Create a founder digest and leads from Hacker News with GPT-4o and Gmail

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Important notice

This workflow is provided as-is. Please review and test before using in production.

1. Workflow Overview

Description Automate daily founder intelligence from Hacker News without manual monitoring. This workflow scans Hacker News discussions (Show HN, launches, AI, startu...

Best for

Market Research automation workflows
AI RAG automation workflows
advanced n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.stickynote, n8n-nodes-base.scheduletrigger, n8n-nodes-serpapi.serpapi, n8n-nodes-base.code, n8n-nodes-base.aggregate, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmchatazureopenai, n8n-nodes-base.gmail

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by Rahul Joshi.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title: Create a founder digest and leads from Hacker News with GPT-4o and Gmail
Workflow name: Create a founder digest and leads from Hacker News with GPT-4o and Gmail

📊 Description

Automate daily founder intelligence from Hacker News without manual monitoring. This workflow scans Hacker News discussions (Show HN, launches, AI, startups, SaaS), filters out noise and non-discussion pages, and extracts only high-signal threads. AI then converts these discussions into a concise, founder-ready daily digest highlighting key trends, why they matter, and practical actions. The digest is delivered via email, while structured insights are logged to Google Sheets for long-term tracking and analysis.

⚠️ Deployment Disclaimer

This template is designed for self-hosted n8n installations only. It relies on external MCP tools and custom AI orchestration that are not supported on n8n Cloud.

🔄 What This Template Does

1️⃣ Runs automatically on a daily schedule ⏰ 2️⃣ Searches Hacker News discussions via Google using SerpAPI 🔍 3️⃣ Extracts titles, summaries, links, and metadata from results 📄 4️⃣ Filters out guidelines, index pages, and non-discussion links 🚫 5️⃣ Aggregates valid discussion threads into a single dataset 📦 6️⃣ Uses AI to identify key trends, problems, and founder-relevant signals 🧠 7️⃣ Generates a concise daily founder digest (trend, why it matters, actions) ✍️ 8️⃣ Sends the digest automatically via email 📧 9️⃣ Cleans and normalizes insights for storage 🧹 🔟 Appends structured founder intelligence to Google Sheets for tracking 📊

✅ Key Benefits

✅ Eliminates manual Hacker News scanning ✅ Surfaces only high-signal, founder-relevant discussions ✅ Converts raw discussions into clear, actionable insights ✅ Delivers a daily, skimmable founder digest automatically ✅ Builds a historical intelligence log in Google Sheets ✅ Creates a repeatable founder research workflow

⚙️ Features

Daily scheduled execution
Hacker News discovery via Google Search (SerpAPI)
Noise filtering with custom JavaScript logic
AI-powered trend and insight extraction
Founder-focused digest generation
Email delivery via Gmail
Insight archiving in Google Sheets

🔑 Requirements

SerpAPI account
Azure OpenAI credentials
Gmail account connected to n8n
Google Sheets account
Self-hosted n8n instance

🎯 Target Audience

Startup founders tracking early signals
Product and growth leaders monitoring trends
VCs and analysts scouting emerging tools
Teams needing automated market and founder intelligence

1.2 Logical Blocks

This catalog entry is organized from the workflow JSON. The node-level section below shows the executable blocks available for review before importing the template.

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Main Overview

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 2 - Section: Trigger

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 3 - Section: Processing

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 4 - Section: Email Digest

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 5 - Section: Lead Discovery

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 6 - Security Note

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 7 - Trigger Daily Hacker News Scan

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger - scheduleTrigger
Config choices: Version 1.3

Block 8 - Search Hacker News Discussions via Google SERP

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-serpapi.serpApi - serpApi
Config choices: Version 1

Block 9 - Extract SERP Results into Discussion Records

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices: Version 2

Block 10 - Filter Valid Hacker News Discussion Threads

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices: Version 2

Block 11 - Aggregate Hacker News Discussions for Analysis

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.aggregate - aggregate
Config choices: Version 1

Block 12 - Generate Founder Digest from Hacker News Discussions (AI)

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent - agent
Config choices: Version 2

Block 13 - LLM Reasoning Engine for Founder Digest

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmChatAzureOpenAi - lmChatAzureOpenAi
Config choices: Version 1

Block 14 - Email Founder Daily Hacker News Digest

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.gmail - gmail
Config choices: Version 2.2

Block 15 - Append Founder Insights to Hacker News Intelligence Sheet

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets - googleSheets
Config choices: Version 4.7

Block 16 - Normalize AI Insight Output for Storage

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices: Version 2

Block 17 - LLM Engine for Lead Qualification & Signal Interpretation

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmChatAzureOpenAi - lmChatAzureOpenAi
Config choices: Version 1

Block 18 - External Social Context & Enrichment Tool (MCP Client)

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.mcpClientTool - mcpClientTool
Config choices: Version 1.2

Block 19 - Extract High-Signal Founder & Buying-Intent Insights (AI)

Type / Role: @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent - agent
Config choices: Version 3

Block 20 - Sticky Note

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

3. Summary Table

Workflow	Create a founder digest and leads from Hacker News with GPT-4o and Gmail
Complexity	advanced
Nodes	20
Categories	Market Research, AI RAG
Author	Rahul Joshi
Published	05 Jan 2026

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/12499/12499.json as the source template for this automation.
2. Import the template into n8n

Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.
3. Configure credentials and variables

Replace placeholder credentials, API keys, webhook URLs, account IDs, and environment-specific values with your own settings.
4. Test with sample data

Run the workflow manually or in a staging workspace, inspect node output, and confirm downstream systems receive the expected data.
5. Activate and monitor

Enable the workflow only after testing, then monitor executions, errors, and rate limits during the first production runs.

5. General Notes & Resources

Review imported nodes carefully before activation. This catalog entry is intended to help you inspect the workflow structure, understand required services, and find related templates faster.

Node names, credentials, schedules, webhook paths, and external service limits may need adjustment for your workspace.

Download workflow JSON Original n8n.io source Market Research workflows AI RAG workflows

Frequently asked questions

What does Create a founder digest and leads from Hacker News with GPT-4o and Gmail do?

Description Automate daily founder intelligence from Hacker News without manual monitoring. This workflow scans Hacker News discussions (Show HN, launches, AI, startu...

What do I need before importing this workflow?

Review the workflow JSON, configure any required credentials in n8n, and test the automation in a safe workspace before using it in production.

Can I customize this workflow?

Yes. Use the block-by-block analysis and the downloadable JSON to inspect each node, then adjust credentials, prompts, schedules, filters, or destinations for your Market Research, AI RAG use case.

Rahul Joshi

269 workflows

Nodes

n8n-nodes-base.stickynote n8n-nodes-base.scheduletrigger n8n-nodes-serpapi.serpapi n8n-nodes-base.code n8n-nodes-base.aggregate @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmchatazureopenai n8n-nodes-base.gmail

Complexity

advanced

Published 05 Jan 2026

Likes 0

View on n8n.io Download Workflow

Install path: /data/workflows/12499/12499.json

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Create a founder digest and leads from Hacker News with GPT-4o and Gmail

Workflow preview

Important notice

1. Workflow Overview

Best for

Tools used

Source and attribution

1.1 Workflow description

📊 Description

⚠️ Deployment Disclaimer

🔄 What This Template Does

✅ Key Benefits

⚙️ Features

🔑 Requirements

🎯 Target Audience

1.2 Logical Blocks

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Main Overview

Block 2 - Section: Trigger

Block 3 - Section: Processing

Block 4 - Section: Email Digest

Block 5 - Section: Lead Discovery

Block 6 - Security Note

Block 7 - Trigger Daily Hacker News Scan

Block 8 - Search Hacker News Discussions via Google SERP

Block 9 - Extract SERP Results into Discussion Records

Block 10 - Filter Valid Hacker News Discussion Threads

Block 11 - Aggregate Hacker News Discussions for Analysis

Block 12 - Generate Founder Digest from Hacker News Discussions (AI)

Block 13 - LLM Reasoning Engine for Founder Digest

Block 14 - Email Founder Daily Hacker News Digest

Block 15 - Append Founder Insights to Hacker News Intelligence Sheet

Block 16 - Normalize AI Insight Output for Storage

Block 17 - LLM Engine for Lead Qualification & Signal Interpretation

Block 18 - External Social Context & Enrichment Tool (MCP Client)

Block 19 - Extract High-Signal Founder & Buying-Intent Insights (AI)

Block 20 - Sticky Note

3. Summary Table

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

2. Import the template into n8n

3. Configure credentials and variables

4. Test with sample data

5. Activate and monitor

5. General Notes & Resources

Frequently asked questions