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Most people I know that are interested in starting a company need help near the beginning, within 6-12 months of setting out on their own. Almost always pre-rev

Most people I know that are interested in starting a company need help near the beginning, within 6-12 months of setting out on their own. Almost always pre-revenue, and very early traction (if b2b, maybe just a few users evaluating). Where are these kinds of entrepreneurs supposed to go? Is it still YC, when they have to compete with already-successful applicants? Kudos to GitLab bootstrapping to $1M ARR though. That's truly incredible. They should write a story about that part. :)

sytse 10y ago
YC is very helpful in the beginning, I wish we would have applied earlier. Many people in our batch where pre-revenue and pre-launch. You can always apply again the next batch when you have the numbers. Thanks for the kudo's. If someone wants to interview me to write that story I would love that. BTW I think the $1m number it was our last month multiplied by 12 instead of being true ARR as I know it know.
vbhartia 10y ago
I agree - It really feels like YC is now geared towards more later stage companies. Companies that are in the growth phase vs. finding product market fit. Also you have to be full time on your idea in order to be taken seriously. Is that a misconception?
- sytse 10y ago
  YC is still very much accepting companies that are still finding product market fit. But as far as I know you it really helps if you're willing to commit full time.
  - vbhartia 10y ago
    Yeah - definitely able to go full time after. It's hard and very privileged to be able to go full time now when the company is so early stage.
tlogan 10y ago
My understanding is that YC combinator is either for companies which already made it and any VC would love to invest (like GitLab) or they are in very early stage (pre-revenue). If your company is so so (i.e., you are making money but growth is anemic, etc.) then YC is not for you. But you can always close the company and start a new one and apply to YC. At least that is my understanding and experience.
- sytse 10y ago
  Growth is important because it is what separates a start-up from other companies http://www.paulgraham.com/growth.html http://www.paulgraham.com/growth.html But YC knows very well that there can be many reasons for slow growth. Many times easy to make changes can have big effects on product/market fit and growth rate. And YC is great at helping with that. So don't be afraid to apply even with flattening growth, it is called an accelerator for a reason.
jaypaulynice 10y ago
I've thought the same as well...it's an opportunity for someone to invest in early stage startups. It's not just YC that's changed. Pretty much all the accelerators have decreased their risks.

sytse 10y ago

YC is very helpful in the beginning, I wish we would have applied earlier. Many people in our batch where pre-revenue and pre-launch. You can always apply again the next batch when you have the numbers. Thanks for the kudo's. If someone wants to interview me to write that story I would love that. BTW I think the $1m number it was our last month multiplied by 12 instead of being true ARR as I know it know.

vbhartia 10y ago

I agree - It really feels like YC is now geared towards more later stage companies. Companies that are in the growth phase vs. finding product market fit. Also you have to be full time on your idea in order to be taken seriously. Is that a misconception?

sytse 10y ago
YC is still very much accepting companies that are still finding product market fit. But as far as I know you it really helps if you're willing to commit full time.
- vbhartia 10y ago
  Yeah - definitely able to go full time after. It's hard and very privileged to be able to go full time now when the company is so early stage.

tlogan 10y ago

My understanding is that YC combinator is either for companies which already made it and any VC would love to invest (like GitLab) or they are in very early stage (pre-revenue). If your company is so so (i.e., you are making money but growth is anemic, etc.) then YC is not for you. But you can always close the company and start a new one and apply to YC. At least that is my understanding and experience.

sytse 10y ago
Growth is important because it is what separates a start-up from other companies http://www.paulgraham.com/growth.html http://www.paulgraham.com/growth.html But YC knows very well that there can be many reasons for slow growth. Many times easy to make changes can have big effects on product/market fit and growth rate. And YC is great at helping with that. So don't be afraid to apply even with flattening growth, it is called an accelerator for a reason.

jaypaulynice 10y ago

I've thought the same as well...it's an opportunity for someone to invest in early stage startups. It's not just YC that's changed. Pretty much all the accelerators have decreased their risks.