How does YCombinator feel about startups which have gone through a local incubator and raised a seed round?
Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
21–30 of 114 posts
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
I cannot agree more on this; btw, do they tell you why you are rejected or its just that, "We found the 30 companies we were looking for. So better luck next time".
They write an extremely nice rejection letter, stating that even they make mistakes, they turn away a lot of promising people, and that they are trying to get better at this every funding cycle. (been rejected twice) However if you are creating a startup just to get into ycombinator you should not be doing a startup.
"if you are creating a startup just to get into ycombinator you should not be doing a startup."
If this was the case, then I would prefer taking my chances with banks than pg.
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#23I'm curious to know the financial situations of those who apply to YC. You don't have to give specifics, but has anyone gone through YC with a lot of school debt? (>$20k, >$40k?) How did you manage this? For those who haven't gone through YC but do have a lot of school debt or otherwise, how do you think you'll manage?
I'd be interested to hear this, too. Also outside of the context of applying for an incubator, even- the general idea (as far as I can see) is to work for as little as possible, keeping cash in the company. Sensible, but I live in New York, and rent/food isn't cheap. I've been wondering to myself how I would balance that- I have savings, but not a ton.
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#24The timeout on the application is now exceptionally fast. I can go maybe three or four minutes at most before it doesn't let me save anymore.
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#25There are lots of people with great ideas and products out there who are not able to just up and quit jobs and move somewhere for months on end. It would be nice to see an option for people like this. Not everyone is single college student, what about established tech professionals with houses and mortgages, or even a family.
I agree with this in concept, but that doesn't mean that YC must fill that niche. Along those lines, it would be nice if there was a good system for getting hired as an employee (not co-founder) of an early stage startup (and not just in SF).
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
They write an extremely nice rejection letter, stating that even they make mistakes, they turn away a lot of promising people, and that they are trying to get better at this every funding cycle. (been rejected twice) However if you are creating a startup just to get into ycombinator you should not be doing a startup.
"if you are creating a startup just to get into ycombinator you should not be doing a startup." If this was the case, then I would prefer taking my chances with banks than pg.
Why is that? convincing banks to give you money will be much harder, at a high interest rate, and you have to give the money back whether you're successful or not.
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#27"How do we choose who to fund? ... We look for brains, motivation, and a sense of design. ..." I'm aware little things change each time this is posted but it's the first time I've seen design mentioned. Just curious, when was it added (or was it always there and I just missed it?).
The same thing came to mind when I read it. I presume it is, in fact, a new point.
And it makes sense, given recent trends. How many recent startups can you name that succeeded in spite of terrible aesthetics?
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#28I'm happy to offer feedback on your application as well. I was in the YC summer 2006 batch, currently a cofounder of Sincerely. You can reach me at bryan-at-sincerely
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, of course. We care more about the founders (both individually and their relationship) than the idea. Incidentally, YC hasn't gotten as much more competitive as you might think, because we've grown as the number of applications has. We consistently end up funding about 3% of applications. Not as a conscious strategy; it just always works out to about that. Applying to YC has grown somewhat more competitive though…
Related to that, I have a question that's been bugging me: If the application is assessed primarily on the founders, is it really worth failed applicants applying again? Speaking as someone who has applied (and failed, with cause!) twice relatively recently, and as an experienced 14 year 'veteran' of web technology, I can't say that my experience, skills or business-savvy have drastically changed since the applicatio…
I applied and was turned down two other times before being accepted on the third ... idea did change for the one we got accepted with though
Re: Applications open for Y Combinator's summer 2012 funding cycle
#30If you want a little honest feedback on your application before you submit it, feel free to contact me. I was the first engineering hire at justin.tv, I'm the cto of ZeroCater now, and I love talking about startup ideas.
[deleted]