Live data from Hacker News

Yuri Milner, SV Angel Offer Every New Y Combinator Startup $150k

techcrunch.com

51–60 of 199 posts

Re: Yuri Milner, SV Angel Offer Every New Y Combinator Startup $150k

#52

There seems to be a correlation between high performing funds and how fast they move to get into the good deals, this is a very efficient way for SV Angels to move faster than anyone else. They already moved fast before, now it's a tremendous head start. If it's a bubble, it's a cheap bubble $6M is nothing for most funds.

It's only a bubble if the world stops spending money online and every re-discovers network reality television as a hobby.

Re: Yuri Milner, SV Angel Offer Every New Y Combinator Startup $150k

#53
post #25

Holy shit. The word "disruptive" is overused but it's pretty applicable here. Crazy. But is this fair to other angels/investors?

Capitalism happens. plays tiny violin Less sardonically: if YC is so ridiculously superior to other investment models that investing money at these terms is profitable knowing nothing of the actual company invested in , then the system is broken. This is the market's corrective measure, attempting to come up with a better approximation of the true value of early stage startups. Might it discomfit people who made a lo…

My first thought is that there must be a ridiculous amount of money floating around in the capital markets right now...

Re: Yuri Milner, SV Angel Offer Every New Y Combinator Startup $150k

#55
Honestly, I'm surprised that nobody did this sooner. Hell, didn't Conway invest in six of the last round anyhow?

This is sort of like going to the race track and betting on every horse. Except at this particular race track, the horses are all above average and multiple horses can win each race.

I'd take those odds.

Re: Yuri Milner, SV Angel Offer Every New Y Combinator Startup $150k

#56

Honestly, I'm surprised that nobody did this sooner. Hell, didn't Conway invest in six of the last round anyhow? This is sort of like going to the race track and betting on every horse. Except at this particular race track, the horses are all above average and multiple horses can win each race. I'd take those odds.

you almost rescued the analogy, but not quiet.

Re: Yuri Milner, SV Angel Offer Every New Y Combinator Startup $150k

#57

This sounds like a campus placement scene. If you get in a top college, you wont be even interviewed properly or see how you have changed in last few years/months. We will just hire you with fat paychecks. As shown by history - this does not work in the long run and makes things worse than better. Dont get me wrong - YC is great, pg and rest of the team do an amazing job of selecting startups. But such blanket offers…

> But such blanket offers will mean lesser money available to non-YC companies. They could have bought a boat instead, investing is not a zero sum game, they don't have to spend the money.

Right. We will just invest in all YC companies. Why bother reading up business plans, checking out markets, exploring new things. YC thinks some one is good, we will put our money. If 10% of YC companies give huge exits fine. As investors - our job is to just provide money. Why bother with research?

And as an entrepreneur, do you really want to take money from some one who might not have enough knowledge about you and your business? Who is relying on a second hand judgement about you and your business, even if that judgement directly comes from pg?

Re: Yuri Milner, SV Angel Offer Every New Y Combinator Startup $150k

#58
post #11

Congrats to YC and all of the startups. Sadly, I can already hear the chants of "Bubble!".

Not really, I think most of here would assume YC would in the next few years produce a solid return. Here your basically aligning youself to YC's performance instead of trying to pick which ones you think will turn out the best. Although sounds like they are still doing that additionally.

Performance is only the nominator of what defines return.

The denominator is the investment valuation, which is significantly different for YC and DST.

Re: Yuri Milner, SV Angel Offer Every New Y Combinator Startup $150k

#59

When was the last time you looked at a yc company and didn't say "Damn that's a great idea." and then follow it up with "wow that's pretty good execution too". It's a little scary how good the yc companies seem to be lately.

I'm not keeping a tally but I often find myself scratching my head and wondering what PG et al saw in some startups.

My guess is that it's usually a bet on the people, not the idea. If you mentor a founder that eventually starts the next Google, they are going to remember that.

Re: Yuri Milner, SV Angel Offer Every New Y Combinator Startup $150k

#60
post #56

Honestly, I'm surprised that nobody did this sooner. Hell, didn't Conway invest in six of the last round anyhow? This is sort of like going to the race track and betting on every horse. Except at this particular race track, the horses are all above average and multiple horses can win each race. I'd take those odds.

you almost rescued the analogy, but not quiet.

Edits welcome. Where did I go wrong?
Post reply on HN