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Lecture 8: How to Start a Startup

startupclass.samaltman.com

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Re: Lecture 8: How to Start a Startup

#21

Post by akbar501 »

rdlecler1 wrote: post #18

Do things that don't scale is a great. An approach we took to heart. However, we're now ripping apart at the seams and this is negatively affecting our members. So now I need to go out and raise capital so that we have more bandwidth, but in doing so I exacerbate the problem because when I'm away lose 1/3rd of our team. I can't way I would have done anything differently, but if the capital is not there when you need…

> we're now ripping apart at the seams

Congrats on the growth. It sounds like its time to start automating some of your processes / tasks.

Re: Lecture 8: How to Start a Startup

#23

Post by jlukanta »

rdlecler1 wrote: post #18

Do things that don't scale is a great. An approach we took to heart. However, we're now ripping apart at the seams and this is negatively affecting our members. So now I need to go out and raise capital so that we have more bandwidth, but in doing so I exacerbate the problem because when I'm away lose 1/3rd of our team. I can't way I would have done anything differently, but if the capital is not there when you need…

I'm not sure why you got downvoted because our experience matches yours. Just like everything, this mantra needs to be put in context. There are different stages in a startup life. It is possible that some strategies would cease to be valid once you go beyond certain stage.

Re: Lecture 8: How to Start a Startup

#24

Post by jcavin »

A lot of great points shared. I like how door dash talks about hacking solutions together to make it work. To improve the efficiency the way a business is ran you have to understand all its components. In their case it was driving cars, charging transactions, etc. starting crappy is ok as long as you continuously improve.

Re: Lecture 8: How to Start a Startup

#25

Post by cjbarber »

cjbarber wrote: post #2

I've been eagerly watching/reading all of these lectures. Top quality content. Many thanks to YC for doing this - I look forward to the beneficial impact that spreading this knowledge will have. My only complaint is that many of these things are easy to hear, and agree with - i.e. talk to users first, of course! Yet, it can be hard to bridge the gap between what we agree with, and the actions we take. Much easier to…

Checklist for lecture #8

https://chris.typeform.com/to/Oto5xV

Re: Lecture 8: How to Start a Startup

#30

Post by wuliwong »

I really like the main message of this video. I think it makes loads of sense, I've employed it in my own projects at the beginning.

One question is that it seems like the first speaker and some of the people asking questions are asking "why did nobody ever do this before?"

That just isn't true. In Atlanta, for instance, we have had a company Zifty for years. Zifty has been here well before grubhub or the other sites. I guess Zifty hasn't expanded to San Francisco, yet. :) But anyway, my point is that I don't see how doordash is a new idea?

Edit here's the question from the transcript: Q: When you started, it seemed so obvious to you, you were wondering why, what the reason was nobody had done this before. What's your answer now looking back?

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