Cool story to read. Always fun to see what kind of projects get in.
Getting in to YC
11–19 of 19 posts
Re: Getting in to YC
#12Cool story. You should have given it a link bait title though - "I rejected YC twice... and still got in"
Re: Getting in to YC
#13So how are you different from Dwolla? Is it that you provide an API, while they provide an application?
Re: Getting in to YC
#14So I've applied a couple of times and didn't get in. Since then I've actually taken a bunch of time off from startups, work etc. One thing that's been made clear is that the startups I was involved in at the time wouldn't have succeeded even if we did get into YC. My co-founder was not the right person and we were doomed to fail from the start.
I am back into creating a start up with a cofounder that works perfectly with me. We use to work together a long time ago and everything just feels a lot easier/right this time round. We also have enough funding for a year to get this business to be self sustainable.
I'd like to think our chances of getting into YC are very high now but we won't be applying. I guess my point is that for everyone that applies and doesn't get in, don't worry about it and don't change your plans! If you are with the right person and have solid evidence that your business has potential, then whether you are in YC or not won't change things.
There is a steep learning curve to this whole startup thing and it seems to me that everyone is required to make a lot of the same mistakes until something just clicks in your brain. I can't guarantee that my current startup will be a success but the chances are ridiculously higher than ever before.
Re: Getting in to YC
#15"When you’re waiting to interview at YC they have some alumni there to chat with you. To calm you down."
Off topic and at the risk of offending anyone this reminds me of what Playboy used to be known to do with women who came for photoshoots for the first time. The women were incredibly nervous and legend has it that other alumni playmates would always be around to make them feel comfortable and at home.
Re: Getting in to YC
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd recommend you spend your time strengthening all the areas which you identified as weaknesses right now. The YC application takes time to do right, and is in and of itself a learning exercise in really understanding what your business is and conveying it concisely. Until you cover all your bases there's much better places to spend your time.
I was able to become literate in code, but I don't think become a "10x engineer" that a proper technical co-founder should be is feasible for me. I can create a simple, but decent, front-end; and I can understand discussions of back-end code. That is sufficient to me I guess. But working on a "hot startup" in Brazil won't happen and "sell my startup", well, I am trying to build one. I will never cover all my bases, b…
Then go find a tech co-founder:) it's a good exercise in one of the many thing you'll have to be good at later on
Re: Getting in to YC
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
Build a version 1. If you can't do that, go convince a prospective customer to give you a check in advance. Either of these will greatly increase your odds. If you can't do either, why would anyone invest?
I built a prototype myself, as I am learning to code. But that wasn't good enough to offer to a customer, so I outsource it. Now I am working with a freelance developer on it, hoping we work well together so one day he can be my co-founder. Before that I already sold it to two clients, but sounded strange to me "ask the check" in advance. They agreeded to pay for it, but didn't pay yet. But now that is built, I will…
>Now I am working with a freelance developer on it, hoping we work well together so one day he can be my co-founder.
Not to be all doom and gloom, but one of pg's top advice points is that each co-founder should be someone you already know (and are hopefully at least acquaintances with, preferably friends with) before the startup is put down on paper. Building a startup from scratch is hard, and you need to do it with someone you're comfortable spending a ton of time with. All the co-founders need to be on the same wavelength and need to communicate well and frequently.
I don't know your circumstances, or where you found said freelance developer, but seeking out someone just to help develop some of the ideas you have is usually not the way to go to make a company. To make one product, perhaps, but probably not a company.
Re: Getting in to YC
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
I built a prototype myself, as I am learning to code. But that wasn't good enough to offer to a customer, so I outsource it. Now I am working with a freelance developer on it, hoping we work well together so one day he can be my co-founder. Before that I already sold it to two clients, but sounded strange to me "ask the check" in advance. They agreeded to pay for it, but didn't pay yet. But now that is built, I will…
>Now I am working with a freelance developer on it, hoping we work well together so one day he can be my co-founder. Not to be all doom and gloom, but one of pg's top advice points is that each co-founder should be someone you already know (and are hopefully at least acquaintances with, preferably friends with) before the startup is put down on paper. Building a startup from scratch is hard, and you need to do it wit…
Well, there is one thing I am sure. There is no one between my friends or acquaintances that could be a co-founder. Trust me, I've been looking for a long time.
So what do i do? Don't build a company? No, i hire a good frelancer, see if it works out fine. Then i offer a fulltime job, hopefully with the revenue of the startup. If this turma out fine, then he becomes a co-founder and CTO.
Re: Getting in to YC
#19I hope people don't read this and get a sense that this is acceptable behavior from someone working for a startup. Huge Kudos for stripe for putting up with you.