61–70 of 116 posts
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Did they apply with the same idea/product? Or was it Dropbox each time?
Drew originally applied with an SAT test prep company. He's lucky that he was rejected, otherwise he may have spent years working on that instead of starting DropBox.
I think the post tries to encourage more people to start startups and to apply to YC, however, I think the way this post is formulated, it gives the impression that if you have a good idea you can simply apply, which I don't think is true at all. I think it would be really helpful to write that people should only apply to YC if they either have a track record or traction. Criterion 1 is Track record consists of these…
I think the post tries to encourage more people to start startups and to apply to YC, however, I think the way this post is formulated, it gives the impression that if you have a good idea you can simply apply, which I don't think is true at all. I think it would be really helpful to write that people should only apply to YC if they either have a track record or traction. Criterion 1 is Track record consists of these…
In terms of meeting your requirements, Ryan Hoover is a perfect example. I don't believe he'd sold a startup before, he isn't an ex-Facebook or Google employee, and he didn't go to Stanford. I'd randomly found him on Twitter roughly a year ago and suddenly I read a TechCrunch article about how a product he'd made is in YC. He came out of nowhere, so to speak.
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't YC for the Ivy League class type? The "I dropped out cause I am smart" type? The "I wrote a book on _____" type? "I worked at Google or Facebook" type? What about the regular type that doesn't have much to show, but wants to do great things? Basically, I feel like the YC application is a pissing match of who can piss the farthest shown on paper not outside. haha :) I have realized…
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't YC for the Ivy League class type? The "I dropped out cause I am smart" type? The "I wrote a book on _____" type? "I worked at Google or Facebook" type? What about the regular type that doesn't have much to show, but wants to do great things? Basically, I feel like the YC application is a pissing match of who can piss the farthest shown on paper not outside. haha :) I have realized…
> What about the regular type that doesn't have much to show, but wants to do great things? People who want to do great things, and who have the right combination of talent and drive to actually do them, have usually done great things already. Perhaps not in the same sphere, and perhaps not as great as they aim in the future, but still great. If you don't have much to show, why should you expect to be regarded favora…
Sounds like a great way to discriminate against those who are brilliant but have not been given the opportunity (through a certain type of upbringing, e.g. race, gender, income, nationality, etc.) to demonstrate it.
I don't have a solution, but I do think that by relying too much on someone's track record, it's easy to miss other types of people who can be equally successful given the chance.
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I think a lot of it has to do with who you are and then what you have coming in (in terms of a product). So for example. If you're a Stanford grad, have already started and exited a company and now are a part-time VC, you can probably get into YC with just an idea. (similar to Standard Treasury). Alternatively if you've not made a name for yourself yet it's likely YC would look for something already built, with users…
(1) Neither Dan or I went to Stanford. (2) Dan and I are part-time angels really, with very small checks given to a very small number of companies. Also, as sama mentioned, we basically stopped investing at all once we got into YC. We still make an investment from time-to-time but mostly in people we know already. We don't have meetings, way too busy on Standard Treasury. (3) We felt like an underdog when we applied…
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't YC for the Ivy League class type? The "I dropped out cause I am smart" type? The "I wrote a book on _____" type? "I worked at Google or Facebook" type? What about the regular type that doesn't have much to show, but wants to do great things? Basically, I feel like the YC application is a pissing match of who can piss the farthest shown on paper not outside. haha :) I have realized…
Save your money, make a product, get people to pay you for it. When they say "No," ask them why not.
That's it. A lot of work. It probably won't make you famous. If it's fame you want, start a Youtube channel.
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I agree somewhat, I guess its just the impression many have.
if people have that impression, i think they looking for an excuse and not looking at data.
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> What about the regular type that doesn't have much to show, but wants to do great things? People who want to do great things, and who have the right combination of talent and drive to actually do them, have usually done great things already. Perhaps not in the same sphere, and perhaps not as great as they aim in the future, but still great. If you don't have much to show, why should you expect to be regarded favora…
>> Evaluating people based on what they have demonstrated is by far the fairest method, and I can't really imagine what you would propose to replace it with. Sounds like a great way to discriminate against those who are brilliant but have not been given the opportunity (through a certain type of upbringing, e.g. race, gender, income, nationality, etc.) to demonstrate it. I don't have a solution, but I do think that b…
However, the ability to create success in the face of failure is a core property of most successful entrepreneurs. People who stand around waiting for someone to "give them a chance" are rarely the ones who materially impact the world.