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How to Apply to Y Combinator

ycombinator.com

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Re: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#61

Post by leelin »

thedob wrote: post #31

One thing that's confused me about the "Please tell us about the time you most successfully hacked some (non-computer) system to your advantage." question is the parenthesis. My guess is that they're included because you'll accept either a computer, or non-computer related example. If it's confused me, chances are it may confuse others as well.

The "non-computer" wording is still confusing.

That seems to exclude hacks to computerized systems such as "Profited from eTrade being slow to patch the mutual fund market timing loopholes" or "Flipped laptops on eBay when lots of people used to spell it labtop."

Re: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#62

Post by netsp »

pg wrote: post #36
bgnm2000 wrote: post #19

Thanks pg! I was worried that entering too many secondary ideas would almost appear as a drawback. As if the team wasn't truly dedicated to the idea they were submitting the application for. Its nice to know the team itself is more important. Also, I'd love to know what percentage of teams have business people, rather than 100% hackers

Off the top of my head, I'd say 10-20% of groups have someone who's a pure business person, in the sense of not being able to program. More commonly there's one programmer who's more outgoing than the rest, and he or she does sales initially.

That's an interesting definition of a pure business person.

Re: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#63

Post by korch »

netsp wrote: post #60
korch wrote: post #55

So let me get this straight--if you make it through the gauntlet of rather arbitrary, hype-driven judgements, you get a whopping $10k and you have to move to the Bay, which has among the highest real estate and cost of living in the country? How is this not a complete waste of time since it's so exploitive of developers? Oh, that's right, being part of the startup-hype bubble machine entitles you to a magic wand that…

I don't understand this approach to criticism. You are saying that the cost/benefit equation doesn't makes sense. OK. This has been discussed before and you can expect get the same responses you have heard before and found unconvincing. If you do not think that doing these things (full time startup, moving, taking investment, etc.) are a good idea generally, it can easily follow that YC is a bad idea. Then you seem t…

I would be interested hearing about the cost/benefit analysis from YC funded groups after they have been funded and/or moved on.

The only way to move beyond subjective and hypothetical judgements like we're making is (obviously) to measure tangible success. Just like how various scientific fields are painfully aware of 'survivor bias' and maintain journals devoted solely to the topic.

Re: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#64

Post by _cbsz »

korch wrote: post #63
netsp wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand this approach to criticism. You are saying that the cost/benefit equation doesn't makes sense. OK. This has been discussed before and you can expect get the same responses you have heard before and found unconvincing. If you do not think that doing these things (full time startup, moving, taking investment, etc.) are a good idea generally, it can easily follow that YC is a bad idea. Then you seem t…

I would be interested hearing about the cost/benefit analysis from YC funded groups after they have been funded and/or moved on. The only way to move beyond subjective and hypothetical judgements like we're making is (obviously) to measure tangible success. Just like how various scientific fields are painfully aware of 'survivor bias' and maintain journals devoted solely to the topic.

It is likely not in the economic interest of these groups to say anything negative about YC, even if they have moved on.

Re: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#65

Post by brk »

korch wrote: post #55

So let me get this straight--if you make it through the gauntlet of rather arbitrary, hype-driven judgements, you get a whopping $10k and you have to move to the Bay, which has among the highest real estate and cost of living in the country? How is this not a complete waste of time since it's so exploitive of developers? Oh, that's right, being part of the startup-hype bubble machine entitles you to a magic wand that…

How is it that you'd had an account here for 179 days, a small bit of karma accumulated, and yet it seems that this is your first exposure to the concept of YC and the sorts of folks who are attracted to this particular startup launch path?

Re: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#66

Post by jamiequint »

korch wrote: post #55

So let me get this straight--if you make it through the gauntlet of rather arbitrary, hype-driven judgements, you get a whopping $10k and you have to move to the Bay, which has among the highest real estate and cost of living in the country? How is this not a complete waste of time since it's so exploitive of developers? Oh, that's right, being part of the startup-hype bubble machine entitles you to a magic wand that…

YC for us was much more about the connections than the money. It makes getting in the door a lot of places much easier, VCs/Angels are big on referrals and YC is kind of an insta-referral to anyone you want to talk to.

The value of YC also depends largely on what kind of company you want to start. If you're looking to start a small shop making $500k-$2M (max) a year in revenue with 2-3 people than YC probably isn't for you because that type of business is not venture fundable and thus the venture connections that YC can get you aren't really worth much. However, if you're looking at something that has the potential to be VC backed scale ($10M/yr+ at some point in the future) then the introductions and connections are necessary and the value of YC is clear.

Also, I would add that I think the YC alumni network has become one of the most valuable parts of YC. There are enough alums now that basically someone has had experience with what you are going through and can offer good advice, imho that is the hardest thing about YC to duplicate.

Re: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#67

Post by _cbsz »

araneae wrote: post #49
Xichekolas wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you analogy with grading papers is flawed. Sure, it's easier to grade bad things than good things, because you don't have to look too deeply, but YC does not have to assign mean grades. They are reading in order to find useful information. If all applications become more concise and useful, that is a net gain, even if it makes the choice of who to interview less obvious.

It's not the analogy that's flawed at all. You admit that this might make that choice of who to interview less obvious, which is exactly my point. However, if the goal of teaching is to teach students, then obviously one should try to improve their writing! Similarly, as you point out, if the goal of YC is to find useful information, then of course they should provide this additional help. tl;dr: Of course, most inte…

OT: was this that crazy dorm at Cornell?

Re: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#68

Post by pg »

yumraj wrote: post #58

How about someone who needs guidance more than money. Like, someone who is currently employed and wants to do something on the side till it makes sense to go solo and maybe would need funding at that point. Would YC be interested/willing to consider this model and engage with such founder(s) to help review ideas, business models etc.?

What would have to change for it to make sense to go solo?

Re: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#69

Post by pg »

mcotton wrote: post #51

How many repeat applications do you see? I am interested in applying and, likely, re-applying while I work on the idea. Is this common? Does it clutter the application process to see previously rejected applications again and again?

Quite a lot, and we sometimes fund them.

It's only a problem to see an application again if it doesn't change.

Re: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#70

Post by netsp »

korch wrote: post #63
netsp wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand this approach to criticism. You are saying that the cost/benefit equation doesn't makes sense. OK. This has been discussed before and you can expect get the same responses you have heard before and found unconvincing. If you do not think that doing these things (full time startup, moving, taking investment, etc.) are a good idea generally, it can easily follow that YC is a bad idea. Then you seem t…

I would be interested hearing about the cost/benefit analysis from YC funded groups after they have been funded and/or moved on. The only way to move beyond subjective and hypothetical judgements like we're making is (obviously) to measure tangible success. Just like how various scientific fields are painfully aware of 'survivor bias' and maintain journals devoted solely to the topic.

That would still be subjective anecdote. The only non subjective you have to go by is this. Many people have decided that YC good for them.
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