I ask this question of out sheer curiosity. Some people may ask "Why does it matter?" Well, it's a well known fact that there are a disproportionate amount of blacks in technology and it gets even worse when it comes to programming. I can imagine the numbers get even more grim when it comes to black programmers in startups. I live in Metro Atlanta and have attended programming meetups, Big Nerd Ranch, attended meetings for companies wanting to join the ATDC (an incubator of sorts) and I'm often the ONLY black guy in the room. Even with PYCON in town, there still aren't a whole lot of people that look like ME. I applied to YC in 2007, WAAAAY before I was ready and was just wondering if anyone that looks like ME has EVER made it.
Has YC ever funded a company with a Black founder?
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Re: Has YC ever funded a company with a Black founder?
#2I know YC looks at the founder(s) & little about their idea. I am sure they never consider their color anyway.
Re: Has YC ever funded a company with a Black founder?
#3 I am curious as well.
Re: Has YC ever funded a company with a Black founder?
#4Michael Seibel CEO of Justin.tv comes to mind.
Re: Has YC ever funded a company with a Black founder?
#5Good Question. It would be interesting to hear about the experiences minority programmers have had in the startup scene (in our out of YC).
Re: Has YC ever funded a company with a Black founder?
#6As a black person why do you think this is?
Re: Has YC ever funded a company with a Black founder?
#7Black people only make up 13% of the population. [1] Most people forget this fact when judging race in a population.
1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_Stat...
Re: Has YC ever funded a company with a Black founder?
#8Black people only make up 13% of the population. [1] Most people forget this fact when judging race in a population. 1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_Stat...
I don't think that particular statistic by itself explains much of it; YC has funded over 200 founders, so if indeed the relevant population were 13% Black, that would imply an expectation of around 25 Black founders. I don't think anyone's asking why there aren't 50% Black founders, by why there aren't closer to 13%. (There may well be good explanations, but they have to be something other than the 13% total population number.)
Re: Has YC ever funded a company with a Black founder?
#9Black people only make up 13% of the population. [1] Most people forget this fact when judging race in a population. 1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_Stat...
Asians and those from the Middle East have an even smaller percentage but appear to be well represented in startups.
Re: Has YC ever funded a company with a Black founder?
#10black male founder probably...black female founder probably not