For interview, are we coming to you or it can be done over skype?
It has to be done in person, but we reimburse you for the flight.
If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
121–130 of 138 posts
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#122I have a small doubt about one of the questions. "Please tell us about the time you, ONE FOUNDER NAME, most successfully hacked some (non-computer) system to your advantage." We are three founders. Do you want just one founder to answer or is this a mistake(probably mine)?
We just want to hear about the time you did. We assume the person filing the application is the leader, and only the leader needs to have this aptitude.
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#123Have there been applicants that were accepted but ended up turning it down for whatever reason (job, move, visa, etc)? Have any of these reapplied and participated in the subsequent go?
Yes, there have been a couple groups that deferred to a later batch for personal reasons. There have also been a few who simply turned us down, e.g. because because the founders had a falling out, or their employers, when they heard they were leaving, made them an offer that enticed them to stay.
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#124Another single founder question. What if the startup (single founder) is already passed the building stage and is now looking to scale. Would it make more sense to start hiring a team instead of finding a co-founder? In this specific scenario (obviously an exception), would the single founder issue still be that much of a problem, or is it diluted down now that they company is established somewhat.
It's unlikely you have passed the building stage. They're still working on Google.
Maybe saying passed the building stage was the wrong use of words.
What I meant to ask was at a certain point in a single founder startup would it be more beneficial to start hiring people rather than looking for a co-founder?
Or should a co-founder be brought on no matter where the company is at, but at a lower equity stake then if they were there from the beginning?
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#125Also, 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…
I'm glad we exchanged e-mails, and good luck with your startup!
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#126We applied about 15 days ago. It doesn't look like our video on posterous has been viewed yet. Does it mean anything at all?
On a semi-related note: apparently simply refreshing your browser increases the view count. I had gotten excited for a minute!
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#127Our application's video is 1 minute 23 seconds long, is this acceptable or is the 1 minute limit strongly enforced? We did our video in one take so that it was as natural as possible and we didn't really pay attention to the time limit until we were done talking. Thanks!
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#128If the cofounders have only known each other for about 1 month, what can we do to reassure YC we'll work well together? Would evidence of some random (yet to be done) side project help? Good chemistry in the video? Anecdotal evidence that we've built up trust and a good relationship? Good legal framework? We are still actively building a larger team of course but these things take time. This is the only part of the a…
If the cofounders have only known each other for about 1 month, how do you /know/ you'll work well together? You can't reassure someone of something that isn't yet clear...
Cofounders that have known each other longer split up all the time, mostly because their relationship was never tested in that way.
We are actively working on building a relationship that can survive the startup process and if not, we're trying to find that out sooner rather than later. I guess we'll just have to do our best to explain that in the application/video.
Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#129Our application's video is 1 minute 23 seconds long, is this acceptable or is the 1 minute limit strongly enforced? We did our video in one take so that it was as natural as possible and we didn't really pay attention to the time limit until we were done talking. Thanks!
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Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator
#130Our application's video is 1 minute 23 seconds long, is this acceptable or is the 1 minute limit strongly enforced? We did our video in one take so that it was as natural as possible and we didn't really pay attention to the time limit until we were done talking. Thanks!
It's loosely enforced in the sense that we don't feel obliged to watch past the 1 minute point.