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How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle

swaggadocio.com

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Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle

#91

Post by stephengillie »

ldn_tech_exec1 wrote: post #86
stephengillie wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm kind-of amazed at how much this person was willing to spend at the drop of a hat. I see someone carelessly jumping on planes, spending thousands of dollars without blinking, and I start to wonder if the person may be bipolar and experiencing a manic episode.

I'd really appreciate if the next person to reply thinks about what they're about to say before they say it. Ask yourself, would you say this to Stevie's face? If the answer is no, move on. If the answer is yes, I'm sure he'd oblige. For the record, Stevie is one of the most talented and well respected members of the UK tech community, so once again, think before you comment.

I wouldn't say it to his face, but that doesn't mean it doesn't influence my actions in regards to him.

I'm also concerned about the message this sends to others -- that since Stevie suddenly spent massively to try and coerce his way to meeting someone who could release the domain his company probably doesn't really need, that this is acceptable behavior we should all try.

Just because a person is highly accomplished and respected doesn't mean that person can't be mentally ill. John Nash Jr was.

Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle

#93

Post by dorkrawk »

Sort of off-topic but I thought that the use of "take a punt" was interesting. Before I realized he was European, I thought it a strange phrase. Obviously in (soccer) football, taking a punt (a kick to try to score) would be a good thing, but it first registered to me as an (American) football reference of punting (rather than going for a touchdown).

Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle

#94

Post by mlinsey »

I don't know if recs are weighted based on that particular recommender's history, but they are definitely weighted based on how well the recommender knows the applicant, and how strong the recommendation is.

I still recommend that applicants seek out YC alumni when applying, but this is because they will give you good feedback on your application and advice on the interview process, not because their recommendation of someone they met once over coffee will move the needle.

Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle

#95

Post by 1337biz »

sjtgraham wrote: post #66

Further to the money fixation. Has no one considered that I might have actually tried to raise money from Falcone? When I get him in a room, you can bet that I'll be trying to get the domain and some capital from him before I'll try to buy it off of him with my own cash. What do you think is more likely to be successful, a billionaire throwing down a relatively small amount of coin to invest or him hearing out an off…

I'm rooting for you. Great story, the only thing missing is a happy end. Keep it going - almost sad to see that the pessimists and skeptics have taken over in this discussion.

Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle

#96

Post by wpietri »

wilfra wrote: post #29
Irregardless wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He flew from London to NY and showed up at their office uninvited only to find out the CEO was in Aspen. After spending countless hours stalking the guy and hundreds (or thousands) on a plane ticket, he missed by 2,000 miles... If that happened to me, I'd be too embarrassed to repeat that story even to a group of close friends, let alone tout it as my proudest "life hack".

Most people would agree you with you. But that doesn't make you, or them, correct. You should learn to embrace failure as a completely normal and natural part of success, instead of fearing it. This story, and the fact that he is proud of it, is evidence that he gets that. I have no idea who this guy is but if I could buy stock in his future right now, I would. I can't say the same for anybody who reads this and thin…

Successful people have certainly failed, but spectacular failure isn't a particularly good sign of future success. You should only embrace failure if you are learning things. Successful people treat failures as the price of learning.

I admire this guy's persistence, but not his incredible arrogance ("swaggadocio", "sound my huge balls made as I sauntered"), his poor risk/reward assessment, or his lack of lateral thinking skills.

His behavior only makes sense if having name "zap" is the riskiest thing in his current business plan. If everything hinges on him having a specific fancy domain name, then I doubt he'll be delivering sufficient customer value to his users to build a real business. And if that wasn't the riskiest thing, then he's just wasted a lot of time and money in a poorly planned exercise to get something that was a shiny distraction.

That sort of behavior is a great example of why solo founders are dangerous. Startups are endlessly distracting, and a good partner can keep you from taking off like a missile at something that, in the end, isn't core to what you're up to.

Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle

#97

Post by sammachin »

Firstly great story and very entertaining :-) Certainly i would have used it on the application as it makes you stand out and gives the interviewers something interesting to ask about, thats what application forms are for after all.

When it comes to jumping on a plane to try and blag the domain name I think its actually a pretty smart move, on the open market that name would have gone for 6 or 7 figures certainly far more than you could have afforded on seed funding, in which case its worth dropping a grand or so as a gamble that you might get it for much less, I'm guessing you were hoping they'd say they weren't using it and just sign it over to you?

Hey you took a chance and gambled 1000 bucks in the hope of it paying off many times over, it didn't but thats life.

Best of luck man :-)

Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle

#98

Post by tolos »

sjtgraham wrote: post #6
julien_c wrote: post #3

Great post, but your choice of colors make reading it incredibly hard on my eyes (it's the end of the day here).

What's the easiest to read Tumblr theme? I'll happily change it. Sorry it makes it difficult to read.

I found the colors (light text on dark background) to be somewhat of a strain but I couldn't stop reading.

Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle

#99

Post by sjtgraham »

srameshc wrote: post #43

I love the story. The title of this story sounded like it was a note venting out frustration and telling everyone that though dejected, I will make it without YC. But unlike the title, you are so full of positive energy and I hope others at YC could have seen that. I am sure you will make you dream come true. Keep hustling and wishing you the very best of luck.

Thank you!

Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle

#100

Post by omarchowdhury »

objclxt wrote: post #61
stephengillie wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm kind-of amazed at how much this person was willing to spend at the drop of a hat. I see someone carelessly jumping on planes, spending thousands of dollars without blinking, and I start to wonder if the person may be bipolar and experiencing a manic episode.

> "I start to wonder if the person may be bipolar and experiencing a manic episode. " ...I would think that depends on how many thousands of dollars you have in the bank. It would be nuts to do this if you had no money to your name and were struggling to make ends meet, sure. But if you're got a high disposable income, or you know you can make it up with work, why not? I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Stevie, an…

He also billed it off as a vacation, so it's not really a loss.
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