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YC: Requests for Startups

ycombinator.com

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Re: YC: Requests for Startups

#401

Post by biztos »

austin-cheney wrote: post #341

There is an unfulfilled niche for rapid defense applications. If you have ever used a military information system you are already fully aware of the many constraints imposed for security. I have always bypassed these limitations by writing my own applications in JavaScript because they simply execute in the browser. I have always found it interesting that JavaScript is one of the most consumed programming languages i…

Writing your own programs in the browser can be great fun, I enjoy loitering in the Javascript console as much as the next guy (did?). I’m surprised to hear that’s not common anymore.

But it doesn’t sound like bypassing the “constraints imposed for security” is the desired outcome for the bosses, so who are you selling to?

Re: YC: Requests for Startups

#403

Post by uptownfunk »

These are all so CapEx intensive it is totally disconnected from YC reality. Which implies if this is really what YC thinks is the direction we are headed, then the approach will essentially be much fewer bets at larger check sizes, for a very small subset. Also the business model for some of these is not exactly obvious. It’s either that or, public equity and/or massive debt heavy capex financing becomes more prevalent earlier on, so some type of high risk debt instrument. Alternatively this is partly a content marketing play to show how forward thinking and visionary they are.

Re: YC: Requests for Startups

#404

Post by smoldesu »

EGreg wrote: post #364

Ooh, I’d love to know how the HN community reacts to YC’s own words on this. Will HN’s very strong anti-crypto anti-blockchain sentiment continue when it’s their own mothership accelerator contradicting them? STABLECOIN FINANCE - Brad Flora Stablecoins are digital currencies that peg their value to some external reference. This is typically the U.S. dollar, but it can be other fiat currencies, assets, or even other d…

> Will HN’s very strong anti-crypto anti-blockchain sentiment continue when it’s their own mothership accelerator contradicting them?

I mean, it's sandwiched in-between such moonshots as "A.I. TO BUILD ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE" and "A WAY TO END CANCER". YCombinator wants money, and stablecoins are a good way to make it if you're crafty and quick on the uptake.

If anything this is wholly unsurprising given YC's opportunistic attitude and fits in well alongside their other pipe-dream investments.

Re: YC: Requests for Startups

#405

Post by sangnoir »

joey_bob wrote: post #357
shrimpx wrote: post #281

To those who think this list will help them get into YC, or lament "why didn't I get into YC when my idea was squarely on this list": The YC application is a sales pitch, and you're not selling your idea, you're primarily selling your charisma and capacity to spin vision and sell. Second, you're selling your chemistry with your cofounders and stability of your relationship. Third, you're selling your capacity to buil…

We've never been accepted, but my experience with application process indicates this isn't strictly true. We're not getting any more charismatic, but they have continued to show interest in us applying. Not sure if that's what everyone gets or not.

VC notoriously rarely ever say "no"[1] - just in case.

1. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38677251

Re: YC: Requests for Startups

#406

Post by btbuildem »

Some real bangers on here, such as "new ERP" and "new defense technology" (ew) ... also seems crypto bros aren't quite dead yet.

Interesting to see that overall the VC ghouls seem a bit out of ideas on how to squeeze more cents out of a dollar.

The one thing on that list that remotely makes any sense is leveraging LLM tech to automate legacy manual processes. Scalability on that though, whew.

Re: YC: Requests for Startups

#407

Post by shitlord »

a_vanderbilt wrote: post #351
Animats wrote: post #221

Most of those take a lot more time and money than YC usually offers. There are some opportunities in "New Defense Technology". Something like a low-cost replacement for the Javelin anti-tank missile based on off the shelf phone camera parts ought to be possible. Of course, once that's out there, every insurgent group will have some. "Explainable AI" is really important. "Stablecoin finance" is mostly how to make sure…

Fun fact about the Javelin bit. I know it was just a throwaway example but something to tickle your brain about it: Phone camera parts would be overkill. The Javelin sensor isn't nearly that high-resolution, we're talking low triple digits in "pixels". It does however refresh its readings very fast, a necessity given its speed. The old Javelin used active cryo and a filtered IR imager, the new one is passive like the…

There's a teardown of a Javelin missile guidance system on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11_5TB0-lNw

Re: YC: Requests for Startups

#408

Post by catlifeonmars »

jaredmclaughlin wrote: post #263
Animats wrote: post #221

Most of those take a lot more time and money than YC usually offers. There are some opportunities in "New Defense Technology". Something like a low-cost replacement for the Javelin anti-tank missile based on off the shelf phone camera parts ought to be possible. Of course, once that's out there, every insurgent group will have some. "Explainable AI" is really important. "Stablecoin finance" is mostly how to make sure…

What part of a cell phone do you think we can't make?

Modems :D

Re: YC: Requests for Startups

#409

Post by catlifeonmars »

spike-s wrote: post #338
shmageggy wrote: post #324

> We have a fair chance of avoiding catastrophic climate change if startups offer commercial solutions to decarbonize society or remove carbon from the atmosphere. Either this is sloppily phrased, or the SV techno-optimist kool-aid is way stronger than I would have thought plausible. Does anyone seriously believe that a reasonable solution to climate change has exactly one thing on the list and it's "more climate tec…

While I agree the phrasing could be better from YC, there is also truth to that statement. A lot of solutions to decarbonize have fallen flat on their faces to become a commercially viable solution. Ideas and new technology are needed as companies everywhere have shown they will not take the necessary action if it impacts the bottom line.

Doesn’t that just mean that maybe we should drop the requirement for commercial viability? Everything looks like a nail and all that.

Re: YC: Requests for Startups

#410

Post by jaredmclaughlin »

animal_spirits wrote: post #172
bradgessler wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> On the one hand, you're correct that it does nothing for the American worker to bring manufacturing back if it means huge buildings with skeleton crews and machines that effectively run themselves. This seems analogous to the transition from bespoke manufacturing of goods to mass production. I think what we need is leadership that can get people excited, in good faith, about a future where small groups of people ca…

I think this is an interesting take and something I've been relatively close to personally. I have a family member who owns one of those 100k Brother CNC machines, a robotic arm and some vice clamps and is starting a small manufacturing business with it out of his garage. While this isn't something that an average American can do, it can allow distribution of manufacturing to places that don't need a 500 acre lot, an…

This is actually going to go the other way. Too many people did this. The median job shop size in the US is 9 people. The capital equipment is very inefficiently utilized and the industry is generally technologically behind. It will soon consolidate around the firms that can apply technology effectively.
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