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How Y Combinator Changed the World

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Re: How Y Combinator Changed the World

#51

Post by DoreenMichele »

edouard-harris wrote: post #12
OnlineGladiator wrote: post #4

> Their ideas reflected YC’s implicit view that for every problem in the world, there is a startup solution I dream of a world where we try to solve problems first and monetize them second, and I don't mean growth hacking. > It’s Y Combinator’s world, and we’re all invested in it. There are many people who resent this world. I'd like to live in a world where success isn't measured by money.

Sincere question: what would one use to measure success in such a world?

Each individual is currently free to measure success any way they so desire.

I certainly do use other metrics, though dollar value of some things remains a handy means to nutshell quantify some things.

Re: How Y Combinator Changed the World

#52

Post by TigeriusKirk »

systemvoltage wrote: post #33

The cynicism in this thread is simply astounding. The people of HN has had a negative impact on my view of the world and my own internal optimism. It’s hard to find even the smallest light of hope here. “Can do” attitude is outdated and is replaced by “Pull everyone else down”.

I wonder sometimes why they keep paying for the site. This can't be what they want it to be. Inertia, I suppose.

Re: How Y Combinator Changed the World

#53

Post by DoreenMichele »

TigeriusKirk wrote: post #52
systemvoltage wrote: post #33

The cynicism in this thread is simply astounding. The people of HN has had a negative impact on my view of the world and my own internal optimism. It’s hard to find even the smallest light of hope here. “Can do” attitude is outdated and is replaced by “Pull everyone else down”.

I wonder sometimes why they keep paying for the site. This can't be what they want it to be. Inertia, I suppose.

The site actually serves myriad business purposes and plenty of good comments/discussion happens here, though you do need to try harder to ignore the noise than was once true.

Re: How Y Combinator Changed the World

#54

Post by empalms »

exhilaration wrote: post #50
taytus wrote: post #6

I’ve applied not less than 7 times to YC. Rejected every time. Some of our customers are multi billion dollar companies. We are profitable, growing and got accepted by their direct competitor. I still believe YC influence is amazing and I have nothing but respect for all the people involved in the program but I like to remind fellows entrepreneurs that any accelerator is just a tool. If you want to build something, n…

their direct competitor For those of us unfamiliar with the startup world, could you share the name of their direct competitor?

There are a few. Techstars and 500 Global both come to mind but OP may have been referring to another program.

Re: How Y Combinator Changed the World

#55

Post by Msw242 »

amusedcyclist wrote: post #24
Msw242 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How have dropbox and stripe not changed the world? I remember paper filing cabinets, PCI compliance, jump drives, etc.

I think just modern computing in general replaced those not dropbox or stripe in particular

Interface design absolutely matters.

The iPod wasn't the first handheld digital media player, but they changed the world with interface design.

Re: How Y Combinator Changed the World

#56

Post by taytus »

empalms wrote: post #54
exhilaration wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

their direct competitor For those of us unfamiliar with the startup world, could you share the name of their direct competitor?

There are a few. Techstars and 500 Global both come to mind but OP may have been referring to another program.

It is one of those.

Re: How Y Combinator Changed the World

#57

Post by tomhoward »

new_realist wrote: post #3

Y Combinator managed to convince startups that would have been founded anyway to give up expensive equity to them. I'm not sure they would have failed without YC. Put another way, if you take a piece of every startup on the planet, can you claim influence if some of those startups eventually succeed?

Airbnb was basically dead before they got into YC. They very likely would have quit, as they were heavily in personal debt and couldn’t find anyone to invest in them.

Reddit was pretty much PG’s idea, or at least an idea he helped Steve and Alexis come up with.

Stripe is hard to imagine getting started if PC hadn’t already had an exit with an earlier YC-funded startup.

I could go on and on, but the point is clearly false.

Re: How Y Combinator Changed the World

#58

Post by tomhoward »

OnlineGladiator wrote: post #4

> Their ideas reflected YC’s implicit view that for every problem in the world, there is a startup solution I dream of a world where we try to solve problems first and monetize them second, and I don't mean growth hacking. > It’s Y Combinator’s world, and we’re all invested in it. There are many people who resent this world. I'd like to live in a world where success isn't measured by money.

We don’t live in a world where success is measured by money. No decent people think that way, and even most Silicon Valley people you’d consider “indecent” don’t think that way. Most people look at money-obsession and conspicuous displays of wealth as crass and lame, which is entirely appropriate.

That said, money is a focus for companies as it is a measure of resources and scale. Without money, a company can’t survive or grow, and with it, it can do more of its “solving problems” work for more people.

I really don’t see any truly successful people or companies focusing on money beyond that.

Re: How Y Combinator Changed the World

#59

Post by DoreenMichele »

tomhoward wrote: post #58
OnlineGladiator wrote: post #4

> Their ideas reflected YC’s implicit view that for every problem in the world, there is a startup solution I dream of a world where we try to solve problems first and monetize them second, and I don't mean growth hacking. > It’s Y Combinator’s world, and we’re all invested in it. There are many people who resent this world. I'd like to live in a world where success isn't measured by money.

We don’t live in a world where success is measured by money. No decent people think that way, and even most Silicon Valley people you’d consider “indecent” don’t think that way. Most people look at money-obsession and conspicuous displays of wealth as crass and lame, which is entirely appropriate. That said, money is a focus for companies as it is a measure of resources and scale. Without money, a company can’t survi…

From what I've read, founders need to be intensely interested in solving a problem to have any real hope of success.
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