Tell HN: Ever think of applying to YC? Do it this weekend for S24

Post by dang » Sat, Apr 20, 2024, 1:11 AM UTC

OJFord wrote: post #201

dang wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Rejection sucks, it's true. But one thing a lot of people don't know is that the chance of being accepted to YC goes up with repeated applications. I even think most founders who YC funds get rejected before they get accepted. (I may be wrong about most* but certainly it's a large chunk.) The main thing is to demonstrate progress since your last application. * Edit: I asked the team and got back: "most is true! for w…

I could've sworn there was a cap, like apply and be rejected three times and that's it or something, but I can't find that now - is that not the case? Just could be quite significant to people considering 'just apply' advice quite last minute over this weekend is all :)

Post by hindsightbias » Sat, Apr 20, 2024, 1:14 AM UTC

Rapzid wrote: post #63

dang wrote: post #39

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I'm with you and wish that we were more careful with this sort of signaling risk. However, there are tons of college dropouts and uncredentialed software people who make it in to YC. What I'm basically trying to tell everyone, and hoping to convince a few, is: don't listen to any of this, just do it.

I'm also with you! Just wanted to share my experience in case it helps as a data point. Gates, Jobs, and Zuck all famously dropped out of college of course. It's an interesting and tricky social dynamic matching within and between these somewhat distinct groups.

Post by anamax » Sat, Apr 20, 2024, 1:26 AM UTC

s1k3s wrote: post #157

chenxi9649 wrote: post #60

I think one thing that people don't realize is that the YC application process is really one of the best tools for "sharpening" your idea/business. The written applications forces you to articulate your ideas in a concise yet easy to understand way. And as much as YC doesn't recommend this, the mock YC interviews we did with alums was one of those most beneficial things that happened to us. Because so rarely will you…

> I think one thing that people don't realize is that the YC application process is really one of the best tools for "sharpening" your idea/business. I'm seeing this a lot through the comments but I have to ask, why is it? Do people just not think about how their product will make money, who the competition is or how are they going to get customers?

Post by dang » Sat, Apr 20, 2024, 1:30 AM UTC

andrewstuart wrote: post #205

loceng wrote: post #44

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Also understand the VC industry is inherent with learning from the ideas submitted to them as part of curating deal flow; and it's common for them to justify it with a mantra that ideas are supposedly not worth anything, and it's all about execution. When and who to share ideas with - and any market traction you may have as proof points there's an opportunity - is possibly the most important part of executing, and wh…

>> ideas are supposedly not worth anything If ideas are worth nothing then a great team executing well should be able to create a billion dollar company selling dog droppings. Anyone who says ideas are worth nothing is flat out wrong.

Post by 999900000999 » Sat, Apr 20, 2024, 1:37 AM UTC

grepfru_it wrote: post #109

999900000999 wrote: post #62

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It's more like I don't think cold calling ( tweeting) VCs yields results. It's the equivalent of singing with a guitar outside of Columbia records. It's not like Paul McCartney is going to just tell you to step into his office and record a demo. I do plan on taking some time off to work on my side projects though. Maybe I'll try again...

I’m in the same boat, except now actively planning to take off to work on a side project. Rather than spend another year building a prototype for a potential $100M idea (last two landed me really nice jobs) I have my eyes set on ideas that will generate $3-6M/year that I can realize on my own with minimal/no outside funding. I may apply to this YC round for giggles, but totally get the same feeling as you that I’m pr…