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YC s11 Rejected Applicants: This is the real test.

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: YC s11 Rejected Applicants: This is the real test.

#21

Post by devan »

bconway wrote: post #20
devan wrote: post #19

Disappointed. I've got nothing against YC, but I've seemed to go into "success is the best revenge" mode ha. To be honest it's a good wake up call, I need to stop treating my start up as a lifestyle business. Dropping out of university at the end of this term and i'm pushing forward with it. Decisions been made.

Have you considered whether you're following a fantasy? Maybe you should seek advice from someone you trust who doesn't drink the HN/TechCrunch Kool-Aid. Somehow I doubt you were rejected from YC due to lack of effort.

I've been working on the idea for a while now, in a nutshell it's a less bureaucratic version of paypal. I've been seeking advice from a lot of different sources. To be honest, i think the main reason is the fact that i'm a sole founder and that I've been doing everything on my own. Which is stupid, but it isn't easy to find technology entrepreneurs my age in the UK, or ones who are as committed.

The prototype has been developed, so I'm going to take it to market within the next few weeks. Then apply to YC again in the winter, with a bit more grounding and social proof.

It's not really the money I was hoping to receive it's the support/advice/mentorship, especially on legal matters. Most of the lawyers i've spoken to don't really have a clue about the SAAS model.

Re: YC s11 Rejected Applicants: This is the real test.

#22

Post by ericmsimons »

devan wrote: post #21
bconway wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you considered whether you're following a fantasy? Maybe you should seek advice from someone you trust who doesn't drink the HN/TechCrunch Kool-Aid. Somehow I doubt you were rejected from YC due to lack of effort.

I've been working on the idea for a while now, in a nutshell it's a less bureaucratic version of paypal. I've been seeking advice from a lot of different sources. To be honest, i think the main reason is the fact that i'm a sole founder and that I've been doing everything on my own. Which is stupid, but it isn't easy to find technology entrepreneurs my age in the UK, or ones who are as committed. The prototype has be…

Although bconway is trying to look out for your better interests, I'm going to advise you to go with the route you just mapped out.

Maybe your idea isn't the "one". Maybe you can't pull off running a startup. Maybe you aren't in the right place at the time.

But I'm betting that the preceding paragraph is all false. And even if I'm wrong, at least you put your balls on the line and did something you believed in. The story of your startup will beat an infinite number of drunken frat stories any day.

Safety Net: You can always head back to college if things get ugly.

Re: YC s11 Rejected Applicants: This is the real test.

#23

Post by wordchute »

katieben wrote: post #10

Girl Scout Gold Award recipient here just got rejected. (: I'm looking for a cofounder if anyone knows anyone interested in working on a social startup. I'm more interested in finding passionate people than people with a particular skillset.

I've been looking for someone to work with on my social networking project, so give a shout if you would like to discuss it. Would be nice to reapply (or get funding elsewhere) with a strong team.

Re: YC s11 Rejected Applicants: This is the real test.

#24

Post by ericmsimons »

alexl wrote: post #18

I got rejected twice. However, I have a different idea for a startup. Non web startup, not based on coding. Based on the fact that I never even got a reason why I was rejected, I thought I'd apply differently this time. Saved my application in a file and then posted it here: http://thypope.posterous.com/my-latest-y-combinator-applicat... Tried to make them think. I believe they're in a loop of... self-indulgence, rea…

I skimmed the first paragraph of your application...

Listen, I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I wouldn't have invited you to an interview either (regardless of the BS jargon in the application). Here's why.

1. You are a single founder.

Doing a startup alone is sooooo hard. The only way they would consider having a solo founder is if you're a programmer. (see #2)

2. You're are not a programmer.

It's hard to explain. Being a programmer changes the way you think of ideas. You know what is possible, what is plausible and where that intersection between the two is. Your ideas may be fantastic, but I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't plausible. It's not your fault. You just need to learn how to code if you want to understand what I'm talking about. On top of that, a startup CEO typically plays 'engineer' for at least a year or two before moving up to a lofty management position (but YC looks for hackers - the kind of guys who never stop checking in code at their companies).

3. Your attitude sucks.

You got rejected from YC. Shit happens. It's irresponsible and immature to blame YC because they didn't decide to fund you. Entrepreneurs don't sit and complain when rejection happens - they work harder to ensure it won't happen again.

This is not meant to be a mean post against you. You can continue doing your thing your way, but I will almost guarantee that you will not succeed in running your startup.

Re: YC s11 Rejected Applicants: This is the real test.

#25

Post by ericmsimons »

contactdick wrote: post #16

Yes and No. A good entrepreneur needs to be able to execute and part of that is spending time on the right ideas and features for that idea. I'd say the ability to assess sensibly the question 'Am I working on the best thing I can be at the moment' is more important than dogged pursuit of a single goal.

Have you ever bootstrapped a startup? I've never bootstrapped a startup where we weren't hell bent on getting our shit done until our vision was complete..

Re: YC s11 Rejected Applicants: This is the real test.

#26

Post by piousbox »

Yes and no. I was in freelance photography before switching to programming (weird, huh?). I thought repeatedly: I can't just give up photography, that'd make me a pussy. I should aspire to do what I love.

Then I dumped professional photography and became a programmer, and I am freer, better paid and happier than I would be otherwise. Quitting one thing let me find another that is better.

I guess, the real difference is that someone (Mike Rowe) tells you want to do: don't quit, it's better. But if you don't know what's better, then you don't know if you are quitting the wrong path to pursue a right path, or what. Decisions you make in absence of a judge are always uncertain. And who has the authority to judge me?

Re: YC s11 Rejected Applicants: This is the real test.

#27

Post by ericmsimons »

piousbox wrote: post #26

Yes and no. I was in freelance photography before switching to programming (weird, huh?). I thought repeatedly: I can't just give up photography, that'd make me a pussy. I should aspire to do what I love. Then I dumped professional photography and became a programmer, and I am freer, better paid and happier than I would be otherwise. Quitting one thing let me find another that is better. I guess, the real difference…

I totally agree regarding trying new things. If something interests you more, then go and do it. But if you walk away from something just because you got your ass kicked, that's just lame. Maybe that might lead to something better, more likely not. I think a hybrid model where you do something that you love while you keep your options open is a good approach :)

Re: YC s11 Rejected Applicants: This is the real test.

#28

Post by alexl »

ericmsimons wrote: post #24
alexl wrote: post #18

I got rejected twice. However, I have a different idea for a startup. Non web startup, not based on coding. Based on the fact that I never even got a reason why I was rejected, I thought I'd apply differently this time. Saved my application in a file and then posted it here: http://thypope.posterous.com/my-latest-y-combinator-applicat... Tried to make them think. I believe they're in a loop of... self-indulgence, rea…

I skimmed the first paragraph of your application... Listen, I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I wouldn't have invited you to an interview either (regardless of the BS jargon in the application). Here's why. 1. You are a single founder. Doing a startup alone is sooooo hard. The only way they would consider having a solo founder is if you're a programmer. (see #2) 2. You're are not a programmer. It's hard to explain.…

I sincerely hope that you did get the point - that was a "kamikaze" application not meant to get me in, but meant to get them out of their self righteous loop! You appear to not have read the whole thing. Okay, you didn't have to, of course. But you completely proved my point: that's what they also do. This is why I tried my best to get their attention woken up at least for this one application. Maybe they'll start waking up before reading other applications in the future, as well! I believe they never got the point that this is not a programming-centered idea. Not a software startup at all. I want to make hardware, to put it shortly.

Not meaning to brag, but I applied for another incubator as well, and got to the last stage. I was dumped there, but they did say I came across as technically strong and with relevant and solid experience. Among their tests was a programming test. I sent two e-mails explaining how I'm not a coder but how I'm not supposed to be one. And they passed me to the next stage.

Again, I think you proved the point I was trying to make with Y Combinator flawlessly. Not as an offence to you, though.

And yes, I understand that you weren't trying to bash me but to help me instead. Thanks for that.

Re: YC s11 Rejected Applicants: This is the real test.

#29

Post by ericmsimons »

alexl wrote: post #28
ericmsimons wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I skimmed the first paragraph of your application... Listen, I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I wouldn't have invited you to an interview either (regardless of the BS jargon in the application). Here's why. 1. You are a single founder. Doing a startup alone is sooooo hard. The only way they would consider having a solo founder is if you're a programmer. (see #2) 2. You're are not a programmer. It's hard to explain.…

I sincerely hope that you did get the point - that was a "kamikaze" application not meant to get me in, but meant to get them out of their self righteous loop! You appear to not have read the whole thing. Okay, you didn't have to, of course. But you completely proved my point: that's what they also do. This is why I tried my best to get their attention woken up at least for this one application. Maybe they'll start w…

I get that it was a "kamikaze" application. The fact of the matter is that YC looks for hackers, which you are not. It doesn't mean you're lesser. It just means that you shouldn't be surprised when you get rejected from YC.

I don't understand why/what you're protesting. If you want them to look beyond software startups, that would be very foolish of them as their area of expertise is software.

Re: YC s11 Rejected Applicants: This is the real test.

#30

Post by gumbo »

For some reason the rejection has bumped my productivity. I've produced so much today than I haven't done since months now. I guess the rejection made me feel like I don't need help, Start-up is about business and if for some reasons* YC feel like our idea don't worth investing in (I doubt it) or maybe we are not good enough to execute then it's up to us to prove the contrary.
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