Business newsletters fall into two camps. Most summarize news. A smaller group explains why companies win, how revenue flows, and where the pressure points sit when growth slows. Those are the ones worth reading.
Below are some of the best business newsletters that stand out because they help readers understand business models, incentives, and strategy. They are especially useful for founders, operators, investors, and marketers who want to think clearly about money, not just momentum.
1. Revenue Memo
Best for: Clear, practical breakdowns of revenue models and monetization strategy
Revenue Memo is a newsletter that focuses on one question most content avoids: how companies actually make money.
Each issue breaks down a company’s business model from the inside out. Revenue streams, pricing mechanics, cost centers, incentives, and strategic tradeoffs are all explained in plain language. The analysis avoids hype and focuses on fundamentals.
Unlike news-driven newsletters, Revenue Memo is built around timeless questions. Where does revenue come from? What breaks at scale? Which revenue streams matter most to long-term profit?
This makes it especially useful for operators making real decisions, not just observers tracking headlines.
Visit https://www.revenuememo.com/ to subscribe to the Revenue Memo newsletter.
What you’ll learn:
How tech companies structure and grow revenue
Why certain monetization strategies scale while others stall
Where margins are created, defended, or quietly eroded
Who it’s for: Founders, business operators, entrepreneurs, growth and marketing leaders, and investors who care about business fundamentals more than surface-level tips. The Revenue Memo newsletter is relevant to those running small businesses, startups, and large enterprises alike.
2. Stratechery
Best for: Understanding competitive strategy and power dynamics in tech
Stratechery, written by Ben Thompson, is one of the most influential strategy publications in technology.
Its strength is not revenue breakdowns, but structural thinking. Stratechery explains why companies gain durable advantages, how platforms reshape markets, and how distribution power compounds over time.
The writing is dense by design. Each piece builds on prior frameworks like aggregation theory, making it rewarding for long-term readers who want a coherent worldview rather than one-off insights.
What you’ll learn:
Why certain companies dominate entire value chains
How platforms capture value while commoditizing suppliers
How strategy changes when distribution costs approach zero
Who it’s for: Executives, investors, and operators who want to think rigorously about competition, power, and long-term positioning.
3. The Generalist
Best for: Deep, narrative-driven company and market analysis
The Generalist specializes in long-form breakdowns of companies, sectors, and emerging business models.
Each piece blends storytelling with research. The goal is not speed, but depth. Articles often explain a company’s origin, market structure, revenue logic, and future risks in one cohesive narrative.
Compared to Revenue Memo’s focus on monetization mechanics, The Generalist leans more toward market context and company evolution. It’s especially strong for understanding unfamiliar industries.
What you’ll learn:
How new markets form and mature
Why certain business models succeed in specific contexts
How companies adapt as incentives shift over time
Who it’s for: Readers who enjoy detailed, well-researched essays and want a broader understanding of markets and companies.
4. Not Boring
Best for: Big ideas, emerging platforms, and optimistic long-term thinking
Not Boring, written by Packy McCormick, focuses on ambitious companies and future-facing ideas.
The tone is more optimistic than most business analysis. Rather than emphasizing risk first, Not Boring explores what could work at scale and why certain bets are worth watching.
Revenue models are discussed, but often in the context of vision and long-term optionality rather than near-term efficiency.
What you’ll learn:
How new platforms and ecosystems might evolve
Why certain startups attract outsized attention and capital
How technology enables entirely new business categories
Who it’s for: Builders, investors, and operators who want to stay close to the frontier of technology and emerging business models.
5. The Diff
Best for: Staying informed with strategic context, fast
The Diff delivers short, frequent analysis of business and tech news.
Its strength is synthesis. Rather than simply reporting events, it explains why a development matters and how it fits into broader trends. It’s not a teardown newsletter, but it’s an excellent way to maintain situational awareness.
Used alongside deeper publications, it helps readers connect daily news to longer-term strategy.
What you’ll learn:
Why specific business moves matter
How markets are shifting in real time
Which trends are gaining or losing momentum
Who it’s for: Busy operators and investors who want context without committing to long reads every day.