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This question comes from a position of good faith and mere curiosity, but I've always been intrigued how Sam became prominent in YC so quickly (part time partne

This question comes from a position of good faith and mere curiosity, but I've always been intrigued how Sam became prominent in YC so quickly (part time partner to running things in 3 years)? I know he founded Loopt but that's all I knew about him before he became a partner. Did PG just really get on well with him and saw someone capable to help take things over? It sorta feels like an inspirational story worth knowing more about. (As I say, this merely comes from a position of curiosity. Sam seems to be a very capable guy and seems to have done a good job.)

rmobin 8y ago
PG holds Sam in very high regard: "Honestly, Sam is, along with Steve Jobs, the founder I refer to most when I'm advising startups. On questions of design, I ask "What would Steve do?" but on questions of strategy or ambition I ask "What would Sama do?" What I learned from meeting Sama is that the doctrine of the elect applies to startups. It applies way less than most people think: startup investing does not consist of trying to pick winners the way you might in a horse race. But there are a few people with such force of will that they're going to get whatever they want." http://paulgraham.com/5founders.html http://paulgraham.com/5founders.html
- basch 8y ago
  "The guy I picked to run my company belong in the same sentence as Steve Jobs." Of course you would say that while handing over the reins, to build confidence in him, and in your choice to choose him. Im not saying its not true, just that their is other motive.
jondubois 8y ago
Yes, I also thought it was very strange. My experience is that talent in most complex fields is impossible to measure over the short and medium term. Surely PG would have known this. Certainly Sam wasn't around long enough to prove himself worthy of this highly coveted role. Maybe he had some dirt on someone and used the info to blackmail himself into the position. The talent line is just a bit too far fetched for me.
- wwwdonohue 8y ago
  Yeah, that definitely seems more plausible. /s
- itronitron 8y ago
  Maybe he was the only one that applied and made it through HR. Seriously though, from the 5founders post mentioned above force of will and ambition seem to be why.
  - jondubois 8y ago
    >> Maybe he was the only one that applied and made it through HR. Do we live on the same planet? On my planet, my mom, my grandma and my dog would all have applied for the job.

rmobin 8y ago

PG holds Sam in very high regard: "Honestly, Sam is, along with Steve Jobs, the founder I refer to most when I'm advising startups. On questions of design, I ask "What would Steve do?" but on questions of strategy or ambition I ask "What would Sama do?" What I learned from meeting Sama is that the doctrine of the elect applies to startups. It applies way less than most people think: startup investing does not consist of trying to pick winners the way you might in a horse race. But there are a few people with such force of will that they're going to get whatever they want." http://paulgraham.com/5founders.html http://paulgraham.com/5founders.html

basch 8y ago
"The guy I picked to run my company belong in the same sentence as Steve Jobs." Of course you would say that while handing over the reins, to build confidence in him, and in your choice to choose him. Im not saying its not true, just that their is other motive.

jondubois 8y ago

Yes, I also thought it was very strange. My experience is that talent in most complex fields is impossible to measure over the short and medium term. Surely PG would have known this. Certainly Sam wasn't around long enough to prove himself worthy of this highly coveted role. Maybe he had some dirt on someone and used the info to blackmail himself into the position. The talent line is just a bit too far fetched for me.

wwwdonohue 8y ago
Yeah, that definitely seems more plausible. /s
itronitron 8y ago
Maybe he was the only one that applied and made it through HR. Seriously though, from the 5founders post mentioned above force of will and ambition seem to be why.
- jondubois 8y ago
  >> Maybe he was the only one that applied and made it through HR. Do we live on the same planet? On my planet, my mom, my grandma and my dog would all have applied for the job.