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Paul Graham on Mixergy, today 2pm EST/11am PST

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Re: Paul Graham on Mixergy, today 2pm EST/11am PST

#21

Post by loganfrederick »

AndrewWarner wrote: post #7

If you have any questions, add them here. I'll check these comments about 10 minutes before we go live. The focus is the biography of Y Combinator. Along the way I'd like to learn how pg gives the kind of insight that past Mixergy guests said turned their businesses around.

Is it possible to pitch to the YC team any time during the year, not just during the application seasons?

What's the reasoning behind having the twice a year rounds, as opposed to open for investing at any time?

EDIT to clarify: I understand why they have startups move to California for three months. I've simply never heard why that has to be done seasonally.

Re: Paul Graham on Mixergy, today 2pm EST/11am PST

#23

Post by edw519 »

My questions:

- What advice would pg (2010 instance) give to pg (2004 instance)?

- What property of the 4 yc partners, if removed, would do the most damage?

- What has surprised you the most?

- What is the biggest mistake people have made?

- What is the biggest thing that will have to be different (about yc) in the future?

- What kind of yc startup is most likely to hit a grand slam home run?

Re: Paul Graham on Mixergy, today 2pm EST/11am PST

#24

Post by pg »

maxklein wrote: post #10

My questions: - Is he always calm? Does he ever get angry and throw things around? - Has he ever 'cut off' a YC company from access to YC? - What is the current relationship between YC and the early successful companies like reddit and loopt. Is there any? Do they call ever now and then? - What proportion of YC applicants come from name-brand universities? - If a YC company becomes a lifestyle company, does YC still…

Only my eyebrows; we once sold our stock in one; we talk quite frequently to the Reddit and Loopt founders; I'm not sure, maybe 1/3; we only make money if there's an exit; it depends whether the new idea is the same company-- bluefrog is; some crappy old Motorola flip phone; you would have to reach deep into the Arc libraries to do that.

Re: Paul Graham on Mixergy, today 2pm EST/11am PST

#25

Post by pg »

edw519 wrote: post #23

My questions: - What advice would pg (2010 instance) give to pg (2004 instance)? - What property of the 4 yc partners, if removed, would do the most damage? - What has surprised you the most? - What is the biggest mistake people have made? - What is the biggest thing that will have to be different (about yc) in the future? - What kind of yc startup is most likely to hit a grand slam home run?

Wow, these are good questions. But it's 10:58 so I'll try to answer them afterward.

Edit: Answers:

1. Not to be influenced by credentials. Where people went to school in particular.

2. Our own determination, probably. We need it too, not just the founders.

3. How many people just give up.

4. That founders have made? Building stuff users don't really care about.

5. Doing everything on a larger scale.

6. The kind with the right founders.

Re: Paul Graham on Mixergy, today 2pm EST/11am PST

#26

Post by JimFMunro »

You've had quite a few guests on Mixergy that started their own businesses solo, without partners. PG has repeated that most of the companies he's looked at have at least 2 founders.

Has he changed his views on this any or is this still the main advice?

Either way, what would he look for in a single-founder startup (besides being Relentlessly Resourceful).

Re: Paul Graham on Mixergy, today 2pm EST/11am PST

#27

Post by psycandrew »

maxklein wrote: post #10

My questions: - Is he always calm? Does he ever get angry and throw things around? - Has he ever 'cut off' a YC company from access to YC? - What is the current relationship between YC and the early successful companies like reddit and loopt. Is there any? Do they call ever now and then? - What proportion of YC applicants come from name-brand universities? - If a YC company becomes a lifestyle company, does YC still…

- What qualities make a strong leader when taking the business from the garage to the next level.

Re: Paul Graham on Mixergy, today 2pm EST/11am PST

#28

Post by iconfinder »

acangiano wrote: post #3
ANH wrote: post #2

Andrew Warner (founder of Mixergy) has a great interviewing style. Should be good.

I think Andrew is doing an amazing job. My respect for him skyrocketed when I watched his interview with the bribe kid. He handled that extremely professionally.

He's really great at interviewing these guys. I always have an interview ready on my iPod. I hope he keep doing this.
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