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Snapchat Pitch Competition

justinkan.com

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Re: Snapchat Pitch Competition

#21

Post by ewbokisBos0 »

If there was one thing that I wish I had had drilled into me in college it would be regular expressions. If I could have had two things drilled into me I'd choose regexes and importance of likability.

I've watched a lot of very talented people languish just because they weren't "likable" enough. Not because they were bad people, but because they weren't interested in blogging, networking at meet ups, getting thousands of Twitter followers, or in making an email any less terse than it absolutely needed to be.

I've also seen people with terrible ideas or lackluster execution get massive amounts support because they approached likability as a skill and mastered it.

I couldn't imagine doing this at the YCF stage.

Effectively pitching over SnapChat requires a type of media training that most early stage founders won't have. It's hard to pitch in person, even harder to pitch when you're using a medium you've only used to send dumb stuff to your friends. I know I'm much better in person than I am on video so I don't even bother trying to raise money from firms that require a video upfront.

Likability and presentation are massively important, but I'd rather spend my early days building a product that works well than anxiously grasping at likability on SnapChat. There are so many great writers and media people out there, build something great, then bring them in to help you sell it.

Re: Snapchat Pitch Competition

#22

Post by taytus »

I always try to control myself about posting negative comments, but man... I'm getting tired of this glamorization about entrepreneurship, and sadly YC is having more and more responsibility on this.

Re: Snapchat Pitch Competition

#24

Post by wj »

mdorazio wrote: post #4
minimaxir wrote: post #2

Apply HN, which was also an experiment from YC, just finished. The results were highly contested due to ambiguous rules and vote brigading. This experiment is doing the same thing , with a preselection process and communication medium with zero transparency . And the end result is a chance at an interview instead of guaranteed admission! This seems like an experiment that is quirky for the sake of being quirky. That…

I agree as well. I'm trying to figure out what this format adds to the startup vetting process. It's almost like a weird social media version of Shark Tank with a behind-closed-doors pre-selection process. I feel like what YCF really needs a competition for is the best idea for finding and vetting YCF participants.

I know that some people's (mine this year) application videos didn't register any viewings so I guess it is a way to guarantee your video is viewed.

That said, as a human, it is okay to have some fun with your job. I imagine these experiments might be both a way to do something differently as well as possibly be a learning experience.

Also, I imagine some of them might be pitched by complete strangers as they buy their coffee or do their grocery shopping. So this might be a more controlled version of that.

Re: Snapchat Pitch Competition

#25

Post by pedalpete »

minimaxir wrote: post #2

Apply HN, which was also an experiment from YC, just finished. The results were highly contested due to ambiguous rules and vote brigading. This experiment is doing the same thing , with a preselection process and communication medium with zero transparency . And the end result is a chance at an interview instead of guaranteed admission! This seems like an experiment that is quirky for the sake of being quirky. That…

How is that different to the regular HN application process?

You put in your application, it gets filtered by somebody who was a previous alum (or maybe you had contacts that put in a good word) and maybe you get an invite.

I'm not in any way railing against the process, that's just the way it is. If you don't like it, don't play.

Re: Snapchat Pitch Competition

#26

Post by pj_mukh »

dyarosla wrote: post #3
minimaxir wrote: post #2

Apply HN, which was also an experiment from YC, just finished. The results were highly contested due to ambiguous rules and vote brigading. This experiment is doing the same thing , with a preselection process and communication medium with zero transparency . And the end result is a chance at an interview instead of guaranteed admission! This seems like an experiment that is quirky for the sake of being quirky. That…

I wholeheartedly agree. It almost sounds like a pitch for a reality TV show. Honestly, I think it reflects poorly on YC's brand image to run experiments that seem to add nothing to the typical startup vetting process; this one more so than the last.

I don't understand. The very nature of experimentation is to figure out whether it adds anything to the process. It's impossible to sit and gestate about all the possible ramifications.

I'm not a snapchatter (snapper?), but hey, crazier things have worked swimmingly. Go Justin!

Re: Snapchat Pitch Competition

#27

Post by educar »

This is silly. Sad to see that startups are being thought as some sort of game/entertainment. Nobody who is serious about building a company needs to actually go through all this.

I cannot imagine YC's own employees will go through this process should they start a company of their own. I thought the previous experiment was borderline amusement but this has totally crossed the line.

Has YC somehow convinced itself that it's all a lottery and there is no point trying to evaluate start ups using normal methods?

Re: Snapchat Pitch Competition

#28

Post by alttab »

sotojuan wrote: post #20
BinaryIdiot wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I agree with you to be funny the truth is Snapchat is the new, hip way many youngsters are communicating. Many celebrities and personalities are gaining huge followings on it and even generating revenue based on their audience. Look at Gary Vee or really half the VCs / angels in silicon valley. They're all on it. It's huge!

The "Snapchat is for nudes!!!" joke is really an outsider thing. It really isn't used for those kinds of pics much more than text or even Facebook. Either way people will screenshot so it's the same as those two.

An "outsider" thing? I've used it quite extensively and understand its nuanced differences from other offerings. That said, its a fancy messenger app that is a huge battery hog, and crashes and lags constantly. It's not really deviating from the image that it's built by frat-boys.

One thing I do admire about it is that it deletes the content. This allows me to be more "free" and take shitty pictures of myself just to utilize the fun parts (videos, stories, object tracking / emojis, and lenses).

But in the end, I find myself wanting to create content I'd want to share with my Facebook network. Sure, it's ephemeral nature allows me to communicate freely with closer friends than on Facebook, and in a more immediate sense, but I don't see how this is any different than any other messaging app with fancy "message format" features.

Except it deletes content. It feeds into the insecurities of today's youth, and shelters them from consequences of their own actions. Of course it would spread like wild fire. It's the safe space that college students thought Facebook was before people realized everything stuck around forever.

So outside of the funny lenses and stories, the main attraction is deleting content. So either your insecure, or you're sending dick pics.

I expect to be outspoken about this, but its simply my take. If you disagree, you can respect my opinion by not down voting me for it.

Re: Snapchat Pitch Competition

#29

Post by StephenCanis »

andymoe wrote: post #16

Have the naysayers actually watched Justin on Snapchat? There is quality content and everyone could learn a thing or two from him about marketing and consistent content creation. This is basically how JTV got traction and press. Also, regular YC apps require a video anyway so this fits well with the model they are used to. Edit: Down votes have answered my question :O

You can even learn how to get other people to create free content for your channel!

I don't disagree that Juatin knows how to market and create quality content. What I don't understand is why someone who wants to start a successful company would spend their time doing this. Why not spend time building the company?

The snaps also get posted online after the contest - doesn't that defeat the purpose of Snapchat?! It's not a good medium for this.

Re: Snapchat Pitch Competition

#30

Post by wj »

StephenCanis wrote: post #29
andymoe wrote: post #16

Have the naysayers actually watched Justin on Snapchat? There is quality content and everyone could learn a thing or two from him about marketing and consistent content creation. This is basically how JTV got traction and press. Also, regular YC apps require a video anyway so this fits well with the model they are used to. Edit: Down votes have answered my question :O

You can even learn how to get other people to create free content for your channel! I don't disagree that Juatin knows how to market and create quality content. What I don't understand is why someone who wants to start a successful company would spend their time doing this. Why not spend time building the company? The snaps also get posted online after the contest - doesn't that defeat the purpose of Snapchat?! It's…

My understanding is that finding any sort of funding and mentoring requires some time commitment. This is no different.
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