How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle
1–10 of 120 posts
Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle
#2...PG hit me with a particular question about acquiring a particular type of user, one I should have been able to answer, one I’d practiced dozens of times over the past few days, one I had several strong answers to. I don’t understand why, but my mind simply went blank. The interview ended a minute or two after.
Sounds like an incredibly minor detail to base the decision on considering everything else appeared to go well. I've no doubt PG and the team are all about small details but that doesn't quite add up for me.
Either way Steve, you did great to get as far as you did and a YC rejection is only a minor hurdle along the way so best of luck bud.
Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle
#3Great post, but your choice of colors make reading it incredibly hard on my eyes (it's the end of the day here).
Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle
#4Great post, but your choice of colors make reading it incredibly hard on my eyes (it's the end of the day here).
Cause astigmatism: http://blog.tatham.oddie.com.au/2008/10/13/why-light-text-on...
I absolutely hate reading websites that do light on dark.
I use this Chrome extension and it works great. http://www.chromeextensions.org/appearance-functioning/chang...
I used to use some extension on firefox as well, can't recall the name.
EDIT: Perhaps this https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/color-that-si...
Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle
#5After the story of you flying over to doorstep a hedge fund manager, navigating the many layers to get there and ultimately solving the problem, I don't see YC saying no to be a problem.
Learning experiences and such, grind it out and keep going.
Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle
#6Great post, but your choice of colors make reading it incredibly hard on my eyes (it's the end of the day here).
What's the easiest to read Tumblr theme? I'll happily change it. Sorry it makes it difficult to read.
Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle
#7After the story of you flying over to doorstep a hedge fund manager, navigating the many layers to get there and ultimately solving the problem, I don't see YC saying no to be a problem. Learning experiences and such, grind it out and keep going.
Yes, though the problem they likely saw was he virtually has no product, business plan, nor seems interested in selling it as much as himself. Its a trope you see here in the post mortem after every YC season selection.
"I hacked the process and all I got was this stinking blog post."
Edit: This front-paging HN will more than likely land him a job somewhere, for better of for worse, and was likely his real goal in writing it.
Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle
#8Great post, but your choice of colors make reading it incredibly hard on my eyes (it's the end of the day here).
What's the easiest to read Tumblr theme? I'll happily change it. Sorry it makes it difficult to read.
The fact that I read it through is proof to how compelling your post is. Your story on trying to get the domain name by all (reasonable) means really resonated with me. Are you based in London?
Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle
#9Honestly I don't get it. While the story is cool, it really just seems like you're comfortable blowing several thousand dollars on what, lets be honest, is a very, very unlikely chance at securing a domain name.
I know this story speaks of SV culture in some way; huge risk, huge rewards and the idea that no one can stop you. If the venture pays off, it makes you a hero. If it doesn't, well you get a cool story. But you're aiming to be head of your own company, you need to make wise business decisions. This doesn't look like one, and just shows (me) that you're willing to make large gambles for a chance at winning the lottery. Where do you draw the line?
Re: How I got a YC interview as a single founder and blew it at the final hurdle
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
What's the easiest to read Tumblr theme? I'll happily change it. Sorry it makes it difficult to read.
The fact that I read it through is proof to how compelling your post is. Your story on trying to get the domain name by all (reasonable) means really resonated with me. Are you based in London?
Yessir! Email address in HN profile. Hit me up.