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It does seem like that wording could potentially cut two ways though. "We're the good-old-boys network, and if we like you, we will show you the secret handsha
by flubert 11y ago
It does seem like that wording could potentially cut two ways though.
"We're the good-old-boys network, and if we like you, we will show you the secret handshake to get into the club, and our club has made-men in the investor and media communities."
Undoubtedly I am way off base here, but I wonder if others got a similar vibe from that statement, and if there would be a good way to reword that.
- rfrank 11y agoIt's how vague the word "community" is in context. What community? Y-Combinator founders/alumni? The startup community? The tech community at large? The Bay Area? America? The global community?
- mathattack 11y agoI view it as, "You're getting the benefit of the YC brand, so there are some principles you should follow to make it better for the next batch."
- api 11y agoOver the long run, this eats itself. It would result in a lot of low-quality but highly connected 'juiced' companies getting too much of a boost from brand but then flopping by failing to actually deliver on their hype. In the end this dilutes the brand, and is self-correcting. YC would end up with a reputation as an over-hyped old boy network past its prime, etc. Sure you can ride into town on a big white horse but if you can't handle your gun... :) It can take a while to manifest. Like a bank account, large pools of goodwill and brand equity take a long time to drain. But eventually the draining happens. The tech industry is so fast that 'a while' might be 'a few years.'
- mathattack 11y agoIs it that different that a Harvard or MIT alum taking a call from a student looking for an internship? They take the call because someone took their call years before. Are they over-hyped old boys networks? I'll leave that to others.
- rhizome 11y agoIt's the original affirmative action program.
- Mz 11y agoI honestly wish YC and HN handled a few things better (wrt "old boys network" vibe in specific), but I think it is pretty ridiculous to interpret their position that way. They are helping lots of people start new companies. If anything, they are a threat to The Old Guard, not its defenders.
- goldbrick 11y agoMeet the new boss, same as the old boss.
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]