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How to hack together a Y Combinator application

tipjoys2cents.blogspot.com

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Re: How to hack together a Y Combinator application

#11

Post by wumi »

ivankirigin wrote: post #8
wumi wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Matt's number 1 tip is the opposite: "# Apply early. I’m guessing something like 75% of their applications are submitted in the last few days. That’s usually how those sorts of things work. Doing it earlier can only help get you a little more consideration time." and leaving co: "Start early. If you haven’t already begun your application, do so now! It’s due on April 2nd, and you probably should have started at least…

Didn't Matt apply late? Considering there is no longer an option to start early, the only advice left to give is "do it now!"

true

Re: How to hack together a Y Combinator application

#12

Post by SwellJoe »

wumi wrote: post #7
ALee wrote: post #3

Here's other resources for advice: http://mattmaroon.com/?p=247 http://leavingcorporate.com/2008/03/24/how-to-get-accepted-f...

Matt's number 1 tip is the opposite: "# Apply early. I’m guessing something like 75% of their applications are submitted in the last few days. That’s usually how those sorts of things work. Doing it earlier can only help get you a little more consideration time." and leaving co: "Start early. If you haven’t already begun your application, do so now! It’s due on April 2nd, and you probably should have started at least…

We applied at the last minute...the same day they were due, and with only a half an hour or so of work on the app (I applied on a whim...didn't even tell my co-founder until after). I don't know how it effects the odds, but we did get the interview (and I think that's also the point at which I informed my co-founder that I'd applied). I'm guessing it probably doesn't matter. At the end of WFP07, I seem to recall that they waited until the apps were all in before printing them out and looking them over.

I do suggest writing well, however, and taking as long as you need to achieve that goal.

Re: How to hack together a Y Combinator application

#13

Post by pg »

The whole late vs. early thing is a bit of red herring. I think what I actually said was that a surprising number of the best startups only decided to apply at the last minute. But we certainly don't look at applications that come in at the last minute and think "ok, these guys must be good."

It doesn't help to apply late. It doesn't hurt much, either. We do start looking at some of the early applications, and make suggestions about things they could change to improve their prospects. But I doubt by more than 10%. If you're good, it will show, basically.

Re: How to hack together a Y Combinator application

#14

Post by tipjoy »

pg wrote: post #13

The whole late vs. early thing is a bit of red herring. I think what I actually said was that a surprising number of the best startups only decided to apply at the last minute. But we certainly don't look at applications that come in at the last minute and think "ok, these guys must be good." It doesn't help to apply late. It doesn't hurt much, either. We do start looking at some of the early applications, and make s…

Yes, in fact, we applied very very early - just a few weeks after the applications were announced.

Re: How to hack together a Y Combinator application

#15

Post by ivankirigin »

pg wrote: post #13

The whole late vs. early thing is a bit of red herring. I think what I actually said was that a surprising number of the best startups only decided to apply at the last minute. But we certainly don't look at applications that come in at the last minute and think "ok, these guys must be good." It doesn't help to apply late. It doesn't hurt much, either. We do start looking at some of the early applications, and make s…

Updated the post. I'm kinda surprised that is what the comments focused on -- whoops.

Re: How to hack together a Y Combinator application

#16

Post by pg »

ivankirigin wrote: post #15
pg wrote: post #13

The whole late vs. early thing is a bit of red herring. I think what I actually said was that a surprising number of the best startups only decided to apply at the last minute. But we certainly don't look at applications that come in at the last minute and think "ok, these guys must be good." It doesn't help to apply late. It doesn't hurt much, either. We do start looking at some of the early applications, and make s…

Updated the post. I'm kinda surprised that is what the comments focused on -- whoops.

It's not necessarily your fault. It's very common for comments to focus on a side point and miss the core of a post. Happens to me all the time.
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