Brex data shows startups increasingly expensing specialized newsletters

Data from Brex indicates a shift in how startups consume market intelligence, with specialized newsletters becoming standard corporate expenses. Unlike free media that reports on events, these paid subscriptions are increasingly used by companies to acquire actionable operating knowledge.

Michael Burry’s newsletter, Cassandra Unchained, emerged as a top-subscribed publication among Brex customers shortly after its late 2025 launch. Other prominent names identified in the startup economy’s reading list include Lenny’s Newsletter for product-market fit, The Pragmatic Engineer for engineering organization insights, and Stratechery for platform shifts.

The trend shows that successful creators are moving beyond simple email newsletters toward comprehensive membership models. These models often include added value such as community access via Slack or software credits, helping them transition from mere information providers to essential business tools.