Ask YC: We applied to S2020 and nobody looked at our videos?

#1

Post by martin_e » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 4:49 PM UTC

Invites are supposed to go out today.

We applied to S2020 with a COVID-19 hardware startup a while back.

Our videos show zero incremental views since our application was submitted. Just wondering if this indicates some sort of automated or manual filtering based on the text portion of the application or if you are not done and we can expect to be given a look in the next few days because you are running behind (due to, sadly enough, COVID-19 issues).

We have been working non-stop on our project, self funding all of it. We are prepared to continue even without YC support. We have formed manufacturing partnerships and have contacted hundreds of potential customers.

Just wondering about the YC process.

Thanks.

EDIT: Just to add to the story...

We are moving forward on our own and haven't been waiting for investors at all. Our project is likely to end-up in the news by the end of May (hopefully because we booked orders). We were also asked by the White House to submit technology details. So...we are moving forward, which is good.

Don't ask me what we are doing. We are going to remain stealth for as long as possible. Of course, if YC knocks on the door and we accept that will change to the degree necessary.

Re: Ask YC: We applied to S2020 and nobody looked at our videos?

#2

Post by codegeek » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 4:52 PM UTC

I read somewhere on yc website that they only look at the video if they find the application/applicants interesting enough. So there is that.

Re: Ask YC: We applied to S2020 and nobody looked at our videos?

#3

Post by oneearedrabbit » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 4:58 PM UTC

This may be relevant: "Don’t mark it as private or disallow embedding on YouTube, or we won’t be able to see it. Please note that because of how our system is built, YouTube’s view count will not increase even though we do watch your video." [1]

[1] https://www.ycombinator.com/video/

Re: Ask YC: We applied to S2020 and nobody looked at our videos?

#4

Post by ahmedaly » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 5:17 PM UTC

I applied several times and they never did. :)

Re: Ask YC: We applied to S2020 and nobody looked at our videos?

#5

Post by martin_e » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 5:31 PM UTC

oneearedrabbit wrote: post #3

This may be relevant: "Don’t mark it as private or disallow embedding on YouTube, or we won’t be able to see it. Please note that because of how our system is built, YouTube’s view count will not increase even though we do watch your video." [1] [1] https://www.ycombinator.com/video/

I checked, they are both unlisted and embedding is enabled.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Re: Ask YC: We applied to S2020 and nobody looked at our videos?

#6

Post by tpetry » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 5:32 PM UTC

oneearedrabbit wrote: post #3

This may be relevant: "Don’t mark it as private or disallow embedding on YouTube, or we won’t be able to see it. Please note that because of how our system is built, YouTube’s view count will not increase even though we do watch your video." [1] [1] https://www.ycombinator.com/video/

How can they watch a video without its view count increasing? I am really interested.

Re: Ask YC: We applied to S2020 and nobody looked at our videos?

#7

Post by cjbprime » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 5:32 PM UTC

martin_e wrote: post #5

oneearedrabbit wrote: post #3

This may be relevant: "Don’t mark it as private or disallow embedding on YouTube, or we won’t be able to see it. Please note that because of how our system is built, YouTube’s view count will not increase even though we do watch your video." [1] [1] https://www.ycombinator.com/video/

I checked, they are both unlisted and embedding is enabled. Thanks for the suggestion.

Did you read the second sentence, though? It seems like it applies here.

Re: Ask YC: We applied to S2020 and nobody looked at our videos?

#8

Post by the-dude » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 5:35 PM UTC

tpetry wrote: post #6

oneearedrabbit wrote: post #3

This may be relevant: "Don’t mark it as private or disallow embedding on YouTube, or we won’t be able to see it. Please note that because of how our system is built, YouTube’s view count will not increase even though we do watch your video." [1] [1] https://www.ycombinator.com/video/

How can they watch a video without its view count increasing? I am really interested.

Does anybody know if youtube-dl increases a video's view count?

Re: Ask YC: We applied to S2020 and nobody looked at our videos?

#9

Post by 100-xyz » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 5:35 PM UTC

We also applied and show 0 views. Will get the boot today by midnight per YC website. That hasnt stop us from indulging in a little fantasy where Seibel, Director of YC is offering us an interview :-)

https://toonclip.com/player?key1=802d8d51ec

You can also create your fantasy by forking the above animation.

Re: Ask YC: We applied to S2020 and nobody looked at our videos?

#10

Post by martin_e » Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 5:39 PM UTC

codegeek wrote: post #2

I read somewhere on yc website that they only look at the video if they find the application/applicants interesting enough. So there is that.

Yeah, that's what I was referring to when I mentioned filtering based on the text portion of the application.

That's alright. We are moving forward on our own and haven't been waiting for investors at all. Our project is likely to end-up in the news by the end of May (hopefully because we booked orders). We were also asked by the White House to submit technology details. So...we are moving forward, which is good.