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If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

ycombinator.com

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Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#131

Post by bdclimber14 »

nbashaw wrote: post #115
bdclimber14 wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A startup is a unique endeavor where failure is generally viewed as a positive experience. Getting fired from a job hardly looks good on a resume, but having a failed startup under your belt is almost seen as a badge of honor.

True, but it's conditional. It's only seen as a badge of honor if you learn from your mistakes and can talk openly about what went wrong. Otherwise, you come off as defensive (and therefore insecure). Luckily, I think a community that makes it okay to fail encourages people to not be defensive. They know they won't be labeled a "loser", that they still have a chance to make it.

I agree wholeheartedly here. I've seen that communities which shuns failure are filled with people who disguise failure and twist outcomes to make them appear as huge successes in order to achieve bragging rights and consulting gigs.

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#132

Post by bloodcarter »

nitrogen wrote: post #125
bloodcarter wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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!

Thanks, Mike! Good luck you too!

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#133

Post by kiubo »

pg wrote: post #120
kiubo wrote: post #113

I have been feeling a bit uneasy about the scope of our idea for some time now. Today I feel much better because we have managed to whittle it down to one core product that is easy to understand and sell. Everything is clearer now. However, now I'm unsure what to do with all the other stuff that we still plan on doing but just further down the road. Do I just leave it all out? To make my point clearer... Originally w…

Tell us what you're going to do first, then talk about how you plan to expand the idea.

Thank you.

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#134

Post by rabble »

pg wrote: post #121
johnyqi wrote: post #102

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.

Do you require the whole team come in for the interview? Flights are expensive, $6500 just for an interview?

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#135

Post by malandrew »

gilbax wrote: post #60
pg wrote: post #2

Also, if anyone has any questions about applying that aren't answered on our site, feel free to ask them here.

I was going to apply and found out that a YC W'11 startup was working on something extremely similar. Do you consider applications on products that are similar to those of another YC company ? If yes, is there any history of YC doing this ?

See this answer by Harj on Quora:

http://www.quora.com/Would-Y-Combinator-invest-in-a-company-...

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#136

Post by malandrew »

mariust wrote: post #75
pg wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

April 7. http://ycombinator.com/apply.html

Hi pg, thanks for the answer. The problem is that the time frame from 7th April to 23 rd April is quite little for outside US residence. The ones that need a visa to get to the US could not make it on time not because of them but because of the process to get the visa for US. thanks

I exchanged emails with Kirsty Nathoo, YCombinator's CFO, and she said that YC is willing to write a formal invitation on official YC letterhead. In my previous experience, that is usually enough to get a work visa in that amount of time, especially if you also have a round-trip ticket already booked (make sure the ticket is refundable.)

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#137

Post by malandrew »

pg wrote: post #7
runjake wrote: post #3

What I got from this: "It's more about the person than the specific pitch. Maintaining a good, thoughtful presence on HN helps tremendously.

The first half is certainly true, but don't overestimate the importance of HN. If you want to spend time on stuff that will impress us, it's better to spend it building things than commenting on HN. Also, I'd say "people" rather than "person," because we care not just about the founders but about the strength of their relationship.

What if you have a much stronger presence on a site like Quora or StackOverflow, is that considered as well?

It seems like all three (those two and HN) are communities where the type of people you like to fund would spend a lot of time.

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#138

Post by malandrew »

rabble wrote: post #134
pg wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It has to be done in person, but we reimburse you for the flight.

Do you require the whole team come in for the interview? Flights are expensive, $6500 just for an interview?

I believe that their is a limit for how much they will reimburse, $600 if I remember correctly. The total cost of the flights would be about $6000 for myself and my two co-founders as well.

If would be nice if there was more time between knowing you've been invited for an interview (April 7th) and traveling for the interview (April 23-28th). Since that's less than a month's notice, it means that airfare will be at it's highest.

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