is there a recorded version which we could see, like the NY startup school?
Notes from YC Startup School Europe
21–28 of 28 posts
Re: Notes from YC Startup School Europe
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
In my opinion, the hardest question really is when should you throw in the towel? There certainly are a lot of zombie companies out there with founders toiling away on "bad" ideas with seemingly no hope of success, burning precious opportunity cost with each passing week, month and year. At the same time, one hears again and again that the successful founders are the ones who don't give up. That success comes from fa…
Great comment. Maybe I rushed into a superficial critique of the advice, but you wrote very well what My really doubt is. And gave me good new insignts also... Thanks
Thanks, and glad my comment helped.
Startups are REALLY FREAKING HARD, but you are not alone. ;-)
Good luck!
Re: Notes from YC Startup School Europe
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
Read up on the concept of a "luck surface area". You can start building it now no matter where you are. If you're the type of person who say, "I will just quit" you might not be the type of person that a VC wants to fund. I've heard it said (might have been from a Stanford ETL talk) that you should do a startup because when you wake up in the morning you absolutely can't do anything else. If I was a VC I would want t…
Well, i don't believe in "types of people". The Homejoy founder said she would have to quit if didnt get the money at that time. She would be of a different type then?
I think you're nitpicking to avoid addressing my point.
s/you're the type of person who/you would say/
Re: Notes from YC Startup School Europe
#24Thanks nqureshi for making these notes. Unfortunately, I couldn't travel to this Startup School and am really missing it (missed live stream, too, because I'm with my kids). I'm most curious to know if attendees enjoyed the talks and the overall event. I'd like to start looking forward to the 2015 version if there should be one :)
It was absolutely wonderful for me, but mostly for meeting all these wonderful people. I came to London early and got together with some other attendees the day before.
I can't say it was productive, but atleast we got to simulate a Silicon Valley -type of social environment for a day.
Re: Notes from YC Startup School Europe
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
I guess it comes down to how far you're willing to push. If you do move to the Valley (as YC partners frequently advise you to), then you probably could get a meeting with Peter Thiel if you really tried. I mean if someone figuratively held a gun to your head and told you to, you probably could. I agree with the general point, though - you need a certain amount of baseline opportunity to be able to do this stuff. Tha…
No, i couldn't. Not until I had dozens and dozens of meetings with other entrepreneurs, then other infestors, create relationships, trust. I would need to spend all my current cash just to pay my expenses on the valley for the time to pull that out. And not working nearly enough to justify it. I mean, these asvice "work really hard" sounds like bs to me. As a lot of people who fails don't work hard. As luck isn't nec…
I decided 7 years ago, despite not knowing anyone in Silicon Valley, to just quit school and move there. Got the first startup job that I could, which happened to be at Slide (founded by Max). I hate networking and generally avoid the whole social tech scene -- so I just worked hard, delivered results and got attention that way. My point is, by working hard AND smart, you can create your own opportunities, e.g. having access to investors when you really need them, etc. It takes time and commitment but it's certainly possible.
Re: Notes from YC Startup School Europe
#26Thanks for the notes! I couldn't open the live stream. About the notes, some of the advice feels great. But i just can't relate to it. I mean: Stripe - they weren't getting a lot traction, then Peter Thiel funded them. Homejoy - they were about to close, then Paul Graham gave them some money. Then everything else sounds like "good advice if you can get a meeting with some of SV legends". Specially the Homejoy one sou…
In my opinion, the hardest question really is when should you throw in the towel? There certainly are a lot of zombie companies out there with founders toiling away on "bad" ideas with seemingly no hope of success, burning precious opportunity cost with each passing week, month and year. At the same time, one hears again and again that the successful founders are the ones who don't give up. That success comes from fa…
I think the dilemma you face when your startup doesn't get anough traction or money is: do I spend more time with my current idea or pivot? You can feel that pivoting is not fighting enough so you try harder and harder with a startup that doesn't work.
At the end you are dealing with uncertainties, and trial and error is your basic tool.
A complementary action that I use in my company is having enough cash to play with new ideas until we found the right one. Probably a straigthforward cash cow is not a product but a consulting or development service.
Re: Notes from YC Startup School Europe
#27is there a recorded version which we could see, like the NY startup school?
The whole event was filmed. I'd expect an edited version will be made available.
Re: Notes from YC Startup School Europe
#28Haha I laughed when I read "move to Buenos Aires". I am currently here with my startup. If someone wants to grab a coffee and share ideas, you should tweet me! Twitter: @jonvillage