Live data from Hacker News

How to hack together a Y Combinator application

tipjoys2cents.blogspot.com

1–10 of 16 posts

Re: How to hack together a Y Combinator application

#2
"The best people apply late"

I am really curious as to where that factoid came from and how you could quantify that.

I could see that the best people put thought into the application process, begin writing early and hold off on actually submitting until close to the deadline.

Re: How to hack together a Y Combinator application

#4
post #2

"The best people apply late" I am really curious as to where that factoid came from and how you could quantify that. I could see that the best people put thought into the application process, begin writing early and hold off on actually submitting until close to the deadline.

I applied early, so there are exceptions :)

I would agree this is difficult to quantify. It came from a casual conversation with YC folks.

Re: How to hack together a Y Combinator application

#5
post #2

"The best people apply late" I am really curious as to where that factoid came from and how you could quantify that. I could see that the best people put thought into the application process, begin writing early and hold off on actually submitting until close to the deadline.

I could see that the best people put thought into the application process, begin writing early and hold off on actually submitting until close to the deadline.

-- I agree with this I think that preparation is an important thing.

Re: How to hack together a Y Combinator application

#6
post #2

"The best people apply late" I am really curious as to where that factoid came from and how you could quantify that. I could see that the best people put thought into the application process, begin writing early and hold off on actually submitting until close to the deadline.

From http://www.paulgraham.com/notnot.html :

"We have some evidence to support this. Several of the most successful startups we've funded told us later that they only decided to apply at the last moment. Some decided only hours before the deadline."

Re: How to hack together a Y Combinator application

#7
post #3

Here's other resources for advice: http://mattmaroon.com/?p=247 http://leavingcorporate.com/2008/03/24/how-to-get-accepted-f...

Matt's number 1 tip is the opposite:

"# Apply early. I’m guessing something like 75% of their applications are submitted in the last few days. That’s usually how those sorts of things work. Doing it earlier can only help get you a little more consideration time."

and leaving co:

"Start early. If you haven’t already begun your application, do so now! It’s due on April 2nd, and you probably should have started at least a month in advance. There’s certainly been cases where founders have been accepted with a last minute application, but why risk it? The longer you can think things through and iteratively improve your application, the better chance you’ve got."

Re: How to hack together a Y Combinator application

#8
post #7
post #3

Here's other resources for advice: http://mattmaroon.com/?p=247 http://leavingcorporate.com/2008/03/24/how-to-get-accepted-f...

Matt's number 1 tip is the opposite: "# Apply early. I’m guessing something like 75% of their applications are submitted in the last few days. That’s usually how those sorts of things work. Doing it earlier can only help get you a little more consideration time." and leaving co: "Start early. If you haven’t already begun your application, do so now! It’s due on April 2nd, and you probably should have started at least…

Didn't Matt apply late?

Considering there is no longer an option to start early, the only advice left to give is "do it now!"

Re: How to hack together a Y Combinator application

#9
post #6
post #2

"The best people apply late" I am really curious as to where that factoid came from and how you could quantify that. I could see that the best people put thought into the application process, begin writing early and hold off on actually submitting until close to the deadline.

From http://www.paulgraham.com/notnot.html : "We have some evidence to support this. Several of the most successful startups we've funded told us later that they only decided to apply at the last moment. Some decided only hours before the deadline."

But copying that would be particularly cargo-cult-ish. The point there is that great people were uncertain, not that uncertain people were great. The thing to copy is the greatness, not the uncertainty. :-)

"Cargo Cult Software Engineering" should be required reading for all nerds:

http://stevemcconnell.com/ieeesoftware/eic10.htm

Re: How to hack together a Y Combinator application

#10
post #2

"The best people apply late" I am really curious as to where that factoid came from and how you could quantify that. I could see that the best people put thought into the application process, begin writing early and hold off on actually submitting until close to the deadline.

I applied early, so there are exceptions :) I would agree this is difficult to quantify. It came from a casual conversation with YC folks.

that is funny kkkk Matt Marron first advice was: "Apply early. I’m guessing something like 75% of their applications are submitted in the last few days. That’s usually how those sorts of things work. Doing it earlier can only help get you a little more consideration time."
Post reply on HN