Automation library · Lead generation

Create a founder digest and leads from Hacker News with OpenAI

Started by a clock, and works across Gmail and Google Sheets. It hands the judgement calls to Azure OpenAI. 13 steps: a working afternoon to understand properly.

MediumCalls a model: Azure OpenAI

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13 stepsMedium: a working afternoon
0Branches: places the flow splits
0Loops or waits
2Services it connects to

The flow

Starts it 1Model 5Logic 4Service 3

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

  1. 1Trigger Daily Hacker News ScanSchedule triggerStarts it
  2. 2LLM Reasoning Engine for Founder DigestLm Chat Azure Open AiModel
  3. 3LLM Engine for Lead Qualification & Signal InterpretationLm Chat Azure Open AiModel
  4. 4External Social Context & Enrichment Tool (MCP Client)Mcp Client ToolModel
  5. 5Search Hacker News Discussions via Google SERPSerp ApiService
  6. 6Generate Founder Digest from Hacker News Discussions (AI)AgentModel
  7. 7Extract High-Signal Founder & Buying-Intent Insights (AI)AgentModel
  8. 8Extract SERP Results into Discussion RecordsCodeLogic
  9. 9Email Founder Daily Hacker News DigestGmailService
  10. 10Normalize AI Insight Output for StorageCodeLogic
  11. 11Filter Valid Hacker News Discussion ThreadsCodeLogic
  12. 12Append Founder Insights to Hacker News Intelligence SheetGoogle SheetsService
  13. 13Aggregate Hacker News Discussions for AnalysisAggregateLogic

How it's built

Starts on
A clock
Steps
13
Size
Medium: a working afternoon
Connects to
Gmail, Google Sheets
Model
Azure OpenAI

Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Gmail and Google Sheets accounts, and a key for Azure OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on a clock.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls Azure OpenAI. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 13 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

Before you run it

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 13 steps before you point it at anything that matters.