Ask HN: Why does being in an accelerator pre-YC lessen your YC chances? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Why does being in an accelerator pre-YC lessen your YC chances?

#21

Post by hotpockets » Wed, Nov 20, 2013, 1:31 AM UTC

pg wrote: post #19

HorizonXP wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Heh, I have an Airbnb guest staying with me tonight that's in Imagine K-12 right now. I should drop by and see what it's about, considering it's 10 minute walk from my place! I'm curious what makes them different from the others?

We essentially gave IK12 our source code. When Tim and Geoff were starting it, we told them everything about how YC works, and even brought them in to watch how we did things.

Yo pg, can you swing me some of that source code? I been thinking about accelerating it up, and me and my bro hungry pete are what you'd call pretty cool dudes. Hungry pete can attest! Get back. -Peace-

Re: Ask HN: Why does being in an accelerator pre-YC lessen your YC chances?

#22

Post by bambax » Wed, Nov 20, 2013, 10:26 AM UTC

pg wrote: post #4

We have a much higher threshold for startups that have already been through an "accelerator" program. Mainly because we expect them to have thereby been accelerated; if they're not doing well, we worry they might be unacceleratable. It's also a problem that such startups will be twice as diluted at Demo Day, which decreases their fundraising options. I can think of two startups we've funded that had been through thin…

The quotes around "accelerator" makes the comment inconsistent. If other "accelerators" are not really "accelerators", then it shouldn't matter that a startup that went through them hasn't accelerated much; it should certainly not mean that the startup is unacceleratable.

If you try to learn to read with someone who doesn't know how to read herself, and you fail, it doesn't mean you're forever incapable of reading.

Re: Ask HN: Why does being in an accelerator pre-YC lessen your YC chances?

#23

Post by rbchv » Fri, Nov 22, 2013, 10:08 PM UTC

wololo_ wrote: post #16

ritchiea wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How much of your company would you have to sell for it to become a deterrent to demo day investors?

I'm guessing 30%+ for an early stage company. (Usually investors out of the valley would take that much in it's first round)

Wow that seems like a lot for angel funding. Even 20% seems like a lot for an angel round.

Re: Ask HN: Why does being in an accelerator pre-YC lessen your YC chances?

#24

Post by stringbeans » Tue, Nov 26, 2013, 3:10 AM UTC

bambax wrote: post #22

pg wrote: post #4

We have a much higher threshold for startups that have already been through an "accelerator" program. Mainly because we expect them to have thereby been accelerated; if they're not doing well, we worry they might be unacceleratable. It's also a problem that such startups will be twice as diluted at Demo Day, which decreases their fundraising options. I can think of two startups we've funded that had been through thin…

The quotes around "accelerator" makes the comment inconsistent. If other "accelerators" are not really "accelerators", then it shouldn't matter that a startup that went through them hasn't accelerated much; it should certainly not mean that the startup is unacceleratable. If you try to learn to read with someone who doesn't know how to read herself, and you fail, it doesn't mean you're forever incapable of reading.

this is how we felt as well :S