Read to the end, the Dropbox application was superb.
If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
11–20 of 138 posts
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#12Do startups from other countries have less advantage over american ones?
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#13Also, if anyone has any questions about applying that aren't answered on our site, feel free to ask them here.
I have only one question: how to get an invitation to the interview if you are single founder (like Dropbox)? Looks like "single founder problem" is a flaw in YC's business model, because your biggest hits (Dropbox, Greplin) all came from initially single founders.
Well, I know that the odds aren't good for single founders...But the problem here in Russia (where I'am from) is that it's virtually impossible to find an entrepreneurial-minded hacker who's ready to put efforts and passion into a such risky thing as startup. We don't have such startups culture you have in US. It's very tempting for smart ppl here to just get a day job with a nice salary and relax. Or they already have girlfriend/family and thus will not move anywhere.
But I'm pretty sure I'll find a co-founder when I'm in the Bay area. But looks like it's chicken-and-egg problem. Actually I think the problem with single founders is exaggerated a bit. If it's all about people then great ppl eventually will find a great co-founder if you give'em a chance.
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#14Also, if anyone has any questions about applying that aren't answered on our site, feel free to ask them here.
If two out of four founders cannot move to the Bay Area in the summer, is that an automatic rejection? Is it still worth applying?
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#15Also, if anyone has any questions about applying that aren't answered on our site, feel free to ask them here.
I have only one question: how to get an invitation to the interview if you are single founder (like Dropbox)? Looks like "single founder problem" is a flaw in YC's business model, because your biggest hits (Dropbox, Greplin) all came from initially single founders. Well, I know that the odds aren't good for single founders...But the problem here in Russia (where I'am from) is that it's virtually impossible to find an…
Actually Greplin had 2 founders initially. And though Drew was a single founder when he applied, he had found a cofounder by the time the YC cycle started.
The trouble with the plan of finding a cofounder when you get to the Bay Area is that you'll then have a cofounder you've only just met. Empirically that doesn't work well. Cofounders should have known one another for a while.
You must have friends of friends who'd start a startup with you.
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#16Also, if anyone has any questions about applying that aren't answered on our site, feel free to ask them here.
(anon for this) What's your view on a founder of startup that's relatively young (6-12 months) but with some traction applying to YC with an idea for a completely different startup? Would you consider it a negative that they're quitting on their earlier startup?
No, it's not a problem. This happens to lots of startups even after we fund them.
If you can talk intelligently about why your previous project isn't working, that's actually a point in your favor.
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#17Also, if anyone has any questions about applying that aren't answered on our site, feel free to ask them here.
If two out of four founders cannot move to the Bay Area in the summer, is that an automatic rejection? Is it still worth applying?
It's still worth applying if the two who can move are the two most important.
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#18When shell we expect a reply to our submission if we submitted our project one month ago, I know that the session is still opened, but the early projects aren't responded until the submission period is over?
Thanks
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#19Do startups from other countries have less advantage over american ones?
Perhaps a very slight one-- a few percent-- because we know visa problems add to the drag on a startup. But we've funded a lot of startups from other countries, including some of the most successful ones. In practice, how good the founders seem dominates every other factor.
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#20When shell we expect a reply to our submission if we submitted our project one month ago, I know that the session is still opened, but the early projects aren't responded until the submission period is over? Thanks
April 7. http://ycombinator.com/apply.html