Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
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Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#2Going through YC was an incredible experience and even just going through the application process really forced our team to answer a lot of important questions for our business. If you want to do a startup and are in a position to give it your all - it could only help your chances of success to apply.
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#3Going through YC was an incredible experience and even just going through the application process really forced our team to answer a lot of important questions for our business. If you want to do a startup and are in a position to give it your all - it could only help your chances of success to apply.
As a YC reject, I can only say the same. I'm convinced that just going in for interviews to was the best thing that happened to us. Our original idea wasn't going to work and making the trip to California opened our eyes.
So if you're wondering whether you should apply, the answer is yes. Even (especially?) if you get rejected.
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#4If you want a little honest feedback on your application before you submit it, feel free to contact me. I was the first engineering hire at justin.tv, I'm the cto of ZeroCater now, and I love talking about startup ideas.
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#5Now that YC has gotten bigger (=more competitive), does an application without a prototype still have a shot? I'm incredibly paranoid about getting exposed to IP-related problems (working for a large corp and not in California). I suspect a few other people are in the same situation.
The sad thing is that when I think about it, I wouldn't fund someone without a prototype (if the roles were reversed). It is only when you build something do you realize if the materialized idea has any wings. Quite the mess I'm in :(
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#6If you want a little honest feedback on your application before you submit it, feel free to contact me. I was the first engineering hire at justin.tv, I'm the cto of ZeroCater now, and I love talking about startup ideas.
That's really generous of you, thanks for offering.
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#7Now that YC has gotten bigger (=more competitive), does an application without a prototype still have a shot? I'm incredibly paranoid about getting exposed to IP-related problems (working for a large corp and not in California). I suspect a few other people are in the same situation. The sad thing is that when I think about it, I wouldn't fund someone without a prototype (if the roles were reversed). It is only when…
A bigger problem is team, if you can show you're a solid team which has built stuff together then it matters less that you don't have a prototype.
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#8Now that YC has gotten bigger (=more competitive), does an application without a prototype still have a shot? I'm incredibly paranoid about getting exposed to IP-related problems (working for a large corp and not in California). I suspect a few other people are in the same situation. The sad thing is that when I think about it, I wouldn't fund someone without a prototype (if the roles were reversed). It is only when…
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Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#9Now that YC has gotten bigger (=more competitive), does an application without a prototype still have a shot? I'm incredibly paranoid about getting exposed to IP-related problems (working for a large corp and not in California). I suspect a few other people are in the same situation. The sad thing is that when I think about it, I wouldn't fund someone without a prototype (if the roles were reversed). It is only when…
Yes, of course. We care more about the founders (both individually and their relationship) than the idea.
Incidentally, YC hasn't gotten as much more competitive as you might think, because we've grown as the number of applications has. We consistently end up funding about 3% of applications. Not as a conscious strategy; it just always works out to about that. Applying to YC has grown somewhat more competitive though, because the top 3% keep getting better as we get better known.
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#10I've said this before, and so have many others, but it's worth repeating: Choosing to apply to YC was one of the best decisions of my life.
Some reasons I love YC:
- My cofounder and I were in the Summer 2010 batch. We've changed our idea, made mistakes, and failed repeatedly. Yet in all that time, pg and co have had and continue to have our backs 100%.
- One thing I've learned in life is that who you choose to surround yourself with matters immensely. Doing YC means surrounding yourself with great people.
- Every single YC partner is a genuinely lovely person. The other week we got a heartwarming and encouraging email from Kate, YC's architect.
- The YC network is unparalleled. In the past week, I've relied on it half a dozen times.
- I don't know how to put this, but YC has taste. Where others are political or indirect or care about appearances or do things without thinking about them, pg and co are the opposite: Direct, thoughtful, and good. YC is good in much the same ways pg's essays are good, if that makes any sense.
I cannot recommend YC highly enough.
(Sorry if that was too effusive.)