Been there, done that, got rejected. As they always point out - like here in (2) - "YC looks for good potential founders" it must have been me (or us back then), not the project.
Tell HN: Ever think of applying to YC? Do it this weekend for S24
291–300 of 441 posts
Re: Tell HN: Ever think of applying to YC? Do it this weekend for S24
#292I don't know how to "Make something people want", still applying it anyways. :)
Re: Tell HN: Ever think of applying to YC? Do it this weekend for S24
#293Earlier quoted context omitted.
Congratulations on having a successful business. There's nothing wrong with a business that grows slowly, pays you a salary, and remains profitable. I've walked a similar path and, while I'll never be a multi-millionaire, I'm very comfortable and have more than I need. Small, stable, businesses that offer good secure jobs are the backbone of the economy. All that said, there are investors out there who are interested…
> (Always have your first date on a famous college campus, then you can forever drop "we met at harvard" into the conversation.) That was hilarious. Do people really do that?
Probably not, but it sounds like an excellent strategy :)
Re: Tell HN: Ever think of applying to YC? Do it this weekend for S24
#294I'll play devil's advocate. I have applied to YC for at least 8 times in my 20s? They rejected me everytime. Not even an interview. I now run a $XM SaaS (scale-up, not startup) growing at Y00%/annum. 100% bootstrapped with a healthy profit margin. Thanks YC. The only thing I'd say that YC is good for is their network of existing startups. Then again, startups aren't the best customers IMO given that they die too much…
Congrats on the bootstrapped business! Could you please share some of the marketing for founder resources you mentioned? I'd like to avoid taking investments too.
A simple google will do. Also, most of the advice don't really sink in until you're in the position.
Instead of "Just apply to YC", I'd recommend to just start a company.
Re: Tell HN: Ever think of applying to YC? Do it this weekend for S24
#295Re the “won’t get in” point.. We applied a few years ago. I won’t lie, I was sad and disappointed we didn’t get in, but even more so because our application was just ignored. Left a very bad taste in our mouths. I won’t again spend days on an application to have it be ignored. Since then, we have been grinding away at the same business and it’s now making 7 figures, giving us the perfect life of a 20% YoY growth busi…
I spent most of the last 20 years in bootstrapped companies, helping grow two of them into 8 figures (which, when you don't have a board, is pretty neat). Bootstrapping is where my heart is, and almost all of the best memories of my career are from times when those kinds of companies were at the knife's edge of maybe having some kind of market fit and maybe just starting to have an identity and maybe just getting up…
You don't need YC to raise funds.
Re: Tell HN: Ever think of applying to YC? Do it this weekend for S24
#296Re the “won’t get in” point.. We applied a few years ago. I won’t lie, I was sad and disappointed we didn’t get in, but even more so because our application was just ignored. Left a very bad taste in our mouths. I won’t again spend days on an application to have it be ignored. Since then, we have been grinding away at the same business and it’s now making 7 figures, giving us the perfect life of a 20% YoY growth busi…
> our application was just ignored The only way that would happen is a bug. YC always responds to applicants. Rejections usually aren't personalized because that can't scale—but not hearing back at all should never happen. If you want me to look into what might have happened there, I'd be willing to try if you email hn@ycombinator.com. Congratulations on your success in any case! (I'm breaking the rules by copying ht…
> YC always responds to applicants.
With templated responses. No difference from not responding.
Re: Tell HN: Ever think of applying to YC? Do it this weekend for S24
#297Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is a really good point because the vast majority of YC members (97-99%) either graduated or dropped out from Ivy League level schools, or really highly rated state schools. (Dropouts are also a very small minority.) There are YC members who didn’t come from prestigious schools, but they are outliers. Maybe it’s changed the last 4 years? That’s when I stopped tracking it.
That's definitely not true. Where did you get these numbers?
I had a side project that was meant to be an “IMDB of everything”. For my initial focus, I targeted YC, its companies and members. This involved looking at a lot of LinkedIn profiles and recording their alma mater because I wanted to give credit to organizations as well and not just individuals. That’s how I came to that conclusion.
The result surprised me as well but it also makes sense. Investors would be more eager to invest if the founders were already part of some of their networks. People from these schools also tend to be more inclined to be higher achievers than other places on average.
The only time where there was more educational diversity was probably only during the 1st two years of YC.
Has it changed in recent years? I would rather be wrong on this one.
Re: Tell HN: Ever think of applying to YC? Do it this weekend for S24
#298Earlier quoted context omitted.
Just finished W24 batch with no Ivy/FAANG background. Everyone I met in our batch was very friendly, curious, and razor-sharp. Many people have credentialed backgrounds, many people do not. I generally buy YC’s justification that many of the smartest people happen to go to Stanford/Ivy which is why they are over-represented.
I don’t think you can make that argument in good faith: “many of the smartest people happen to go to Stanford/Ivy”. I think you _can_ say that many smart people go to Stanford/Ivy.
In the usage above “many of” I read to mean “smart people are significantly over-represented” at those places rather than anything stronger.
Re: Tell HN: Ever think of applying to YC? Do it this weekend for S24
#299> what reason do you have not to
For starters I don’t have a passport, I wouldn’t want to create a US company, I prefer bootstrapping and dislike unreasonable pressure on growth.
I would be interested in taking advice and networking, I wouldn’t mind signing off equity unless it’s too much hassle (US company, relocation)
Sounds like local hubs and accelerators would be a better pick for me. Unless YC has a remote & chill option?
Re: Tell HN: Ever think of applying to YC? Do it this weekend for S24
#300Slow the earth's rotation using magnets.