as Company Narrows Loss
Boeing announced it will increase 737 Max production to 47 aircraft per month, up from 42, as part of a broader effort to improve profitability. The company reported a first‑quarter loss of $7 million, far better than analysts’ expectations, and revenue of...
Kenya’s M-TIBA Refunds Users After Shutting Health Savings Wallet
Kenya healthtech startup CarePay is shutting down the M‑TIBA My Health Funds (MHF) wallet, which allowed users to earmark money for medical expenses. Beginning April 8, 2026, the company automatically refunded balances into users’ M‑PESA accounts, even for those who missed...
Wall Street’s Bullish Stocks View Contrasts With Consumer Gloom
Wall Street’s major indices are hovering near record highs, buoyed by strong corporate earnings and a resurgence in artificial‑intelligence spending, even as consumer confidence plunges to an all‑time low. A preliminary University of Michigan survey showed the sentiment index fell...
Chatham Financial to Acquire Hodes Weill
Chatham Financial announced a deal to acquire Hodes Weill & Associates, slated to close in Q2 2026 pending regulatory approval. The transaction merges Chatham’s capital‑markets advisory and technology platform with Hodes Weill’s expertise in real‑estate, infrastructure and energy‑transition capital raising. While...
If You Work Long Hours, Can You Still Have a Life?
The article examines the controversial 9‑9‑6 work schedule—nine a.m. to nine p.m., six days a week—borrowed from Chinese tech firms that later banned it. U.S. AI and tech startups have experimented with the model to speed product development, but the author argues...
China’s Influence Extends Beyond Two Nations in LATAM, Middle East
If folks really think China's entire "standing" in both Latin America and the Middle East hinged on just two countries, they have not paid sufficient attention to the diversity of China's offerings, the local "pull" instead of just Chinese "push"...
Originality Trumps Quality: Mediocre Content Can Still Rank
High-quality content is no guarantee of SEO success. Sometimes, mediocre content is good enough. New research unpicks the impact of originality on rankings. https://t.co/ekjjFaGVnk via @sejournal
April Eurozone Flash Consumer Confidence -20.6 vs -16.3 Prior
The Eurozone Consumer Confidence Indicator slipped to a flash reading of -20.6 in April, worsening from the prior -16.3 level and marking the weakest sentiment since October 2023. The decline was driven by sharper pessimism about the overall economy, personal...
Turning the NFL Draft Into a Profitable Business
Plus, I'll also be speaking with @dpbrugler about his annual The Beast and how he's helped make a business around the NFL Draft.
Traders Bet $430M on Oil Drop Pre‑Trump Ceasefire
Traders placed bets worth $430 million on a drop in crude prices just 15 minutes before President Trump said he would extend a ceasefire with Iran, which sent the market lower @a_coops1 https://t.co/v167motouv
Polished Personas Are Out — Candid, Clear, Confident Leadership Is Redefining Power in the C-Suite
The article argues that the traditional notion of "executive presence" is losing relevance in today’s C‑suite. It promotes a new leadership model built on clarity, confidence, authenticity, and authority, especially for LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and other historically marginalized executives. Practical advice...
Hire by Asking: Would Losing Them Kill Us?
ICYMI: Fresh new article dropped: When judging hiring candidates: Here’s a fear-based test I actually like: If they were to join your competitor, do you think “Uh oh, now we’re dead”? https://t.co/lywMRtGXYV
Hiring in Japan 2026: Key Strategies Unveiled
Brainfood Live On Air - Ep375 - How to Hire in Japan in 2026 https://t.co/IZMjqpcA5q
The New Leadership Playbook: What Public Sector CISOs Need Now
Public sector CISOs are confronting a new threat landscape where AI‑driven attacks and looming quantum decryption outpace traditional, manual defenses. The article urges a shift from point‑product reliance to integrated, AI‑enabled cyber platforms that can act at machine speed. It...
Gold Surges when Monetary Regimes Shift, Not Just Inflation
Gold doesn't shine every year. It shines during monetary regime changes. 1971: Bretton Woods collapses → gold 10x'd by 1980. Post-2008 QE era → gold 6x'd by 2011. The driver wasn't just inflation. It was confidence in the system itself. $GLD $GDX https://t.co/LTB2CfST8r
Claude Code Unlocks Previously Impossible Feats for 67% GTM Operators
New data: 67% of GTM operators say Claude Code enabled something previously impossible. Not "saved time." Impossible.
RBA Nightmare as 90pc of Banks Hike Mortgage Rates
Around 90% of Australian banks have lifted at least one fixed mortgage rate since the Reserve Bank of Australia’s last meeting, signaling aggressive pricing ahead of the May 5 decision. The average variable home‑loan rate has risen to 6.42%, up 0.25...
Esther and Anne Wojcicki Back New Healthcare Accelerator, Fund
Mary Minno launched Treehub, a six‑month residency‑venture program, and the AI Health Fund, a $10 million early‑stage venture vehicle, to back AI‑driven healthcare startups. The fund, seeded with $1.5 million—including a $1 million check from Tim Draper—has already invested in 12 companies and...
Former Startup TNT Leader Launches Coalition for Canada’s Early-Stage Investors
Jesse Wiebe, former head of Startup TNT, has launched the Canadian Startup Capital Association (CSCA), a nonprofit coalition aimed at unifying Canada’s fragmented early‑stage investment community. The CSCA starts with 19 founding members that together represent more than 3,500 active...
Why Great Leaders Ask More Questions Than They Answer
Leaders increasingly favor certainty over curiosity, a bias that hampers adaptation in today’s AI‑driven workplace. The article cites legacy firms like Kodak and Hudson’s Bay that collapsed by clinging to outdated models. It argues that intellectual curiosity—asking more questions than...
Treehub Launches Stanford-Adjacent AI Health Residency for Early-Stage Academic Founders
Treehub, a boutique residency in Los Altos near Stanford, launches to fund early‑stage academic founders in AI‑driven healthcare. Backed by the AI Health Fund, the program provides a “first check” before incorporation and runs quarterly cohorts of up to 10...