I would give this guy an interview.
Dropbox's Summer 07 YC Application
21–30 of 64 posts
Re: Dropbox's Summer 07 YC Application
#22Amazing application. Out of curiosity, how much equity did YC take? (6%)?
Re: Dropbox's Summer 07 YC Application
#23i would love to see how some successful non-yc company founders would have filled this application out in their early days. ie- joshu, pg with viaweb,etc. pretty fascinating stuff.
here is one answer of one of the aforementioned parties: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=715667
Re: Dropbox's Summer 07 YC Application
#24"Dropbox synchronizes files across your/your team's computers. It's much better than uploading or email, because it's automatic, integrated into Windows, and fits into the way you already work. There's also a web interface, and the files are securely backed up to Amazon S3. Dropbox is kind of like taking the best elements of subversion, trac and rsync and making them "just work" for the average individual or team. Hackers have access to these tools, but normal people don't."
That is probably the most amazingly succinct and interesting elevator pitch I have read/heard. It clearly defines the product, the problem it solves, and provides metaphors for better understanding.
Re: Dropbox's Summer 07 YC Application
#25"Dropbox synchronizes files across your/your team's computers. It's much better than uploading or email, because it's automatic, integrated into Windows, and fits into the way you already work. There's also a web interface, and the files are securely backed up to Amazon S3. Dropbox is kind of like taking the best elements of subversion, trac and rsync and making them "just work" for the average individual or team. Ha…
If you already know what subversion, trac, and rsync are.
Re: Dropbox's Summer 07 YC Application
#26Curious: what happened to accoladeprep.com?
Re: Dropbox's Summer 07 YC Application
#27I think it's fair to assume that YC et al are looking for some or all of the elements demonstrated here - a feasible and practical idea, demonstrated skills, some thought out strategy / swot analysis. For me, what makes this application as a sole founder stand out from the many other talented people who apply? > How long have the founders known one another and how did you meet? There's a joke in here somewhere.
> How long have the founders known one another and how did you meet? There's a joke in here somewhere. I'm curious about what other sole founders answered here. I believe I wrote "Does a man ever truly know himself?" once...
"I am currently the sole founder. This has to change for Fleaflicker to survive."
Re: Dropbox's Summer 07 YC Application
#28What happens when I read this:
File syncing. Superset of backups, which people will pay for. Good. Single founder. Bad. But at least he's looking for more people. Went to MIT, 1600 SAT. Probably fairly smart. Wrote a poker bot. Now I'm starting to get interested; has the right attitude. Description of the software sounds plausible but generic. Maybe it's good, but who can tell. But little sister uses it; that's impressive. Scroll down to what he understands that competitors don't get. Wow: very concise and unequivocal. I'm now basically sold. Scroll through the rest. No red flags. Did not make the usual joke single founders make when asked how long the founders have known one another. Good answer to what might go wrong. A-. (Would be an A with a cofounder.)
Re: Dropbox's Summer 07 YC Application
#29What happens when I read this: File syncing. Superset of backups, which people will pay for. Good. Single founder. Bad. But at least he's looking for more people. Went to MIT, 1600 SAT. Probably fairly smart. Wrote a poker bot. Now I'm starting to get interested; has the right attitude. Description of the software sounds plausible but generic. Maybe it's good, but who can tell. But little sister uses it; that's impre…
I went back and looked at this application in our system, and I did in fact give it an A-.
An A- means "I want to interview." An A means "I want to interview, even if Rtm and Trevor don't."
I only gave 2 As in s2007. (We funded both those companies, and both did badly.)
Re: Dropbox's Summer 07 YC Application
#30Brief discussion from not too long ago:
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=715584
You've got to appreciate was the directness of the answers to questions on the application.