Ask PG: What is a good size for a YC idea? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask PG: What is a good size for a YC idea?

#11

Post by alaskamiller » Mon, Sep 17, 2007, 7:30 PM UTC

SwellJoe wrote: post #10

We (Virtualmin) got in and the problems we solve are big and take a huge volume of code (though we had a 9 year jump on the problem when we applied, in our Open Source projects). Parakey got in, and their problem set sounded really big...but I didn't understand what they were talking about most of the time, so I may have misunderstood. They also had a leg up, by being Blake Fucking Ross and Joe Fucking Hewitt. Versio…

is there a way, any way, for us plebeians to have a look at the presentations done on demo days?

Re: Ask PG: What is a good size for a YC idea?

#12

Post by pg » Mon, Sep 17, 2007, 7:45 PM UTC

alaskamiller wrote: post #11

SwellJoe wrote: post #10

We (Virtualmin) got in and the problems we solve are big and take a huge volume of code (though we had a 9 year jump on the problem when we applied, in our Open Source projects). Parakey got in, and their problem set sounded really big...but I didn't understand what they were talking about most of the time, so I may have misunderstood. They also had a leg up, by being Blake Fucking Ross and Joe Fucking Hewitt. Versio…

is there a way, any way, for us plebeians to have a look at the presentations done on demo days?

I doubt we'd make them public, since (a) most of the startups haven't launched yet by that time and (b) even the ones that have tend to describe future plans they'd rather not have get into the hands of competitors.

Re: Ask PG: What is a good size for a YC idea?

#13

Post by brlewis » Mon, Sep 17, 2007, 8:11 PM UTC

pg wrote: post #12

alaskamiller wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

is there a way, any way, for us plebeians to have a look at the presentations done on demo days?

I doubt we'd make them public, since (a) most of the startups haven't launched yet by that time and (b) even the ones that have tend to describe future plans they'd rather not have get into the hands of competitors.

One option would be to record them, then let the startups themselves decide whether to distribute the videos or not.

Re: Ask PG: What is a good size for a YC idea?

#14

Post by paul » Mon, Sep 17, 2007, 9:32 PM UTC

brlewis wrote: post #13

pg wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I doubt we'd make them public, since (a) most of the startups haven't launched yet by that time and (b) even the ones that have tend to describe future plans they'd rather not have get into the hands of competitors.

One option would be to record them, then let the startups themselves decide whether to distribute the videos or not.

That's a good idea, though the startups could just repeat the presentation later in front of a camera, which might be a better idea (they can do multiple shoots, etc).

Re: Ask PG: What is a good size for a YC idea?

#15

Post by Tichy » Mon, Sep 17, 2007, 10:12 PM UTC

paul wrote: post #14

brlewis wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One option would be to record them, then let the startups themselves decide whether to distribute the videos or not.

That's a good idea, though the startups could just repeat the presentation later in front of a camera, which might be a better idea (they can do multiple shoots, etc).

While it sounds like a good idea, that seems unlikely to work. Why would they put in the extra effort? I think it would be one of those good ideas that get postponed indefinitely.

Re: Ask PG: What is a good size for a YC idea?

#16

Post by SwellJoe » Mon, Sep 17, 2007, 10:34 PM UTC

Tichy wrote: post #15

paul wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a good idea, though the startups could just repeat the presentation later in front of a camera, which might be a better idea (they can do multiple shoots, etc).

While it sounds like a good idea, that seems unlikely to work. Why would they put in the extra effort? I think it would be one of those good ideas that get postponed indefinitely.

Yes on all counts. I wouldn't want our Demo Day presentation disseminated because it kinda sucked. And I wouldn't do it again, because when I next present I expect a big fat check to follow within a month or so. But maybe I'm just lazy.

Re: Ask PG: What is a good size for a YC idea?

#17

Post by DanielBMarkham » Mon, Sep 17, 2007, 10:53 PM UTC

falsestprophet wrote: post #5

DanielBMarkham wrote: post #4

What I'd like to accomplish: Become Master of Space and Time What I expect to do first: Apply to YC For some reason, I'm having some trouble with some of the steps in between. (grin)

Consider a tag cloud.

I was thinking what I needed was a sock puppet, or maybe a website with a name with too many vowels, like ooweblioo. I'm also considering a folksonomy of avatars, or maybe a paradigm-shifting web 3.0 application that virtualizes social dynamics in a new dimension.

Dang! That sounds great! I think I'll call the puppet Bob. Man, I'm almost there.

Re: Ask PG: What is a good size for a YC idea?

#18

Post by pg » Tue, Sep 18, 2007, 12:51 AM UTC

brlewis wrote: post #13

pg wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I doubt we'd make them public, since (a) most of the startups haven't launched yet by that time and (b) even the ones that have tend to describe future plans they'd rather not have get into the hands of competitors.

One option would be to record them, then let the startups themselves decide whether to distribute the videos or not.

We may start to do that, if only to show future YC startups what a good demo day presentation is like.

Re: Ask PG: What is a good size for a YC idea?

#19

Post by alaskamiller » Tue, Sep 18, 2007, 12:56 AM UTC

SwellJoe wrote: post #16

Tichy wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While it sounds like a good idea, that seems unlikely to work. Why would they put in the extra effort? I think it would be one of those good ideas that get postponed indefinitely.

Yes on all counts. I wouldn't want our Demo Day presentation disseminated because it kinda sucked. And I wouldn't do it again, because when I next present I expect a big fat check to follow within a month or so. But maybe I'm just lazy.

How can there not be any value in this? If not for the practice at least for the fanatical viewing this particular audience will do. And I'm also surprised at how little the companies communicate their product idea or vision. But maybe I'm focusing on the wrong thing.

Re: Ask PG: What is a good size for a YC idea?

#20

Post by paul » Tue, Sep 18, 2007, 6:30 AM UTC

alaskamiller wrote: post #19

SwellJoe wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes on all counts. I wouldn't want our Demo Day presentation disseminated because it kinda sucked. And I wouldn't do it again, because when I next present I expect a big fat check to follow within a month or so. But maybe I'm just lazy.

How can there not be any value in this? If not for the practice at least for the fanatical viewing this particular audience will do. And I'm also surprised at how little the companies communicate their product idea or vision. But maybe I'm focusing on the wrong thing.

I tend to agree. People may be underestimating the benefit that the increased awareness would give. Serendipity is powerful because "random" people often know the "right" people.