Y Combinator has lost its soul: A YC founder's perspective

He lost me with the whole "make founders take on massive personal debt to survive" tweet. Removing that particular stressor, particularly from people from poorer backgrounds who lack the access to that kind of credit is how we get a better sampling of ideas.

Re: Y Combinator has lost its soul: A YC founder's perspective

#7

Post by smithmayowa » Wed, Jul 22, 2020, 2:00 PM UTC

Yc taking advantage of their b2b alumni network is common sense in my own opinion, they are playing to their strength in fact.

Re: Y Combinator has lost its soul: A YC founder's perspective

#8

Post by kemayo » Wed, Jul 22, 2020, 2:01 PM UTC

someperson wrote: post #4

What exactly does he mean by "tech climber"?

I assume it's referring to people who're using the incubator as a networking opportunity, with no particular intention to build a successful company / product from it.

Re: Y Combinator has lost its soul: A YC founder's perspective

#9

Post by awillen » Wed, Jul 22, 2020, 2:02 PM UTC

The idea that check sizes should be small so people should be forced into dire financial situations is a terrible one, and one that would absolutely hurt diversity. You're going to end up with a bunch of rich white dudes as founders (because very, very obviously the other way that people can afford to take smaller checks is if they have a lot of money in the bank).

The smaller class size issue is probably fair, but reducing check sizes as a filtering method will absolutely filter out socioeconomically disadvantaged people. Just a terrible suggestion from somebody who I would wager heavily is not unsure of where his next meal is coming from.

Re: Y Combinator has lost its soul: A YC founder's perspective

#10

Post by vayeate » Wed, Jul 22, 2020, 2:05 PM UTC

throwanem wrote: post #5

someperson wrote: post #4

What exactly does he mean by "tech climber"?

Get-rich-quick grifters, would be my guess.

Possibly that these smart young people view everything like highschool. Everything is a formula driven contest to outshine your peers for the limited spots at prestigious schools. Get the perfect grades, study nonstop for the SAT, find the perfect volunteer experience, get dad to shmooze with his senator friend for that shiny recommendation letter, get into Harvard.

Same thing on loop. After the prestigious internships and summa cum laude, they graduate into a FANG job at 21.

I think the criticism is that these people are conformists. They're good at following an obvious system to the T but has never innovated or taken risks in their life.