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Applications Open for Winter 2008 YC Funding

ycombinator.com

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Re: Applications Open for Winter 2008 YC Funding

#71

Post by menloparkbum »

pg wrote: post #55
juwo wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

if we are not even given any feedback as to why our applications were rejected, then it seems peremptory and a complete waste of time. Surely, they could have copy-pasted even one summary line from their evaluation sheets? It is a simple courtesy.

It would not seem courteous, believe me. Some fraction of the people who apply to YC are nuts. If you have a web site where you offer money to people who fill out an application form, nuts apply. Are we supposed to tell them they're nuts?

Someone should have told juwo he's nuts. He could have saved a lot of time and money.

Re: Applications Open for Winter 2008 YC Funding

#72

Post by juwo »

Tichy wrote: post #61
andreyf wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed, something like "think more about tech question", or "think harder about innovative idea" would have taken 10 seconds, but have been significantly more valuable to an applicant - and yes, it is courteous to do favors for someone when the effort you put into it is so dwarfed by the benefit they receive.

I've heard that the most common situation where managers have a heart attack is when they have to fire somebody. Saying "No" is stressful, and thinking about doing it courteously is not easy. I know it takes me more than 10 seconds to think about a way to say such things nicely. And I think being too specific could make matters worse. Think about dating. "You are a nice person, but I don't really like your nose" - he…

It's not dating.

see http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32488

"And I could imagine that if you would ask them, they might be willing to give you more specific information."

Not so.

Re: Applications Open for Winter 2008 YC Funding

#73

Post by dhouston »

juwo wrote: post #70
pg wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would not seem courteous, believe me. Some fraction of the people who apply to YC are nuts. If you have a web site where you offer money to people who fill out an application form, nuts apply. Are we supposed to tell them they're nuts?

how about this? "we could not understand your idea. please get feedback as to its feasibility from your local university, or someone with experience in the software industry"

dude, give it a rest. and read:

http://blog.pmarca.com/2007/06/the_pmarca_guid_2.html

yc's already given you something better than what you'd get out of a canned one-sentence response: a fantastic resource in which anyone can put up their site and get a lot of feedback, for free, from a lot of smart people. 100% of the "hey news.yc check out my site" posts i've seen, including yours, have gotten useful, actionable feedback and have consequently improved.

Re: Applications Open for Winter 2008 YC Funding

#74

Post by juwo »

dhouston wrote: post #73
juwo wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

how about this? "we could not understand your idea. please get feedback as to its feasibility from your local university, or someone with experience in the software industry"

dude, give it a rest. and read: http://blog.pmarca.com/2007/06/the_pmarca_guid_2.html yc's already given you something better than what you'd get out of a canned one-sentence response: a fantastic resource in which anyone can put up their site and get a lot of feedback, for free, from a lot of smart people. 100% of the "hey news.yc check out my site" posts i've seen, including yours, have gotten useful, actionable fe…

"posts i've seen, including yours, have gotten useful, actionable feedback and have consequently improved."

I agree :)

Re: Applications Open for Winter 2008 YC Funding

#75

Post by juwo »

menloparkbum wrote: post #71
pg wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would not seem courteous, believe me. Some fraction of the people who apply to YC are nuts. If you have a web site where you offer money to people who fill out an application form, nuts apply. Are we supposed to tell them they're nuts?

Someone should have told juwo he's nuts. He could have saved a lot of time and money.

can you tell me why you think juwo is nuts? I am willing to listen, if it isnt malicious.

Re: Applications Open for Winter 2008 YC Funding

#76

Post by ragav »

juwo wrote: post #75
menloparkbum wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Someone should have told juwo he's nuts. He could have saved a lot of time and money.

can you tell me why you think juwo is nuts? I am willing to listen, if it isnt malicious.

No opinion on the "nuttiness" but if you are willing to take feedback:

I did see this in juwo http://www.juwo.com/company.html

I often do not live up to it, but this is important: The good news about Jesus can transform your life. Jesus died for our sins and rose again from the dead. If you become his follower, you will have salvation (moksha).

For a startup looking to attract co-founders I'm don't think this is very judicious. I'm not saying don't be religious just leave out any mention of it on company sites, that's what personal blogs are for.

Re: Applications Open for Winter 2008 YC Funding

#77

Post by mr_luc »

sabhishek wrote: post #57
pg wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're made to look bad by how easy it is to apply. If you make a website offering people money if they fill out a form, a lot of people will fill it out. But the odds for a good team are not as bad as they might seem. At least a third of the applications are egregiously broken: 13 year old founders, people who want to "telecommute" from India, people who want us to fund their plumbing supply store, etc...

People might ask you first if its ok to "telecommute" from India, before applying. I was not aware "asking" that may put them into "egregiously broken" category :)

I'm still not aware of that. Ask away. This is a far more convenient place to ask stupid questions than, say, Startup School. (That's what I did. At the first startup school, I asked almost every founder I could get my hands on: "So, what would you do if you didn't have a co-founder?").

If they get your application, and it says "I am from India and can't leave", then by their own rules that's broken, but there's no penalty for asking stupid questions.

How you react, as you come to realize that the question you are asking is a stupid one, probably says something relevant about a startup founder.

Re: Applications Open for Winter 2008 YC Funding

#78

Post by juwo »

ragav wrote: post #76
juwo wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

can you tell me why you think juwo is nuts? I am willing to listen, if it isnt malicious.

No opinion on the "nuttiness" but if you are willing to take feedback: I did see this in juwo http://www.juwo.com/company.html I often do not live up to it, but this is important: The good news about Jesus can transform your life. Jesus died for our sins and rose again from the dead. If you become his follower, you will have salvation (moksha). For a startup looking to attract co-founders I'm don't think this is very…

Everything else but this, can be changed. This is non-negotiable.

Re: Applications Open for Winter 2008 YC Funding

#79

Post by sbraford »

juwo wrote: post #53
staunch wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone who has interviewed and hired quite a few people I disagree. I don't owe a rejected candidate anything. We both knew the arrangement ahead of time and both agreed it was worthwhile. We gave each other an opportunity and both contributed time to the process. We're even. I don't think this kind of entitlement-thinking will serve you very well. I recommend ditching it.

"I don't owe a rejected candidate anything" Not in the sense of owing him an explanation, but in the decent sense of giving him feedback so he can improve. After all, the candidate took time and trouble - it is a kindness. An application to YC is unlike an interview; with an interview you usually know what your weakness was, or what the interviewer's hangup was. If you consider this to be "entitlement-thinking", then…

juwo: give it a rest dude.

ever applied to Harvard, MIT, etc? even kids with IQs off the charts, SAT scores through the roof, etc. get rejected.

It's simply the law of large numbers - YC can cherry pick the cream of the crop of the cream of the crop.

Re: Applications Open for Winter 2008 YC Funding

#80

Post by sabhishek »

mr_luc wrote: post #77
sabhishek wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People might ask you first if its ok to "telecommute" from India, before applying. I was not aware "asking" that may put them into "egregiously broken" category :)

I'm still not aware of that. Ask away. This is a far more convenient place to ask stupid questions than, say, Startup School. (That's what I did. At the first startup school, I asked almost every founder I could get my hands on: "So, what would you do if you didn't have a co-founder?"). If they get your application, and it says "I am from India and can't leave", then by their own rules that's broken, but there's no p…

How to react is something what you got learn at the first place.Apparently you have no idea what my reply was all about my friend.
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