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Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

immadsnewworld.com

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Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#41

Post by wallflower »

jacquesm wrote: post #39
jaxn wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can say that again! We did a game as part of Startup Weekend and then decided to pursue it after. Hopefully it will go into beta this week, but holy smokes it turned out to be a lot more nuanced than I ever imagined. Really fun code to write though.

Game programming is some of the most satisfying code you can write outside of coding up your own operating system. It's real time, lots of subprocesses that you have to schedule properly to keep the game ticking along at a playable pace, all kinds of interaction between objects and if you're 'lucky' a good bit of math and 3d stuff.

OT: Is a subscription to Gamasutra worth it?

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#42

Post by floozyspeak »

knarf wrote: post #12

Sorry if I am coming over as offensive, but I just need to share that it feels kind of weird when you submit a business idea like that, get rejected and than 5 months later read about how yc chose somebody else (who had already in the program before) to create a business - which is just your idea - and he had it like 3 to 4 months ago. Of course the idea for such a thing will always be born in many heads at the same…

Teams gather around ideas, without the spark you have no fire.

Both are equally important, but I understand where you are coming from.

Yesterday I walked away from a startup that was created around my initial idea. Sucks to walk away from that but I couldnt trust the players at the table and eventually it would of gone south and I would of stressed my way into heart failure as a result.

Execute your own ideas if at all possible. The barriers to do so get easier and easier every day. Learn accounting, and get as many good biz mentors as possible. Soak it all up- and own your own creativity- because there are millions of people who cant create for #!@$ who are just waiting to pounce on your skinny and walk right out the door with it.

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#43

Post by writebrained »

knarf wrote: post #12

Sorry if I am coming over as offensive, but I just need to share that it feels kind of weird when you submit a business idea like that, get rejected and than 5 months later read about how yc chose somebody else (who had already in the program before) to create a business - which is just your idea - and he had it like 3 to 4 months ago. Of course the idea for such a thing will always be born in many heads at the same…

An angel investor that I talked to a few weeks ago said it's not about the idea and gave the example of Ray Krok. How many people have had the idea of flipping burgers, sticking it between a bun and some lettuce? It's about the execution. Maybe you can STILL do it better than them. Learn from their mistakes. Above all, keep moving.

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#44

Post by erik »

wallflower wrote: post #41
jacquesm wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Game programming is some of the most satisfying code you can write outside of coding up your own operating system. It's real time, lots of subprocesses that you have to schedule properly to keep the game ticking along at a playable pace, all kinds of interaction between objects and if you're 'lucky' a good bit of math and 3d stuff.

OT: Is a subscription to Gamasutra worth it?

I have a subscription to Game Developer magazine. It's a typical industry magazine. Very heavy on the advertising and PR, with an occasional high quality article. They sometimes offer free subscriptions, and if you search around you might find a sign-up form. They make their money off advertising, and they seem to be more interested in increasing their readership than collecting subscription fees.

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#45

Post by jonursenbach »

knarf wrote: post #12

Sorry if I am coming over as offensive, but I just need to share that it feels kind of weird when you submit a business idea like that, get rejected and than 5 months later read about how yc chose somebody else (who had already in the program before) to create a business - which is just your idea - and he had it like 3 to 4 months ago. Of course the idea for such a thing will always be born in many heads at the same…

The thing with starting a startup is that VCs look for trust. It doesn't matter if they like your idea or not, if they don't trust you, you aren't going to get your hands on their pot of money. Perhaps YC just felt that you couldn't pull it off that well, and then when the next team came along with apparently the same model, they felt the opposite this time around.

You could also be dealing with a case of having an idea that's too early for its time. Look at how much of a hard time Google had getting angel investors. If you feel that you have a solid idea, do it anyways. If it's as solid as you think it is, and you pull it off well enough, they'll come knocking on your door later on down the line.

Creating a startup is all about taking risks, and if you aren't willing to take a risk then don't travel down that path.

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#46

Post by dhimes »

patio11 wrote: post #29
dhimes wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sure Graham & co are on the level (I've never met him/them), but I was warned that there are vc who are scum. The advice I received was to document everything. Make sure you document who is at any meeting, and what info is passed along. Keep careful track.

Keeping careful track of who you tell what does not sell widgets to customers.

Sorry, I don't get your point. Do you mind elaborating?

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#47

Post by immad »

dhimes wrote: post #23
drusenko wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

a large part of what investors invest in is the team. YC tends to do quite a few second investments, because they've already decided that they believe in the team. i would peg this investment as one of those -- that the idea was much less important in the decision than immad and jude forming the team was.

Ouch. Then the question this hypothesis brings to mind is, why didn't they have Immad and Jude build a different product?

I am going to put that down to the free thinking nature of Immad and Jude.

YC doesn't make anyone do any product, its the teams choice what they do.

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#48

Post by euccastro »

dhimes wrote: post #24
patio11 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Without knocking YC: if you really feel that this is a great idea, and you really feel that it is doable, then just go ahead and do it. (Sure, you now have 1 YC funded competitor. Eh, who cares. Competitors are God's way of telling you there is a market which will pay to be satisfied. If you don't see any you should be scared. You can both still be successful.)

I'm sure Graham & co are on the level (I've never met him/them), but I was warned that there are vc who are scum. The advice I received was to document everything. Make sure you document who is at any meeting, and what info is passed along. Keep careful track.

What do you use that documentation for?

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#49

Post by dhimes »

euccastro wrote: post #48
dhimes wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sure Graham & co are on the level (I've never met him/them), but I was warned that there are vc who are scum. The advice I received was to document everything. Make sure you document who is at any meeting, and what info is passed along. Keep careful track.

What do you use that documentation for?

If you need to go to court, they become legal documents showing you had the idea, and whom you told, and when. VC won't sign NDAs, so this is your best protection.

At the least, it can stop ugly boards (think: Blackboard) from coming after you once they gain traction ('cuz they got the VC funding, remember?).

Re: Heyzap (YC W09) launches: The forming of Heyzap and some lessons learnt

#50

Post by sah »

jacquesm wrote: post #40
foobar2k wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not all about the idea, it's about the team.

I really think that it is about both. You can have a stellar team with a shitty idea and bomb big time, you can have a stellar idea and a shitty team and you'll do the same. A stellar team, a good idea, proper timing and now you maybe have something.

A great team can sometimes recognize a bad idea early enough and replace it with a better one. I've seen that happen. Good ideas have a lot less ability to replace bad teams. (Or rather, they can do that just fine, by letting the bad team fail while their competitors win.)
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