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Y Combinator Applicant Video Collection

wikitorrents.org

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Re: Y Combinator Applicant Video Collection

#11

Post by AlexPD »

I'm in no way intending to be rude, but the standard set in those videos isn't at all as high as I would have expected.

Even without post-production editing, surely there should at least be adequate lighting conditions and camera alignment.

I think clearing breaking the pitch into parts would be a good idea also. Such as an intro, about the founders, about the problem, about revenue, etc.

I would make specific comments per video but that wouldn't be a nice thing to do.

Just my 2c guys, good luck to you all!

Re: Y Combinator Applicant Video Collection

#12

Post by jamesteow »

citizenkeys wrote: post #10
davidu wrote: post #9

I'm surprised at how poorly planned and filmed most of these videos are. Is that the point? Is it supposed to be so rough? (Note: I've never applied to YC or looked at the application)

Here's the official instructions for making a video: http://ycombinator.com/video.html The instructions say: The video should contain nothing except the founders talking. No screenshots or postproduction wizardry please; we don't want this to turn into a video making contest. If you're going to spend time making something cool, put it into your demo/product. However, I agree with you. I think people should strive to…

"If you can't even get your alleged co-founder together for a simple one minute video then things are obviously already falling apart."

I've actually heard of people applying a few hours before the deadline. So if they are geographically distant from one another, they just use webcams.

Re: Y Combinator Applicant Video Collection

#13

Post by citizenkeys »

AlexPD wrote: post #11

I'm in no way intending to be rude, but the standard set in those videos isn't at all as high as I would have expected. Even without post-production editing, surely there should at least be adequate lighting conditions and camera alignment. I think clearing breaking the pitch into parts would be a good idea also. Such as an intro, about the founders, about the problem, about revenue, etc. I would make specific commen…

The worst video I was with really choppy webcam video and it also had a several second delay between the audio and the video. I mean, if you can't even operate the webcam, why bother labeling yourself a "hacker" and applying for start-up funding?

Second worst I saw was some stoned guy going on about how much he hated seeing "all the genitalia" on chatroulette. Seriously. This was a real video.

The best two I personally saw were a video of several founders for a question and answer site and a new-age guy with an idea for personal metaphysical space. Both videos were very engaging given their short length.

Re: Y Combinator Applicant Video Collection

#14

Post by endlessvoid94 »

citizenkeys wrote: post #6
endlessvoid94 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So why haven't you started building it?

Umm... the link IS WikiTorrents.org . I've been working on this project for a year. Check it out: http://wikitorrents.org/wiki/ycombinator_applicants

Oh, I didn't realize that. Good job!

Re: Y Combinator Applicant Video Collection

#15

Post by robryan »

citizenkeys wrote: post #10
davidu wrote: post #9

I'm surprised at how poorly planned and filmed most of these videos are. Is that the point? Is it supposed to be so rough? (Note: I've never applied to YC or looked at the application)

Here's the official instructions for making a video: http://ycombinator.com/video.html The instructions say: The video should contain nothing except the founders talking. No screenshots or postproduction wizardry please; we don't want this to turn into a video making contest. If you're going to spend time making something cool, put it into your demo/product. However, I agree with you. I think people should strive to…

I know there isn't any context without the application also, but there seems to be a lot of vague reasons why a new offering will be better than the competition.

Re: Y Combinator Applicant Video Collection

#16

Post by livejake »

citizenkeys wrote: post #13
AlexPD wrote: post #11

I'm in no way intending to be rude, but the standard set in those videos isn't at all as high as I would have expected. Even without post-production editing, surely there should at least be adequate lighting conditions and camera alignment. I think clearing breaking the pitch into parts would be a good idea also. Such as an intro, about the founders, about the problem, about revenue, etc. I would make specific commen…

The worst video I was with really choppy webcam video and it also had a several second delay between the audio and the video. I mean, if you can't even operate the webcam, why bother labeling yourself a "hacker" and applying for start-up funding? Second worst I saw was some stoned guy going on about how much he hated seeing "all the genitalia" on chatroulette. Seriously. This was a real video. The best two I personal…

Hahahaha.

Stoned guy here. You just need to chill out and recognize the problem of the penis... man. It's giving the internet bad karma.

Seriously, I was a little tired, but I was not stoned. Could I have made an awesome polished video? Sure. But they said talk spontaneously as I would to a friend, and I took their instructions literally.

Any feedback on the concept?

Re: Y Combinator Applicant Video Collection

#18

Post by jeffwidman »

jamesteow wrote: post #12
citizenkeys wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's the official instructions for making a video: http://ycombinator.com/video.html The instructions say: The video should contain nothing except the founders talking. No screenshots or postproduction wizardry please; we don't want this to turn into a video making contest. If you're going to spend time making something cool, put it into your demo/product. However, I agree with you. I think people should strive to…

"If you can't even get your alleged co-founder together for a simple one minute video then things are obviously already falling apart." I've actually heard of people applying a few hours before the deadline. So if they are geographically distant from one another, they just use webcams.

I was on my honeymoon in Hawaii and we didn't put together the application until after I got married, so we used two webcams and spliced 'em together...

Re: Y Combinator Applicant Video Collection

#19

Post by citizenkeys »

jeffwidman wrote: post #18
jamesteow wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"If you can't even get your alleged co-founder together for a simple one minute video then things are obviously already falling apart." I've actually heard of people applying a few hours before the deadline. So if they are geographically distant from one another, they just use webcams.

I was on my honeymoon in Hawaii and we didn't put together the application until after I got married, so we used two webcams and spliced 'em together...

My comment wasn't about videos of co-founders spliced together.

My comment was about people that just basically said, in so many words, "I have a co-founder but he refused to show up even for a one-minute video."

Re: Y Combinator Applicant Video Collection

#20

Post by citizenkeys »

livejake wrote: post #16
citizenkeys wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The worst video I was with really choppy webcam video and it also had a several second delay between the audio and the video. I mean, if you can't even operate the webcam, why bother labeling yourself a "hacker" and applying for start-up funding? Second worst I saw was some stoned guy going on about how much he hated seeing "all the genitalia" on chatroulette. Seriously. This was a real video. The best two I personal…

Hahahaha. Stoned guy here. You just need to chill out and recognize the problem of the penis... man. It's giving the internet bad karma. Seriously, I was a little tired, but I was not stoned. Could I have made an awesome polished video? Sure. But they said talk spontaneously as I would to a friend, and I took their instructions literally. Any feedback on the concept?

oh man, you kick ass! thanks for being a good sport about it.

For those just joining us, here's the video: http://livejake.posterous.com/application-video

My recommendation would have been to seem more enthusiastic and professional. The idea seemed kind of, umm, unique. But if you had presented it more professionally and with serious facts and data, I think it would have made a better impression Also, maybe some ideas about who you will market the idea and how it could make money. You could've offered specifics about maybe marketing it to parents somehow. Or connecting your idea to some sort of succesful product that involves internet safety.

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