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Virtualmin Founder Joe Cooper Explains Y Combinator to Slashdot Trolls

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Re: Virtualmin Founder Joe Cooper Explains Y Combinator to Slashdot Trolls

#11

Post by sudden5 »

sudden5 wrote: post #10
gyro_robo wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the flip side there are more and more applicants which counterbalances the improved selection. Also it's unlikely that anyone who got accepted would give a negative review of it because it's valuable even if it doesn't "work out". With sites like http://overhear.us the phrase "they can't all be winners" springs to mind; however, I have a hard time believing they were more promising than the hundreds who got turned…

thanks for the call out and link : ) overhear.us is extremely experimental at this point and could change dramatically. we spent 6 weeks and made it on a whim and it has already proved useful as a feedback device internal to YC. there remain a lot of obvious improvements to be made product, but it is an experiment. right now we are eyeing it and seeing how people are using it, and how we can get them to use it better…

oops

-paul from overhear.us

i'd love to write up the whole overhear.us story but i don't think this is the place.

also this isn't my normal account

Re: Virtualmin Founder Joe Cooper Explains Y Combinator to Slashdot Trolls

#12

Post by SwellJoe »

sudden5 wrote: post #11
sudden5 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

thanks for the call out and link : ) overhear.us is extremely experimental at this point and could change dramatically. we spent 6 weeks and made it on a whim and it has already proved useful as a feedback device internal to YC. there remain a lot of obvious improvements to be made product, but it is an experiment. right now we are eyeing it and seeing how people are using it, and how we can get them to use it better…

oops -paul from overhear.us i'd love to write up the whole overhear.us story but i don't think this is the place. also this isn't my normal account

Paul, unlike at Overhear.us, you can edit your posts here. No need to hit reply to add something. ;-)

Re: Virtualmin Founder Joe Cooper Explains Y Combinator to Slashdot Trolls

#13

Post by sudden5 »

SwellJoe wrote: post #12
sudden5 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

oops -paul from overhear.us i'd love to write up the whole overhear.us story but i don't think this is the place. also this isn't my normal account

Paul, unlike at Overhear.us, you can edit your posts here. No need to hit reply to add something. ;-)

wow, look at that. wonderful

Re: Virtualmin Founder Joe Cooper Explains Y Combinator to Slashdot Trolls

#14

Post by sudden5 »

SwellJoe wrote: post #12
sudden5 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

oops -paul from overhear.us i'd love to write up the whole overhear.us story but i don't think this is the place. also this isn't my normal account

Paul, unlike at Overhear.us, you can edit your posts here. No need to hit reply to add something. ;-)

SwellJoe, i'm seeing you all over the internet now.

Re: Virtualmin Founder Joe Cooper Explains Y Combinator to Slashdot Trolls

#15

Post by gyro_robo »

yubrew wrote: post #6
gyro_robo wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the flip side there are more and more applicants which counterbalances the improved selection. Also it's unlikely that anyone who got accepted would give a negative review of it because it's valuable even if it doesn't "work out". With sites like http://overhear.us the phrase "they can't all be winners" springs to mind; however, I have a hard time believing they were more promising than the hundreds who got turned…

YC and pg do not even try to push the image of having prophetic ability. He repeats over and over that there are great ideas, business models, and people that are not selected. I got interviewed for this summer. While I am disappointed that we were not selected, I understand that there's a bunch of great people, with great ideas, and only a handful of spots. When you're trying to pick the best 19 apples from a barrel…

I might buy that if he didn't write an article right after the last round justifying nonselection of people as "measurement error" between those at the tail end of the talent cutoff. http://paulgraham.com/judgement.html

My question is how many of the start-ups selected wouldn't have done anything if they hadn't made the cut? I think most of the non-selectees switch gears and do something else instead, like school.

Relatedly, how many of the people who were selected had success primarily because of their YC link rather than because of impressive technology? Reddit certainly seems to be one of them, and the "big success" so far.

Re: Virtualmin Founder Joe Cooper Explains Y Combinator to Slashdot Trolls

#16

Post by whacked_new »

gyro_robo wrote: post #15
yubrew wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

YC and pg do not even try to push the image of having prophetic ability. He repeats over and over that there are great ideas, business models, and people that are not selected. I got interviewed for this summer. While I am disappointed that we were not selected, I understand that there's a bunch of great people, with great ideas, and only a handful of spots. When you're trying to pick the best 19 apples from a barrel…

I might buy that if he didn't write an article right after the last round justifying nonselection of people as "measurement error" between those at the tail end of the talent cutoff. http://paulgraham.com/judgement.html My question is how many of the start-ups selected wouldn't have done anything if they hadn't made the cut? I think most of the non-selectees switch gears and do something else instead, like school. Re…

I think it's usefulness over technology. I'd wager that chances of any of the YC funded startups are outsmarting entire departments in the behemoth companies, technology-wise, are close to nothing.

I'd say it's like the restaurant business. There are many cooks out there, but not all can make a nice shop with the right ambience, right furniture, etc.

Re: Virtualmin Founder Joe Cooper Explains Y Combinator to Slashdot Trolls

#17

Post by gyro_robo »

whacked_new wrote: post #16
gyro_robo wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I might buy that if he didn't write an article right after the last round justifying nonselection of people as "measurement error" between those at the tail end of the talent cutoff. http://paulgraham.com/judgement.html My question is how many of the start-ups selected wouldn't have done anything if they hadn't made the cut? I think most of the non-selectees switch gears and do something else instead, like school. Re…

I think it's usefulness over technology. I'd wager that chances of any of the YC funded startups are outsmarting entire departments in the behemoth companies, technology-wise, are close to nothing. I'd say it's like the restaurant business. There are many cooks out there, but not all can make a nice shop with the right ambience, right furniture, etc.

Very insightful!

Re: Virtualmin Founder Joe Cooper Explains Y Combinator to Slashdot Trolls

#18

Post by SwellJoe »

Some interesting things (to me, anyway):

This link to my post on Slashdot is better rated than all but one of my submissions to News.YC. I guess that's why Staunch is in the "leaders" and I'm in the ghetto with ~100 points. Staunch has an eye for a good story, and I don't, even when I wrote it.

Steven Levy is utterly ignored when he posts on Slashdot (he replied to my post, and got no votes). I find that shocking. The Slashdot I knew and loved would have really appreciated a visit from the author of "Hackers". He's not some hack writer slumming in the tech department on his way to politics or sports...he's Steven-Fucking-Levy. Folks ought to show some respect. I'm not wishing for an automatic +5 from fan-boys (ala Bruce Perens), but it'd be nice to see some evidence that the idiots aren't running the asylum over there in Slashland.

Finally, my post elicited a +5 Interesting, but got no replies (other than Steven's response, and a troll). Sure, I'm all giddy about the magnificent impact on my karma (Excellent-Excellent...I feel validated), but I'd rather hear what folks have to say. I'm guessing it has to do with the fact that everyone wants to post to only the latest stories.

I miss being able to vote on everything. Sure, I get moderator points over on Slashdot pretty frequently (Karma==Excellent!), but never when I really want to smack someone down or approve something.

Why does any of this matter? I dunno.

Re: Virtualmin Founder Joe Cooper Explains Y Combinator to Slashdot Trolls

#19

Post by BitGeek »

jsjenkins168 wrote: post #8
yubrew wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

YC and pg do not even try to push the image of having prophetic ability. He repeats over and over that there are great ideas, business models, and people that are not selected. I got interviewed for this summer. While I am disappointed that we were not selected, I understand that there's a bunch of great people, with great ideas, and only a handful of spots. When you're trying to pick the best 19 apples from a barrel…

Interviewed for this summer but not selected. I have no idea if we will be successful or not.. I know for certain though that we will keep trying until we are (which may be never). My co-founder is my cousin, so he isnt exactly going away :) He's keeps my fire lit and I do the same for him. My biggest fear is not being able to move as fast as if we were in the YC program. I think YC is a gentle push to release as soo…

Its totaly in your control... move on, stop hanging out around the YC crowd and go build your company. Don't let YC determine your fate... they had their chance and passed.

The absense of successful rejected is simply a factor of the YC propaganda engine only talking about those accepted. ITs too early for stories about the ones that got away to be well known-- hell, there aren't any real successes from the program yet (which is also because its new.)

Re: Virtualmin Founder Joe Cooper Explains Y Combinator to Slashdot Trolls

#20

Post by BitGeek »

jsjenkins168 wrote: post #2

One interesting observation I've had: I've yet to encounter a YC funded company that has had a negative outcome from the YC program. I've talked to several in person and through email and its been nothing but positives. I realize that its probably the successful ones who will be outspoken and positive, but still something worth noting. The equity argument is plain stupid IMHO. I'm actually more curious with the trend…

The main objection of the "trolls" is the strident ideology being shown. Here's one of my replies buried in the other thread:

Anybody who build their business on nights and weekends while working a fulltime job is someone who has shown a great deal of commitment. I've done this, its damn hard... its hard not to let the startup wither away because you're too busy with your day job, and its hard not to loose interest after even 3 months of spending all your time on your job or your other job with little time for anything else.

Show me someone who built thier company that way, and I'll be interested in putting money in.

YC seems to attract and be geared for, kids in college who want a summer job with the prospect of glamorous VC money afterwards. It doesn't matter to them that they might get a raw deal-- cause they don't have much invested in it in the first place. And ther's nothing wrong with that.

The problem is that these kids are so adamant and smug that this is The One True Way To Do A Tech Startup-- that making these foolish short term choices in pursuit of a billion dollar dream is obviously right... and building a net worth of $10M by building a $3M/a year real buisiness is a "lifestyle" business-- a failure in their eyes. They are naieve and strident and there is no getting thru to them because Paul Graham has them mezmerized by the tune he's playing.

YC is a great summer camp for entreprenurial college students. But all the bashing of other ways of going about it that they do are so misguided... and the focus on only high risk, low probability business models seems misguided.

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