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If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

ycombinator.com

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Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#111

Post by bloodcarter »

pclark wrote: post #47
bloodcarter wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, it's successful and I also managed to negotiate a partnership with IKEA. A unique experience! I did all that just to be able one day to return to my startup. We've been featured on ReadWriteWeb and 400+ ppl have subscribed for our beta, but this achievement was not helpful when my co-founders decided to quit...Looking back I can say that although I learned a lot running construction business, that was a mistake.…

You ran a construction company and grew it to $500k in revenue? Dude, I hope you literally spelt that out repeatedly in your YC application. :)

Yes, I hacked supply chain and wrote several pieces of software, and now our profit margin is around 40% of total project estimate. While it's still below the market for the customers.

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#112

Post by saifa »

bloodcarter wrote: post #110
saifa wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great to see some one from Russia dude! Privet! Best regards. I hope Yuri Milner presense in YC will give more chanches for russian talents to make a big jump!

Are you from Russia as well? Nice too meet you! I think that the fact that Milner is now working with YC will have a little or zero effect on Russian startup ecosystem. Money love silence. What would help Russian startup ecosystem to grow is a couple of successful rockstar startups. I was shocked when I told about Milner and YC deal to a local VC and she didn't know that. They are years behind US VCs.

Novosibirsk is city of smart people. Best regards! I'm agree about Russia ecosystem. You are right! Milner is a hero for me, really! He does business in both ends: russian and western internet.

I used to try to do some projects in russian internet. 2 years ago built http://www.moivizitki.ru (social business networking), a big Moscow based web company wanted to buy it (mostly hire us), but i decided to spend my life to build own startup (you can find job any way if needed). Built several e-com affiliate projects for english speaking world. Now my friend and i apply to YC.

I wonder if any person from post Soviet Union was excepted to YC (I don't say even a team, at list person :).

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#113

Post by kiubo »

I have been feeling a bit uneasy about the scope of our idea for some time now. Today I feel much better because we have managed to whittle it down to one core product that is easy to understand and sell. Everything is clearer now. However, now I'm unsure what to do with all the other stuff that we still plan on doing but just further down the road. Do I just leave it all out?

To make my point clearer... Originally we were saying we wanted to do X. To do X you need Y and Z but especially Y. After re-scoping we are now saying we will put all our focus on Y (which is a product in itself), see how things play out, then see about everything else.

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#114

Post by [deleted] »

pg wrote: post #99
Jsarokin wrote: post #84

Another single founder question. What if the startup (single founder) is already passed the building stage and is now looking to scale. Would it make more sense to start hiring a team instead of finding a co-founder? In this specific scenario (obviously an exception), would the single founder issue still be that much of a problem, or is it diluted down now that they company is established somewhat.

It's unlikely you have passed the building stage. They're still working on Google.

[deleted]

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#115

Post by nbashaw »

bdclimber14 wrote: post #76
pg wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it's not a problem. This happens to lots of startups even after we fund them. If you can talk intelligently about why your previous project isn't working, that's actually a point in your favor.

A startup is a unique endeavor where failure is generally viewed as a positive experience. Getting fired from a job hardly looks good on a resume, but having a failed startup under your belt is almost seen as a badge of honor.

True, but it's conditional. It's only seen as a badge of honor if you learn from your mistakes and can talk openly about what went wrong. Otherwise, you come off as defensive (and therefore insecure).

Luckily, I think a community that makes it okay to fail encourages people to not be defensive. They know they won't be labeled a "loser", that they still have a chance to make it.

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#116

Post by voxmatt »

I've thought about applying to YC a couple times now, but our founders (myself and another) are not coders. I can do the usual rudimentary (CSS, HTML, PHP...), and we've done all the UI and business planning, but we do work with others to code the actual site. I assume that there's not really a place at YC for us? I'm incredibly passionate about being a hacker entrepreneur, but without being a brilliant coder, it seems YC is not an option.

Just curious.

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#117

Post by acconrad »

I'm really curious as to why you state "I'm not convinced yet that this will be the next Google, but at least I'm starting to engage with it." and then later say "One good trick for describing a project concisely is to explain it as a variant of something the audience already knows."

These seem like conflicting statements: on the one hand you're looking for a groundbreaking, original idea. On the other you seem to advise comparisons to existing products, which immediately appears to dilute the value of the product and pigeonholes the mission of the team.

Could you comment on the balance you are looking for between these two? Would you rather someone describe their business as "Like [big website] for [target market]" or distinguish themselves for its inherent value?

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#118

Post by pg »

acconrad wrote: post #117

I'm really curious as to why you state "I'm not convinced yet that this will be the next Google, but at least I'm starting to engage with it." and then later say "One good trick for describing a project concisely is to explain it as a variant of something the audience already knows." These seem like conflicting statements: on the one hand you're looking for a groundbreaking, original idea. On the other you seem to ad…

You can describe something novel by reference to something that already exists.

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#119

Post by pg »

voxmatt wrote: post #116

I've thought about applying to YC a couple times now, but our founders (myself and another) are not coders. I can do the usual rudimentary (CSS, HTML, PHP...), and we've done all the UI and business planning, but we do work with others to code the actual site. I assume that there's not really a place at YC for us? I'm incredibly passionate about being a hacker entrepreneur, but without being a brilliant coder, it see…

You don't have to be a great programmer, just good enough to build what you need to.

Re: If you're applying this cycle: How to Apply to Y Combinator

#120

Post by pg »

kiubo wrote: post #113

I have been feeling a bit uneasy about the scope of our idea for some time now. Today I feel much better because we have managed to whittle it down to one core product that is easy to understand and sell. Everything is clearer now. However, now I'm unsure what to do with all the other stuff that we still plan on doing but just further down the road. Do I just leave it all out? To make my point clearer... Originally w…

Tell us what you're going to do first, then talk about how you plan to expand the idea.
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