So doing the winter batch in California seemed like one of those rare cases where the self-indulgent choice and the ambitious one were the same. There is nothing more heavenly, more sublime than that rare situation in life in which the self-indulgent choice and the ambitious choice align. There's a keen insight to be had there. Unfortunately, those moments are very rare. For instance, at least, in terms of my persona…
How Y Combinator Started
51–60 of 105 posts
Re: How Y Combinator Started
#52I really enjoyed PGs post for the detailed description of the thought process behind the creation of YC and how they took those initial steps (including getting the funds together and deciding how to run it). A lot of 'this is how I became successful' biographies seldom provide that level of detail. Whilst I still find them interesting, I found PGs writing to be more inspirational (to me anyway) because it's almost l…
Re: How Y Combinator Started
#53pg: thank you for sharing this.
Re: How Y Combinator Started
#54So doing the winter batch in California seemed like one of those rare cases where the self-indulgent choice and the ambitious one were the same. There is nothing more heavenly, more sublime than that rare situation in life in which the self-indulgent choice and the ambitious choice align. There's a keen insight to be had there. Unfortunately, those moments are very rare. For instance, at least, in terms of my persona…
the colour of Greece, Italy, southern Spain, Portugal, Argentina, etc. I can appreciate the comparative orderliness and clockwork of Teutonic and Anglo-American civilisation, but it doesn't make me happy, and yet I need that whole universe in order to sustain my livelihood in any practical sense Maybe try Hong Kong? I haven't lived there but it seems colourful (in the Asian rather than Southern European sense) and ye…
Re: How Y Combinator Started
#55"But the founders in the first batch turned out to be surprisingly good. And great people too. " I'd love to read a "where are they now" post on the first couple batches of founders, along with some quotes from them.
I think Reddit is the greatest thing to come out of the first batch.
Re: How Y Combinator Started
#56Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's the reason I actually moved in NYC. For a French 20 something, it's a great city to live in, it's not too far from Europe and the tech scene is booming. My next stop will probably be Brazil. I've travelled over 45 countries and Brazil seems to have that unique combination of "human" perspective, a work culture and a growing tech ecosystem. You should give it a try :)
I'm also a French 20-something, currently calling the San Francisco Bay Area home— my next stop will probably be Berlin or Amsterdam. What a great age we live in!
Re: How Y Combinator Started
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wow, that's phenomenal. In 7 years, out of 8 companies there were 5 acquisitions (and a couple mergers). I'm sure any VC would be ecstatic to have that kind of success rate. Reddit is the most prominent. It's had a huge impact although from what I understand it hasn't done extremely well financially.
"Wow, that's phenomenal." That's quite a halo effect that has prevented you from seeing the true "success rate". Where are you getting 5 acquisitions from? Reddit, Loopt basically made out. Infogami merged with Reddit. That's essentially a save face maneuver and doesn't exactly signal success. Clickfacts - "YC stake acquired by private investors" doesn't sound like that would be a win but a break even. More like "tak…
Re: How Y Combinator Started
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wow, that's phenomenal. In 7 years, out of 8 companies there were 5 acquisitions (and a couple mergers). I'm sure any VC would be ecstatic to have that kind of success rate. Reddit is the most prominent. It's had a huge impact although from what I understand it hasn't done extremely well financially.
"Wow, that's phenomenal." That's quite a halo effect that has prevented you from seeing the true "success rate". Where are you getting 5 acquisitions from? Reddit, Loopt basically made out. Infogami merged with Reddit. That's essentially a save face maneuver and doesn't exactly signal success. Clickfacts - "YC stake acquired by private investors" doesn't sound like that would be a win but a break even. More like "tak…
The founders of Loopt, the Reddits, and Justin.tv have done a lot for the YC program (and for startups in general) going forward; arguably these 3 moderate successes financially for YC but having very involved alumni might be worth more than a huge financial success which didn't stay involved with YC.
Re: How Y Combinator Started
#59http://web.archive.org/web/20050324062234/http://ycombinator...
Re: How Y Combinator Started
#60So doing the winter batch in California seemed like one of those rare cases where the self-indulgent choice and the ambitious one were the same. There is nothing more heavenly, more sublime than that rare situation in life in which the self-indulgent choice and the ambitious choice align. There's a keen insight to be had there. Unfortunately, those moments are very rare. For instance, at least, in terms of my persona…
Berlin?
(I've lived here for four years.)