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Y Combinator Summer 2013 Demo Day, Batch 1

techcrunch.com

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Re: Y Combinator Summer 2013 Demo Day, Batch 1

#11

Post by jasonkester »

I remember a time when this very TechCrunch article would come out and I'd read through it with a sense of dismay at the sheer unadulterated badness of every single idea.

Things have changed.

An example: Teleborder charges $5,000 per visa application, ... gathering documents, collecting information, and sending information to the government.

This is one of those ideas where you just stop and wonder why nobody has run with it before. These guys are going to make bank. I rode a dotcom into the ground in the early 'aughts that was tackling a similar problem with 10x the paperwork of a H1B and roughly 0% of the hair-on-fire demand that tech companies with tons of money have for help getting labor into the country.

That's the kind of company I wish I'd founded. Nice work.

Re: Y Combinator Summer 2013 Demo Day, Batch 1

#12

Post by sharkweek »

jasonkester wrote: post #11

I remember a time when this very TechCrunch article would come out and I'd read through it with a sense of dismay at the sheer unadulterated badness of every single idea. Things have changed. An example: Teleborder charges $5,000 per visa application, ... gathering documents, collecting information, and sending information to the government. This is one of those ideas where you just stop and wonder why nobody has run…

Teleborder definitely caught my eye - seems to be curing a major headache

I think my favorite of the past few batches is still FlightCar; that's the one I looked at and thought "damn where has this been all my life"

Re: Y Combinator Summer 2013 Demo Day, Batch 1

#13

Post by pisarzp »

Kivo sounds really fantastic. I can remember having 272 versions of the presentation back in the day I worked in the bank.

The only obstacle I see is that majority of the potential users are not allowed to install any software themselves, but given that they already signed up some big customers they definitely can cope with that.

Re: Y Combinator Summer 2013 Demo Day, Batch 1

#14

Post by [deleted] »

jasonkester wrote: post #11

I remember a time when this very TechCrunch article would come out and I'd read through it with a sense of dismay at the sheer unadulterated badness of every single idea. Things have changed. An example: Teleborder charges $5,000 per visa application, ... gathering documents, collecting information, and sending information to the government. This is one of those ideas where you just stop and wonder why nobody has run…

[deleted]

Re: Y Combinator Summer 2013 Demo Day, Batch 1

#15

Post by hpagey »

jasonkester wrote: post #11

I remember a time when this very TechCrunch article would come out and I'd read through it with a sense of dismay at the sheer unadulterated badness of every single idea. Things have changed. An example: Teleborder charges $5,000 per visa application, ... gathering documents, collecting information, and sending information to the government. This is one of those ideas where you just stop and wonder why nobody has run…

I m not sure if this will work.

The cost per app goes down with each additional app. After about 10 apps the company typically has figured out and streamlined the entire process. The documentation requirements for the H1B applicant are pretty well known. (previous status, transcripts, degree certificates,...). These are not overly complicated documents (unless you are a special case).

Also 5k fee sounds kinds of high (I am assuming these are in addition to the government fees). A lawyer for h1b application should not cost more than 2 to 3k. So, why would a company pay more NOT to work directly with a lawyer?

On the other hand, if the fees include government fees then this is a very good deal.

H1b applicant feels secure in the knowledge that his application is handled by a lawyer. Its like buying an insurance, they are indirectly buying "peace of mind". If they find out that company is not directly using a lawyer, I am not sure how they will react.

Am I missing something?

Re: Y Combinator Summer 2013 Demo Day, Batch 1

#17

Post by patmcguire »

pisarzp wrote: post #13

Kivo sounds really fantastic. I can remember having 272 versions of the presentation back in the day I worked in the bank. The only obstacle I see is that majority of the potential users are not allowed to install any software themselves, but given that they already signed up some big customers they definitely can cope with that.

Also starting with consultancies is smart. Once you get Deloitte and McKinsey they're going to be recommending that to clients since it's what they know.

Re: Y Combinator Summer 2013 Demo Day, Batch 1

#19

Post by kaeawc »

pla3rhat3r wrote: post #18

I love that every app is labeled "It's (insert other app) for (insert what is does)." Example: YAMMER FOR MOBILE WORKFORCE, Mint.com for legal spend, CLICKTALE FOR MOBILE, YELP FOR LATIN AMERICA. UGH!!

It seems to be the best way to get new ideas across to people. How would you describe them in a clearer way that as many people would understand?

Re: Y Combinator Summer 2013 Demo Day, Batch 1

#20

Post by kevin_morrill »

dirtyaura wrote: post #5

Article claims that Prim's 10% weekly growth is "low by Y-Combinator standards", but in "Startup = Growth" pg wrote that 10% weekly growth is great growth pace, and above 5% is good. Has the baseline of YC companies improved that much?

Techcrunch author may be reacting to growth rates right after launch that Demo Day pitches tout, which of course are through the roof (often over 100% week-over-week).

The 10% PG talks about is something you try to do week in and week out long after your press spike. It's insanely hard to do, but even if you come anywhere close you are doing very well.

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