Hitch Blog

Practical advice for busy business owners

Short, honest posts from Hank and his team. Marketing, operations, and growth for salons, restaurants, trades, and local businesses.

89 posts · 196 tags · 4 categories
Growth 5
Operations 49
August 14, 2026 · 5 min read
The Grubhub Rule: Buy Software You Can Leave

Grubhub’s FTC settlement exposes a buying rule small businesses should enforce: keep control of your customers, data, workflows, and exit path.

August 13, 2026 · 5 min read
The $25M AI Signal: Coordination Beats Chatbots

Delightree's $25M raise signals a shift: the valuable AI product is not a chatbot, but coordination across messy business operations.

August 12, 2026 · 5 min read
The $57M AI Backend Bet Is About Memory

Convex's $57M raise highlights the real AI bottleneck: durable state, permissions, context, and recovery that let software finish work.

August 11, 2026 · 5 min read
Starlink Mobile Won’t Fix Broken Workflows

Starlink Mobile is a reminder that small businesses need workflows that survive network changes, outages, and infrastructure they do not control.

August 10, 2026 · 5 min read
Ambrook’s $30M Bet: Own the Workflow

Ambrook’s $30M round points to a better AI buying rule: choose software that owns one painful workflow end to end.

August 9, 2026 · 5 min read
Zoox’s Paid Robotaxis Expose the Real Autonomy Test

Zoox’s move from free rides to paid service shows the real test of autonomy: reliable operations, clear accountability, and customers willing to pay.

Strategy 26
July 7, 2026 · 2 min read
FTC Regulations: An Opportunity for Small Businesses

New FTC advertising regulations can enhance transparency for small businesses, building trust and engagement with customers.

July 5, 2026 · 2 min read
Why AI Deployment Is Essential for Competitive Survival

Microsoft's $2.5 billion AI investment marks a pivotal shift; small businesses must adopt AI to thrive. Here's how to leverage it effectively.

July 2, 2026 · 3 min read
Exploring the Impact of New Digital Platforms on Small Business Strategies

Discover how India’s MSME Day highlights the potential of digital platforms for redefining customer engagement and operational efficiency.

June 7, 2026 · 2 min read
Empowering Small Businesses with Tech-Enabled Funding

Explore how technology can streamline access to capital for small businesses, enhancing financial management and operational efficiency.

June 7, 2026 · 2 min read
Is Your Digital Advertising Strategy FTC-Proof? Find Out

The FTC's new advertising regulations present a chance to build trust. Here’s how to ensure your strategy complies and enhances customer relationships.

June 6, 2026 · 3 min read
Why Focusing on Traction is Key for Small Business Growth

Shift your mindset from seeking validation to measuring traction. This change will drive real results for your small business.

Technical 8
July 26, 2026 · 4 min read
The Agent Orchestration Crash Was a Debt Problem

Multi-agent stacks are quietly dying in production this quarter. The failure isn't AI. It's complexity debt. Here's what the teams who shipped did instead.

May 23, 2026 · 2 min read
EU Cybersecurity Regulations: A Compliance Opportunity

New EU cybersecurity regulations are not just compliance hurdles; they offer small businesses a chance to boost trust and operational integrity.

May 1, 2026 · 4 min read
TechCrunch Disrupt's Missing Track: Why Startups Break at Scale

Disrupt 2026 promises to map paths from idea to IPO, but ignores the operational chaos that kills funded startups between rounds.

April 22, 2026 · 3 min read
The $50K Tax Season Wake-Up Call Every Business Ignores

GitHub's new security features arrived the same week accountants delivered brutal news: infrastructure failures cost small businesses $50K annually.

April 8, 2026 · 2 min read
Why Your Startup Should Embrace API Rate Limiting Now

API rate limiting is crucial for startup resilience. Here's why you need to prioritize it now.

April 7, 2026 · 2 min read
Tech Debt: The Silent Killer of Startup Agility

Ignoring tech debt can cripple your startup's agility. Let's break down why it matters and how to tackle it effectively.