How many founders have gone through YC?
YC Stats
31–40 of 148 posts
Re: YC Stats
#32how good or bad are those numbers? only 8/970 companies are worth > 1b and 40 are worth over 100M. I assume YC is doing great for themselves, so I'm wondering, what is the rule of thumb to say an investment was successful? (for YC, knowing they invest cheap and early.) Is it once a company reaches 10M? 1M? Where there is an exit? It would be interesting to know how many companies YC says the investment was a success…
[deleted]
Re: YC Stats
#33Sam also just tweeted that 300 YC companies are no longer around. Amazing how much transparent they are and how great YC is at picking and training. So many really crazy ideas that most would think are insane and YC is able to find the ones that make sense and help them. Seems like that's a bit less than 1/3 of all YC companies Tweet is here: https://twitter.com/sama/status/636586179970752512
YC filters applicants for dedicated founders who will not give up easily. It is amazing what can be accomplished by manic perseverance.
Last week I saw this from Sam.
> If we don’t invest in these companies, they don’t happen… The thing about Y Combinator that’s cool is that most companies won’t happen if we don’t fund them.[1]
I thought YC was always looking to fund those that would exist with or without YC. I have seen less and less "crazy bets" every batch, but I have to say there's more diversity of founders and topics (biotech, energy, farming). Companies generate revenue before DemoDay and many are startups that work for other startups. It's not a bad thing but would love to see more Airbnbs or Reddits around. Those are the ones that can generate a true impact on society and can only exist thanks to YC giving them a chance. The fellowship can be a great starting point for those.
[1] http://venturebeat.com/2015/08/23/sam-altman-and-jessica-liv...
Re: YC Stats
#34Considering there is probably a vintage effect, and currently 5% of YC companies are worth over $100 million, that means that most likely 5-10% of founders that join YC will become millionaires over time. That's pretty impressive.
That's not a super high bar. Most of these founders could get $200k jobs at top tech companies, invest $100k/year, and be a millionaire in ~10 years. Much better than 10% odds!
Re: YC Stats
#35What does it mean by saying "got their start with us"? I believe many companies have been around for awhile before YC. Many already with revenue, traction and funds raised (although this might be the exception to the rule?).
The great majority of companies we fund, even in recent batches, have effectively zero revenue when we fund them. But certainly more have a product and users than they used to, which is why we're doing the fellowship.
Re: YC Stats
#36What does it mean by saying "got their start with us"? I believe many companies have been around for awhile before YC. Many already with revenue, traction and funds raised (although this might be the exception to the rule?).
The great majority of companies we fund, even in recent batches, have effectively zero revenue when we fund them. But certainly more have a product and users than they used to, which is why we're doing the fellowship.
YCF is an awesome move guys. Stays true to the funding of a good team/idea philosophy YC began with.
Re: YC Stats
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
Honestly if we were prepared to take 320 that would have been good. The quality was outstanding.
I really underestimated the amount of applications that you guys received. I was thinking maybe a few hundred, like 800 or 900, at the most, but 6500? I was way off. I was wondering though, if the Fellowship program showed great results and you guys decide to continue it, how much equity would you ask for? Have you thought that far ahead yet?
I have no inside info, but I think YC Fellowship could be a startup lead generation system: when you get a Fellowship grant and your company begins to work out, you will probably apply to YC and get accepted. Then YC receives equity (and only the equity of the huge winners matter financially).
Re: YC Stats
#38As a clarification, by 'shutdown' do you mean failed, or does that include people who sold or were aquihired?
Good to see the 90% of startups fail 'statistic' blown out the water with some facts!
Re: YC Stats
#39As a clarification, by 'shutdown' do you mean failed, or does that include people who sold or were aquihired? Good to see the 90% of startups fail 'statistic' blown out the water with some facts!
> Good to see the 90% of startups fail 'statistic' blown out the water with some facts!
If YC companies were representative of all startups there wouldn't be any point in going through YC.
Re: YC Stats
#40It would be great to get stats about exits as well. How many exits? Total valuation at exit? Median/average age at exit? etc.