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Maybe a better lesson is - screw YC, who needs them? Honestly, if you need the money to bootstrap, freelance. If you need the connections, go network. Think of

• csomar 17y ago
  I would go for YC if they can make me a Visa to USA (or just the Bay Area). But since they can't, what's really their role? Everything can be learnt: You can read articles, papers, books and learn how to manage your company, deal with legal issues... Once your company is profitable, you'll have the choice between fast expanding or remaining in steady growth. If your idea is genius, successful... you don't need YC to sell or get money from an investor. Example: Admob. No one can predict the future of a startup, so applying to YC won't really make you successful. It's you (the person) who predict it ;) just go with it.
  • Estragon 17y ago
    The network could be useful.
  • follower 17y ago
    > Everything can be learnt: You can read [snip] You can't read the experience of actually being in the Bay Area/Silicon Valley and meeting people face to face. That said, you don't need YC to enable you to visit the area either. Go visit, meet people, chances are those contacts might lead somewhere...
    • jacquesm 17y ago
      There is lots of venture capital in the bay area, but there are successful companies all over the world, not just in the bay area. And success can be defined in many ways, I think that 'what makes the founder of the company happy' should be a good start.
• gizmo 17y ago
  That's not a good lesson at all. YC offers a good deal of value for 6% equity in terms of connections, encouragement, advice, some money, and so on. Why apply in the first place if getting rejected is considered a good outcome? The "Screw YC" attitude is a silly rationalization, if you ask me. And this comes from a guy who's bootstrapping and has never applied to YC.
  • garply 17y ago
    I too have built a company bootstrapping and I've never applied to YC. I'm not saying YC is necessarily a bad deal if you want to go through the VC funnel and flip your business - in fact, in that case, I think it makes a great deal of sense. What I am saying is that if you don't have access to that opportunity, well, screw it, realize it's one among many and you can make things work anyway. Plus, whenever something negative happens, always look at the positive side - in this case, you get to keep equity. Or, if you want a more Chinese perspective on the issue, an old story: There was a farmer who lived in a village with son and they had a horse. One day the farmer’s horse ran away. His neighbors came by and said, “What bad luck! Your only horse ran away! Now how will you till the fields?” The farmer replied, “Good or bad, who can say?” The next day, the horse returned with five wild horses. “What good luck!” the neighbors exclaimed. “You’ve got five free horses!” The farmer replied, “Good or bad, who can say?” While the farmer’s son was breaking in the five wild horses, one of the horses stepped on the son’s leg and broke it. “What bad luck!” cried the neighbors. “Your only son has broken his leg. Who will help you run the farm?” The farmer replied, “Good or bad, who can say?” A few weeks later, war breaks out and all healthy young men are drafted into the army. Since the son’s leg is broken, he cannot be drafted. “You’re so lucky!” the neighbors say, and the farmer says, “Good or bad, who can say?”
    • jacquesm 17y ago
      Thanks for the story, that was really neat. Lots of wisdom in old cultures.
  • p6 17y ago
    The "Screw YC" attitude can actually be healthy. You will spend less time thinking, wondering about YC and trying to impress YC and more time on building an actual product. This is especially true if you arnt building some lame YC-approved social networking app that no one will ever use. If you are truly buidling something people want, you already have the greatest asset.