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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

#101

Post by revorad »

pg wrote: post #65
MWil wrote: post #10

I have an odd question that has stopped me from applying from most incubators to date (although it may also be too early as well)... If my idea is very specific to an industry because that's what I'm interested in pursuing but would require developing applications that would benefit almost all general industries conceivably, is that considered good or bad? For example, my company is only looking to be a player in the…

That's actually a good sign in a startup. Ideally you want to start by solving a small number of people's problems very thoroughly, and then expand the number of people whose problems you solve.

That's a piece of advice I keep hearing all the time, but I think it can be dangerous.

Of course, you have to start small - there usually isn't a choice not to. But, I think it's best to have a product which can serve a huge market in its most basic form without adding more features.

There are very few examples of startups which start with a product with features highly specific to one group of users and then expand out successfully to a huge market. Most startups die or get stuck in a vertical.

Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#103

Post by Cardeck »

pg wrote: post #87
Cardeck wrote: post #72

PG, can Eastern Europe startups apply?And what are the chances?I know everyone is allowed to apply but I have the impression that E.Europe is a last resort for YC.Also, why is the video mandatory for the first step.Wouldn't be easier to go through ideas and ask for everything else afterwards?Maybe some people are just shy or not so good on camera.There are so many options.Thanks.

Of course. There's a startup from Hungary in the current batch. If Eastern European founders have a weakness, it's that their English is sometimes bad. That's a real problem in a startup, because you often have to talk about subtle distinctions. We like the video because it's a so much more efficient way of seeing what someone's like than just reading a written application. Not as efficient as meeting them in person;…

I always thought the visa is the major weakness.Many US incubators encourage european startups to apply, yet they try to avoid the hassle.Hungarians don't need a visa to visit US.Big advantage.I had this problem 5 years ago and I had to move my company in UK to be successful and it worked.

Out of curiousity, when you or the others review applications, do you have a negative feeling when you see the location?The reason I am asking is because investors tend to favor some countries and no one wants to be the underdog right from the start just by having the "luck" of being born in a small country.Thanks.

Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#104

Post by jacquesm »

Skywing wrote: post #88

I would like to offer up some advice. Do not apply if you're simply applying because it's good practice, or you're gambling against the odds. You won't get selected. If you've applied 4 times before and did not even get an email response or invitation to interview, then you should probably evaluate why it is that you apply each go-around. The folks at YC have obviously tuned their process finely enough so that it avo…

If there is one single factor that distinguishes successful from unsuccessful entrepreneurs then it is not luck, charm, tech chops, timing or a host of other factors. It's persistence.

You're definitely showing persistence, the fact that it hasn't paid off yet is not a reason to give up now or to tell others to give up. What you probably could do is to evaluate your own application against the companies that got picked in previous cycles and ask yourself what if any differences there are, if you are maybe lacking some other crucial ingredient.

But kudos on the persistence, if you just start to execute on one of your ideas and you maintain that level of persistence there is a good chance that at some point you will see some return for your work.

Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#105

Post by random42 »

pg wrote: post #8
rdl wrote: post #4

As a YC alum, I strongly recommend YC to anyone considering it -- even if you don't get in, it's a great way to think about your startup. (Wow, it doesn't even seem like the Winter 2013 were 6 months ago yet. I wonder how much the reduction in class size (previously discussed on HN) will affect YC S13.)

Winter 2013 applications weren't 6 months ago. One of the things we realized after starting YC is that January and June are 5 months apart, not 6. So we have 2 more months between batches in the fall. That's why Startup School is in the fall.

> One of the things we realized after starting YC is that January and June are 5 months apart, not 6.

Yay! I am just 27, non-achiever and already knew that! :)

Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#106

Post by levlandau »

jacquesm wrote: post #104
Skywing wrote: post #88

I would like to offer up some advice. Do not apply if you're simply applying because it's good practice, or you're gambling against the odds. You won't get selected. If you've applied 4 times before and did not even get an email response or invitation to interview, then you should probably evaluate why it is that you apply each go-around. The folks at YC have obviously tuned their process finely enough so that it avo…

If there is one single factor that distinguishes successful from unsuccessful entrepreneurs then it is not luck, charm, tech chops, timing or a host of other factors. It's persistence. You're definitely showing persistence, the fact that it hasn't paid off yet is not a reason to give up now or to tell others to give up. What you probably could do is to evaluate your own application against the companies that got pick…

Successful entrepreneurs are persistent in pursuing something they a) believe in and b) have reason to believe is real-- even if this reason is some tiny kind of insight.

I believe the point he is making is not to start startups with pseudo-random ideas generated largely for the purpose of getting into YC.

Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#107

Post by blacksmythe »

revorad wrote: post #101
pg wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's actually a good sign in a startup. Ideally you want to start by solving a small number of people's problems very thoroughly, and then expand the number of people whose problems you solve.

That's a piece of advice I keep hearing all the time, but I think it can be dangerous. Of course, you have to start small - there usually isn't a choice not to. But, I think it's best to have a product which can serve a huge market in its most basic form without adding more features . There are very few examples of startups which start with a product with features highly specific to one group of users and then expand…

  >> There are very few examples of startups which start 
     with a product with features highly specific to one 
     group of users and then expand out successfully to 
     a huge market.
There are very few examples of startups when successfully address a huge market with any strategy.

Succeeding in a vertical is a positive step, which most startups fail at. For one thing, it give you enough money to keep trying for a larger success.

Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#108

Post by 6thSigma »

kevingadd wrote: post #89

In the past I've been told by various people that YC explicitly avoids applications that have anything to do with games, regardless of the other aspects of the app, just because the games industry tends to be a money pit. Is this true (or still true, if it once was)?

They funded OMGPOP. Not sure if they applied to YC with though.

Re: Applications open for summer 2013 YC funding

#110

Post by hydralist »

pg wrote: post #109
hydralist wrote: post #102

Question for non technical single founders.... is it possible to get matched up if you Apply?

It has happened a few times naturally, but we wouldn't try to push it to happen in the sense that "match up" implies.

makes sense, has there been non technical single founders in the alumni?
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