How to make your YC application stand out • Hacker News Board

Re: How to make your YC application stand out

#11

Post by Macsenour » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 7:35 PM UTC

pg wrote: post #4

Romoku wrote: post #2

The one trait I've noticed about these articles is the applicant must have a significant amount of planning. It doesn't sound like YC is something that you wake up on Monday and say, "I'm going to live in California for 3 months on savings without a reliable source of income and hope I can turn my idea into a business."

Strangely enough, a lot of the most successful startups we've funded applied at the last minute. E.g. David Rusenko of Weebly told me he applied 30 min before the deadline.

PG, could it be that the sense of urgency makes the passion of the team stand out?

Re: How to make your YC application stand out

#12

Post by trey_swann » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 7:41 PM UTC

driverdan wrote: post #6

pg wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Strangely enough, a lot of the most successful startups we've funded applied at the last minute. E.g. David Rusenko of Weebly told me he applied 30 min before the deadline.

Is there any data available on how much forethought and planning went into the decision to apply and the app/vid themselves? From what I've learned talking to YC startups and reading about others it seems pretty mixed, that some spent many hours planning and some made the decision at the last minute.

I'd argue that the unpolished application videos are the best. I really like the video that the guys from DirectedEdge submitted (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nTFBO5lvGc). This video demonstrates that there is chemistry between the two founders, identifies the problem/opportunity, and clearly explains their solution. I wasn't in the room, but this video appears to be spontaneous.

I can't speak to the timing of it all. But, given the data points available I'd say rough videos and applications free of marketing speak are the best.

Re: How to make your YC application stand out

#13

Post by outericky » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 7:48 PM UTC

Romoku wrote: post #2

The one trait I've noticed about these articles is the applicant must have a significant amount of planning. It doesn't sound like YC is something that you wake up on Monday and say, "I'm going to live in California for 3 months on savings without a reliable source of income and hope I can turn my idea into a business."

I think the planning phase is whether or not you are going to go all in and pursue your idea as a business opportunity; regardless of YC. YC happens to be something that makes you decide that. Could be other things, but some people need something to push them a little.

Re: How to make your YC application stand out

#14

Post by jbarrec » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 8:47 PM UTC

pg wrote: post #4

Romoku wrote: post #2

The one trait I've noticed about these articles is the applicant must have a significant amount of planning. It doesn't sound like YC is something that you wake up on Monday and say, "I'm going to live in California for 3 months on savings without a reliable source of income and hope I can turn my idea into a business."

Strangely enough, a lot of the most successful startups we've funded applied at the last minute. E.g. David Rusenko of Weebly told me he applied 30 min before the deadline.

I've been so busy working on my prototype that I almost forgot about Winter 2014. Had I not read this article I would likely have forgotten.

Re: How to make your YC application stand out

#15

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 9:29 PM UTC

pg wrote: post #4

Romoku wrote: post #2

The one trait I've noticed about these articles is the applicant must have a significant amount of planning. It doesn't sound like YC is something that you wake up on Monday and say, "I'm going to live in California for 3 months on savings without a reliable source of income and hope I can turn my idea into a business."

Strangely enough, a lot of the most successful startups we've funded applied at the last minute. E.g. David Rusenko of Weebly told me he applied 30 min before the deadline.

[deleted]

Re: How to make your YC application stand out

#16

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Oct 17, 2013, 4:04 AM UTC

pg wrote: post #4

Romoku wrote: post #2

The one trait I've noticed about these articles is the applicant must have a significant amount of planning. It doesn't sound like YC is something that you wake up on Monday and say, "I'm going to live in California for 3 months on savings without a reliable source of income and hope I can turn my idea into a business."

Strangely enough, a lot of the most successful startups we've funded applied at the last minute. E.g. David Rusenko of Weebly told me he applied 30 min before the deadline.

[deleted]