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Ask HN: Alternatives to Y Combinator?

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Re: Ask HN: Alternatives to Y Combinator?

#11

Post by swilliams »

davidw wrote: post #10
swilliams wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We talked about that, and it would mean bad things all around for my family. Background: She's a PhD student and will graduate in May or August. Option 1) She continues what she's doing right now, research and lab work, and occasionally pick up a shift at a "real" job. However, we wouldn't have health insurance, and that is crucial (pre-existing conditions and baby). Option 2) She gets a full time job, with benefits.…

All sounds rather familiar... "research and lab work" - are you another tech guy with a biotech/chem girl? You have no information in your profile, BTW.

Close :). Her field is Audiology. (And I'm filling out my profile now, thanks for the heads up).

Re: Ask HN: Alternatives to Y Combinator?

#12

Post by pragmatic »

Why do you need seed/angel funding. Why don't you bootstrap it? Work on it in your spare time? And don't give me excuses about a young daughter. I did it with a young son while working full time. It's about desire, not location. Don't buy into the hype.

I'm not convinced YC is a good thing. What about the group think problem? Hey everybody let's build sites then [..magic..] profit!

If it's a good idea slow and steady will do just fine.

Re: Ask HN: Alternatives to Y Combinator?

#13

Post by Alex3917 »

swilliams wrote: post #5
davidw wrote: post #2

You could do cambridge / mountain view for the three months that you're required to be there, then leave - I don't think there's anything in the rules against that.

We talked about that, and it would mean bad things all around for my family. Background: She's a PhD student and will graduate in May or August. Option 1) She continues what she's doing right now, research and lab work, and occasionally pick up a shift at a "real" job. However, we wouldn't have health insurance, and that is crucial (pre-existing conditions and baby). Option 2) She gets a full time job, with benefits.…

So just wait a cycle. Also, it should be less difficult to get health insurance to cover pre-existing conditions in Massachusetts since the state offers health care. However, if you ever move back to wherever you were then you're probably screwed.

Re: Ask HN: Alternatives to Y Combinator?

#15

Post by swilliams »

theklub wrote: post #14

Anyone mentioned Vencorps.com? If no one has I'd check it out.

Can you provide some more info about them? I looked at the site, but there isn't a lot there beyond the signup-for-beta form.

It looks kind of like a social-media based VC thing, is that correct? Interesting idea, but how feasible is that model?

Re: Ask HN: Alternatives to Y Combinator?

#16

Post by briancooley »

swilliams wrote: post #5
davidw wrote: post #2

You could do cambridge / mountain view for the three months that you're required to be there, then leave - I don't think there's anything in the rules against that.

We talked about that, and it would mean bad things all around for my family. Background: She's a PhD student and will graduate in May or August. Option 1) She continues what she's doing right now, research and lab work, and occasionally pick up a shift at a "real" job. However, we wouldn't have health insurance, and that is crucial (pre-existing conditions and baby). Option 2) She gets a full time job, with benefits.…

>However, we wouldn't have health insurance, and that is crucial (pre-existing conditions and baby).

If you have health insurance through your employer, then you can continue it for 18 months after terminating employment through COBRA, IIRC.

If you can't afford to continue health insurance coverage through COBRA, how does living in Phoenix change that versus living in Mountain View or Cambridge?

Re: Ask HN: Alternatives to Y Combinator?

#18

Post by sanj »

cperciva wrote: post #4

So, is there a similar program but without the move? [...] The biggest attraction of YC to me is the cumulative experience and knowledge of the founders, and I worry that I wouldn't get that with a standard VC path. How do you expect to get a "similar program" without moving? The cumulative experience and knowledge of YCers isn't something which can be conveyed remotely. My google-fu is failing at the moment, but I r…

I think this is the conversational fragment you're referring to:

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=257260

Re: Ask HN: Alternatives to Y Combinator?

#20

Post by cperciva »

sanj wrote: post #18
cperciva wrote: post #4

So, is there a similar program but without the move? [...] The biggest attraction of YC to me is the cumulative experience and knowledge of the founders, and I worry that I wouldn't get that with a standard VC path. How do you expect to get a "similar program" without moving? The cumulative experience and knowledge of YCers isn't something which can be conveyed remotely. My google-fu is failing at the moment, but I r…

I think this is the conversational fragment you're referring to: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=257260

Right conversation, wrong fragment. Here's the comment I was remembering: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=257203
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