# Create a founder digest and leads from Hacker News with OpenAI: n8n workflow

> Started by a clock, and works across Gmail and Google Sheets. It hands the judgement calls to Azure OpenAI.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/create-a-founder-digest-and-leads-from-hacker-news-with-open (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Lead generation](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Lead+generation#library)

# 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.

Medium Calls a model: Azure OpenAI

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fcreate-a-founder-digest-and-leads-from-hacker-news-with-open)

**13 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**0** Branches: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**2** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 5 Logic 4 Service 3

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

- 1 **Trigger Daily Hacker News Scan** Schedule trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **LLM Reasoning Engine for Founder Digest** Lm Chat Azure Open Ai *Model*
- 3 **LLM Engine for Lead Qualification & Signal Interpretation** Lm Chat Azure Open Ai *Model*
- 4 **External Social Context & Enrichment Tool (MCP Client)** Mcp Client Tool *Model*
- 5 **Search Hacker News Discussions via Google SERP** Serp Api *Service*
- 6 **Generate Founder Digest from Hacker News Discussions (AI)** Agent *Model*
- 7 **Extract High-Signal Founder & Buying-Intent Insights (AI)** Agent *Model*
- 8 **Extract SERP Results into Discussion Records** Code *Logic*
- 9 **Email Founder Daily Hacker News Digest** Gmail *Service*
- 10 **Normalize AI Insight Output for Storage** Code *Logic*
- 11 **Filter Valid Hacker News Discussion Threads** Code *Logic*
- 12 **Append Founder Insights to Hacker News Intelligence Sheet** Google Sheets *Service*
- 13 **Aggregate Hacker News Discussions for Analysis** Aggregate *Logic*

## 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.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fcreate-a-founder-digest-and-leads-from-hacker-news-with-open)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Gmail#library)[Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Sheets#library)

## Workflows like it

Also lead generation, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**AI-powered lead qualification with Zoho CRM** 13 steps · calls a model · Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-powered-lead-qualification-with-zoho-crm)
- [**Appointment booster: Leads are great… but appointments are better** 13 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/appointment-booster-leads-are-great-but-appointments-are-bet)
- [**Automate LinkedIn profile research & email outreach with Apify** 13 steps · calls a model · Apify, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-linkedin-profile-research-and-email-outreach-with-a)
- [**Automate sales outreach with OpenAI and Tavily** 13 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-sales-outreach-with-openai-and-tavily)
- [**Buying-intent leads on Twitter and Instagram with OpenAI** 13 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Notion](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/buying-intent-leads-on-twitter-and-instagram-with-openai)
- [**Classify lead function and seniority in Google Sheets** 13 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/classify-lead-function-and-seniority-in-google-sheets)