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Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

ycombinator.com

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Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#41

Post by tarr11 »

keiferski wrote: post #33

The questions, for anyone too lazy to view the actual application (such as myself) or who doesn't have a HN account: -------------------- - What is your company going to make? - If this application is a response to a YC RFS, which one? - Please tell us in one or two sentences about the most impressive thing other than this startup that each founder has built or achieved. - Please tell us about the time you, keiferski…

I feel like it's valuable just to read this document every once in a while, even if I'm not thinking about applying to YC.

Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#42

Post by wcchandler »

I'll risk some karma for this, as it's not the most appropriate place, nor is it the best way to introduce my idea.

I want to produce something similar to Google Fiber. I cannot give up my life and source of income to fly out to San Francisco and pursue the "cultural" side of incubation and all things startup related. I need a non-technical guy who understands the business side. I work at a community college as a NOC. If we landed a spot in YC, while you are in San Francisco doing that, I will be taking courses which specialize in this field.

My contact info is in my profile.

Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#43

Post by rdl »

wcchandler wrote: post #42

I'll risk some karma for this, as it's not the most appropriate place, nor is it the best way to introduce my idea. I want to produce something similar to Google Fiber. I cannot give up my life and source of income to fly out to San Francisco and pursue the "cultural" side of incubation and all things startup related. I need a non-technical guy who understands the business side. I work at a community college as a NOC…

There are ~no college courses I've seen anywhere which are critical to starting a network carrier (assuming you have a high school+ level of understanding of basic math, English, etc.). I've done datacenter stuff and ISP (satellite, not fiber, except as a customer), and international. Everything else is either something you can learn yourself (Cisco certification is moderately helpful, but the rest is all either craft skills or dealmaking), or stuff you have to learn yourself (local politics).

If you really want to start a network like Google Fiber, JFDI. Neither college nor YC should delay you.

There is ~no chance you'll be building a national or global network out of the gate, though -- unless you have a lot of experience or some exogenous source of capital, you'd be doing a local network in some city or region, and then expanding from there.

Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#44

Post by ced »

rdl wrote: post #34
orangethirty wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for that data point. Though it raises some points. What failed in such instances? Was the business or the founder? Is this data ever published, or are you just given an empty notice of decline? (Excuse my ignorance in that part, because I have not gone through the process). edit Thank you for the thorough explanation rdl.

There's a lot of information on the web about this; you could try the search box at the bottom of this site as well. It has evolved over the years, but is still fairly similar. (I have slightly privileged information about YC, and I don't want to go through the effort of figuring out what is public by quoting these sources). It's also the wrong way to look at it. A better way is "what does it cost to apply" -- it's m…

There is probably 10x more value in YC if you launch before or during YC than after demo day.

Why?

Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#45

Post by adelevie »

I know YC doesn't like to accept applicants who are still in school (and who aren't dropping out). Makes enough sense, considering students at all levels can expect to spend ~40-60 hours/week on their studies. But what about part-time/evening students? The commitment for them might be much lower, say ~10-20 hours/week.

Should students in this latter category even consider applying if they have zero intention of dropping out of school?

Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#46

Post by dmor »

adelevie wrote: post #45

I know YC doesn't like to accept applicants who are still in school (and who aren't dropping out). Makes enough sense, considering students at all levels can expect to spend ~40-60 hours/week on their studies. But what about part-time/evening students? The commitment for them might be much lower, say ~10-20 hours/week. Should students in this latter category even consider applying if they have zero intention of dropp…

Apply for practice and to think through the questions, but realize that you are up against thousands of smart people who can give every waking moment of their life to their company and you can't right now.

Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#49

Post by adelevie »

dmor wrote: post #46
adelevie wrote: post #45

I know YC doesn't like to accept applicants who are still in school (and who aren't dropping out). Makes enough sense, considering students at all levels can expect to spend ~40-60 hours/week on their studies. But what about part-time/evening students? The commitment for them might be much lower, say ~10-20 hours/week. Should students in this latter category even consider applying if they have zero intention of dropp…

Apply for practice and to think through the questions, but realize that you are up against thousands of smart people who can give every waking moment of their life to their company and you can't right now.

I'd rather not waste the YC partners' time :)

Maybe in my case, school is a bit less of a zero sum game. I'm working on a legal research tool (prototype: http://dokket.aws.af.cm/about) that serves an under-addressed market (communications law). Think MarketBrief (http://marketbrief.com/), but instead of the SEC, the focus is on the FCC.

Not-so-incidentally, I'm about half-way done with law school in a part-time/evening program in DC.

Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#50

Post by dylangs1030 »

wcchandler wrote: post #42

I'll risk some karma for this, as it's not the most appropriate place, nor is it the best way to introduce my idea. I want to produce something similar to Google Fiber. I cannot give up my life and source of income to fly out to San Francisco and pursue the "cultural" side of incubation and all things startup related. I need a non-technical guy who understands the business side. I work at a community college as a NOC…

I'd like to point out that as of this writing, you have no contact info.

Just pointing this out.

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