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Baseless cynicism is not helpful. Technically you aren't false, this could be just a PR thing, but why would you assume that? "YC requests these startups beca
by rayalez 9y ago
Baseless cynicism is not helpful.
Technically you aren't false, this could be just a PR thing, but why would you assume that?
"YC requests these startups because they want these startups" is a much simpler explanation than "YC requests these startups as a marketing ploy".
I don't see a good reason to be so skeptical, so I will go ahead and take this post at face value.
Obviously everyone should think for themselves, and if your startup doesn't fit these categories you should apply anyway (as the article says). I'm just saying that assuming they're being honest here is valuable to me, as a guideline for thinking about startup ideas and YC's vision for the future.
Dismissing this stuff (without a good, specific argument) would hurt more than it helps.
- philwelch 9y agoI see tptacek's comment as anti-cynical rather than cynical. Cynicism would be saying, "pff, a YC startup couldn't actually do anything about global warming". Maybe they could, maybe they couldn't; if you can figure out how, maybe you should apply to YC. But either way, the question is irrelevant because YC has good reasons to include it in their RFS anyway, so now we can stop wasting our time arguing about it on HN.
- grzm 9y agoIt's always interesting to see how different people read the same text. The sentences I focussed on were: > "There's not much point in debating it. If you have a good idea in almost any field, they're going to consider it." And I read them as basically saying (a) if you're working on something cool that's not on this list, don't let that prevent you from applying as it's likely not a list of criteria; and (b) while it might be a jumping off point for conversation, it's likely missing the intent if you spend much time criticizing what's omitted and included.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]