Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#1

Post by todsacerdoti » Mon, Aug 29, 2022, 1:04 PM UTC

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#2

Post by todd3834 » Mon, Aug 29, 2022, 1:17 PM UTC

I didn’t understand the title. Is it common to say welcome home when someone departs a company? I almost thought maybe he passed away and it was a reference to being “in a better place”

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#3

Post by garry » Mon, Aug 29, 2022, 1:17 PM UTC

Believe it or not, my journey to Y Combinator started similar to how you may experience YC — through being a regular lurker and reader on Hacker News.

I went to Startup School, me and my cofounders applied, we got an interview, and we got in. I was an engineer, designer and PM. I'd built teams and products, but I'd never built a company.

YC gave me a shot, a community, knowhow, and the ability to access capital, talent, and customers.

YC changed my life. I want it to help a lot more people achieve their dreams and goals. It did for me, beyond my wildest dreams.

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#4

Post by garry » Mon, Aug 29, 2022, 1:18 PM UTC

todd3834 wrote: post #2

I didn’t understand the title. Is it common to say welcome home when someone departs a company? I almost thought maybe he passed away and it was a reference to being “in a better place”

I spent 5 years as a partner at Y Combinator previously, left to work on Initialized Capital (which is in good hands now with incredible early stage investors Jen Wolf and Brett Gibson), but now will be returning in the new year to work on the next phase of Y Combinator with many of my old friends and colleagues.

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#5

Post by chidog12 » Mon, Aug 29, 2022, 1:21 PM UTC

Garry, I only have one ask (maybe two)!... Force them all to keep making those YC Office Hour videos lol! Even better, whoever your editing team is for your channel... add them to the team as well.

All the best!

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#6

Post by leetrout » Mon, Aug 29, 2022, 1:21 PM UTC

garry wrote: post #3

Believe it or not, my journey to Y Combinator started similar to how you may experience YC — through being a regular lurker and reader on Hacker News. I went to Startup School, me and my cofounders applied, we got an interview, and we got in. I was an engineer, designer and PM. I'd built teams and products, but I'd never built a company. YC gave me a shot, a community, knowhow, and the ability to access capital, tale…

That is awesome.

Hope you enjoy the ride!

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#7

Post by math-dev » Mon, Aug 29, 2022, 1:22 PM UTC

garry wrote: post #3

Believe it or not, my journey to Y Combinator started similar to how you may experience YC — through being a regular lurker and reader on Hacker News. I went to Startup School, me and my cofounders applied, we got an interview, and we got in. I was an engineer, designer and PM. I'd built teams and products, but I'd never built a company. YC gave me a shot, a community, knowhow, and the ability to access capital, tale…

Good luck! May the force be with you

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#8

Post by halfmatthalfcat » Mon, Aug 29, 2022, 1:23 PM UTC

garry wrote: post #3

Believe it or not, my journey to Y Combinator started similar to how you may experience YC — through being a regular lurker and reader on Hacker News. I went to Startup School, me and my cofounders applied, we got an interview, and we got in. I was an engineer, designer and PM. I'd built teams and products, but I'd never built a company. YC gave me a shot, a community, knowhow, and the ability to access capital, tale…

What advice can you give to solo founders trying to break into YC, outside of the normal platitudes? Seems like there is an almost impossible bar to meet.

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#9

Post by mritchie712 » Mon, Aug 29, 2022, 1:24 PM UTC

garry wrote: post #3

Believe it or not, my journey to Y Combinator started similar to how you may experience YC — through being a regular lurker and reader on Hacker News. I went to Startup School, me and my cofounders applied, we got an interview, and we got in. I was an engineer, designer and PM. I'd built teams and products, but I'd never built a company. YC gave me a shot, a community, knowhow, and the ability to access capital, tale…

What's your take on YC batch sizes? YC has gotten criticism for making them too big, but it seems totally natural to me to scale them up. Do you think they are right-sized now?

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#10

Post by Carlee » Mon, Aug 29, 2022, 1:26 PM UTC

garry wrote: post #3

Believe it or not, my journey to Y Combinator started similar to how you may experience YC — through being a regular lurker and reader on Hacker News. I went to Startup School, me and my cofounders applied, we got an interview, and we got in. I was an engineer, designer and PM. I'd built teams and products, but I'd never built a company. YC gave me a shot, a community, knowhow, and the ability to access capital, tale…

Crazy to see you end up at the top! Excited to have you run the programme for all the newcomers!