Summer Vacation Reads
✈️ Taking a summer vacation? Catch up on our most popular reads and the latest technology trends transforming the world
Dear Readers 👋
As many of you begin to take some well-deserved time off this summer, we wanted to share a selection of our most popular reads for you to enjoy during your downtime. Whether you're relaxing on a beach or unwinding at home, these in-depth reads offer fresh insights and thought-provoking ideas to keep you inspired throughout the break.
Let’s dive in together.
🔍 CATCHING UP WITH THE LATEST TRENDS ACROSS AI
As AI continues to advance at an extraordinary pace, we recently published our annual AI report, covering:
The current state of AI: Now and in the future.
How to adopt AI within the workplace across functions.
The latest platforms you should be using.
The startup fundraising landscape: The most active investors, the mega funding rounds and the latest fundraising activity.
The biggest challenges that lie ahead: What to expect.
The impact of AI: Where do we go from here?
Who will win: China or the U.S.?
AI Trends: Which trends operators and investors are most excited about.
Resources: Learn how to build the next big AI company. Read the pitch decks from companies who have raised billions.
This is a must-read which we created in collaboration with Syncly, Strawberry, and MarkeTeam—especially for those considering how to integrate AI into the workplace.
🚀 CATCHING UP WITH HOW YC COMPANIES EXCEL
YC startups often go on to raise millions in venture funding—many backed by the credibility that comes from being part of the world’s leading accelerator. But what really sets them apart? While strong founders and solid products are essential, one often overlooked differentiator is how effectively these startups position their offerings and master the customer onboarding experience.
We’ve spent hundreds of hours analyzing how YC startups design high-converting landing pages. The goal in this edition is to inspire you with practical ideas you can adapt to help your own startup stand out.
Not every example will apply directly to your business, but collectively, they reveal what's possible with strong design and execution.
THIS EDITION ALSO INCLUDES DATA ON ALL 5,000+ YC-BACKED STARTUPS.
📸 CATCHING UP WITH HOW CREATORS ARE BECOMING THE NEW MEDIA
For decades, traditional media—TV, radio, and print—controlled what we watched, read, and heard. But that’s changing.
Digital platforms are democratizing content, and it’s no longer just the big networks shaping stories—it’s creators. Welcome to a new kind of media defined by social platforms, podcasts, blogs, YouTube channels, and newsletters—most of them built by independent creators.
In this edition, we explore how the media landscape is evolving—from politicians using podcasts to reach voters, to the rise of direct-to-consumer newsletters, the impact of AI, and where the future of media is heading.
💰 CATCHING UP WITH HOW TO AVOID FAILURE WITH FUNDRAISING
When evaluating startups, spotting red flags early can save time, money, and reputation.
In this edition, we’re discovering the common pitfalls founders make when designing their pitch decks and identifying the red flags investors often spot.
From inflated market sizes and vague business models to solo founders without technical support and claims of “no competition,” these red flags can quickly turn investors off. We're here to help you avoid the most common—and costly—mistakes.
Let’s take a closer look at those red flags and how you can avoid them.
🎣 CATCHING UP WITH THE LATEST MARKETING HACKS FOR STARTUPS
Marketing can make or break your startup. But what actually works today?
For this edition, we spoke with 50+ marketers who share their collective insights on how to build and execute an effective marketing playbook. Within this guide, you’ll find 80+ actionable thoughts, strategies, and blueprints, organized into the following categories:
Acquiring customers.
Building and growing the company brand.
Building a community.
GTM & Sales.
Retention.
Building a great company.
Growing a personal brand.
Let’s take a closer look at the latest marketing tactics for you to try!
🔥 CATCHING UP WITH THE LATEST TRENDS HAPPENING ACROSS THE CREATOR ECONOMY
Welcome to our 2025 Creator Economy Report, the fourth annual in-depth analysis of one of the most exciting sectors, including: key trends for the year ahead, the impact of AI, challenges and opportunities for creators to keep top of mind, the evolution of the startup landscape, and the big question on many minds—where will the creator economy go next? We cover:
Chapter 1: What is the creator economy?
Chapter 2: The creator landscape today.
Chapter 3: The 180+ creator startups to watch.
Chapter 4: The fundraising and unicorn landscape.
Chapter 5: AI: The big creator game-changer.
Chapter 6: Challenges for creators in 2025.
Chapter 7: The new creator economy: 2025 trends.
Chapter 8: The top ways creators can thrive in 2025.
Chapter 9: Is the creator economy here to stay?
This piece we created in collaboration with: Linktree, Mighty Networks, Everbloom, and KLIQ.
🌎 CATCHING UP WITH THE ULTIMATE GUIDE ON HOW TO BECOME A CREATOR
Following our annual Creator Economy Report, we launched The Ultimate Guide: How to Become a Creator—your ultimate resource for getting started, discovering key platforms and tools, and drawing inspiration from success stories to fuel your journey. This guide is designed to empower you to start creating today.
Inside the ultimate guide, you will learn:
The Creator Economy now and in the future.
Why now is the best time to become a creator.
How to manage and monetize your fandom.
How to hire: Your first hires, how to find them and what to pay them.
How to select, manage and close brand deals.
How to monetize your content.
This piece we created in collaboration with: B.stage, Passionfroot, Roster, and Teachable.
👀 CATCHING UP WITH HOW AI STARTUPS ARE CREATING THE NEW OPERATING SYSTEM
AI-native startups are running on a new operating system for scale.
In 2020, reaching $30M ARR meant building a 250-person company. In 2025, AI-native businesses are hitting the same milestone with just 3 operators. This isn't just about doing more with less—it's about a fundamental shift in how companies scale.
This transformation isn't just possible—it's becoming necessary for survival. We take a closer look at how you can setup your startup for future success.
🦄 CATCHING UP WITH THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FOUNDING A STARTUP
Now is the time to build…
We are living in a transformative era for startups, where innovation and technology are continuously evolving, reshaping how we work, interact, and create. AI, in particular, has emerged as a focal point for many founders, with nearly 40% of all venture funding directed toward the sector. For instance, $60 billion was invested in AI startups in the first quarter of this year.
In this edition, you’ll find the following resources designed to guide and support you throughout the startup journey:
The Startup Tech Stack: The tools to organize and scale your startup.
The Most Active Accelerators: The complete list to help discover your startup potential.
Most Active Mentors: Experienced operators supporting early-stage startups.
Operators Investing: Former and current operators investing in early stage startups.
Most Active Investors (VCs and Family Offices): Thousands of investors, investing by region and sector.
Pitch Deck Library & Templates: Access hundreds of pitch decks made up of companies building across AI and those which have reached unicorn status.
Meet The Latest Funds: The latest VC funds which have been announced since the beginning of 2024.
The Most Active Angels: The most active angel investors investing globally.
CATCHING UP WITH STARTUP FACTORIES
We recently launched a new series called Startup Factories—when a startup achieves success, it often blossoms with powerful network effects—former employees, or "operators," go on to launch their own ventures, invest in early-stage startups, or even establish their own venture funds.
Read our previous editions, where we analyze what makes former operators exceptional founders—featuring insights from those who worked at the following companies.
NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO EXPLORE THE LATEST TRENDS IN TECH. SUBSCRIBE, SHARE WITH A FRIEND, AND LET’S BUILD THE FUTURE TOGETHER.
Our work is primarily reader supported, with additional support from select sponsors. Stay on top of the latest technology trends and help sustain our work by subscribing—free or paid. Your money goes directly towards reporting costs.
Nice one
This is great content Ollie. The links to the other resources in the article are very useful, saved and bookmarked for future use as well!