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Applying to YC

blog.samaltman.com

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Re: Applying to YC

#81

Post by rmena123 »

staunch wrote: post #76
sama wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

if people have that impression, i think they looking for an excuse and not looking at data.

If YC partner selection is anything like YC founder selection the data says YC is for white and asian men who went to Stanford or Harvard, with few exceptions. YC partners, being only human, will tend to be biased in favor of people who are like them. http://www.ycombinator.com/partners/ I'm pretty sure YC has not published any background diversity numbers. It would be good for the world if you did but I doubt you wo…

I couldn't have said it better, I think YC just doesn't see things from the other side unless they are in complete denial.

"I think this issue is just an understandable blind spot for you."

Re: Applying to YC

#82

Post by pbreit »

waterlesscloud wrote: post #72
pbreit wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, you definitely do not fit. But you have no idea why.

Comments like this one make me have no desire to even attempt to "fit".

Then you probably don't fit either. And it's really not about trying to fit. It's about having good ideas, executing well, being resourceful, being persuasive, etc. I think you're missing the point if you think it's about "fitting in".

Re: Applying to YC

#83

Post by genbit »

Almost in every YC related article mentioned about at least 2 founders. What about startups with 1 founder, what chances are, any advices?

Re: Applying to YC

#84

Post by penfold26 »

I did think of applying at some point but I actually thought of i may be too late since i already have a product and growing revenue. I was under the impression YC was just a seed accelerator. Thanks for clearing that up and encouraging us to take a look again.

Re: Applying to YC

#85

Post by eru »

genbit wrote: post #83

Almost in every YC related article mentioned about at least 2 founders. What about startups with 1 founder, what chances are, any advices?

From what I've read, single founder can get in, but you better be impressive.

Re: Applying to YC

#86

Post by penfold26 »

genbit wrote: post #83

Almost in every YC related article mentioned about at least 2 founders. What about startups with 1 founder, what chances are, any advices?

IMHO I think the chances are perhaps based on how competitive the batch is. Also are you a technical or non-technical founder. Also is it a sole founder + CTO/hires or just only 1 founder. From their point of view, they probably can consider the merits of your skill but the likelyhood is if you desire to scale (which YC can help with) it will require more than 1 person. It can be done by one person but im sure it can certainly can be overwhelming for one person and scaling a business as it can require sometimes more than only 1 person.

Re: Applying to YC

#87

Post by rmena123 »

rmena123 wrote: post #25

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't YC for the Ivy League class type? The "I dropped out cause I am smart" type? The "I wrote a book on _____" type? "I worked at Google or Facebook" type? What about the regular type that doesn't have much to show, but wants to do great things? Basically, I feel like the YC application is a pissing match of who can piss the farthest shown on paper not outside. haha :) I have realized…

I am not saying selecting a type of group of people is wrong, but YC does have a type they only choose. If you disagree look up any founder and they will fall into a category type.

Ask yourself... How many woman accepted and not in recent years. How many Mexicans? How many african americans? How many regular guys that just had a prototype but no background to back it up. It's ok, I just don't know why YC acts like they are so diverse when clearly they aren't.

Re: Applying to YC

#88

Post by rmena123 »

ChrisNorstrom wrote: post #75
rmena123 wrote: post #25

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't YC for the Ivy League class type? The "I dropped out cause I am smart" type? The "I wrote a book on _____" type? "I worked at Google or Facebook" type? What about the regular type that doesn't have much to show, but wants to do great things? Basically, I feel like the YC application is a pissing match of who can piss the farthest shown on paper not outside. haha :) I have realized…

What a sad, self defeatist attitude. You just knocked yourself down before anyone else did. It seems you're afraid of trying because you're afraid of failure. You're the type of person that probably won't get accepted. Because if this is your attitude now, who knows what your mood's going to be like when your startup goes through turbulence. You're searching for a reason not to apply. To keep failure at bay. To keep…

I'm the type of person that doesn't care to be accepted and rather put energy into my own startup. I will be successful regardless, it's not saying I am afraid to fail. Failure and success have nothing to do with being accepted or rejected from YC. I think YC would be great and what they do is great, my hats off to the whole place, but people like you talk like YC is the win all.

Re: Applying to YC

#89

Post by cj »

genbit wrote: post #83

Almost in every YC related article mentioned about at least 2 founders. What about startups with 1 founder, what chances are, any advices?

Paul Buchheit: "We definitely fund [solo founders], but you have to be about 4 times as good. I think Instacart was a solo founder, and that's a great company. We're very happy to fund single founders; it's really more for your benefit. If you can possibly find someone, it really does help."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTv4iO7e8bQ#t=15m16

Re: Applying to YC

#90

Post by randall »

genbit wrote: post #83

Almost in every YC related article mentioned about at least 2 founders. What about startups with 1 founder, what chances are, any advices?

As a solo founder from the w14 batch: I can tell you it feels more difficult to do everything yourself. I'd recommend if you can organically find someone to work with on the company, you should.

Happy to answer any solo founder related questions, if you have them.

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