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Did you submit the same application both times? Was it platomic?

benologist 16y ago
Yep, although it was originally called SWFStats. Now I'm tracking 10 billion events a month in real time, and I'm armed with tons of awesome users, some friends and an increasingly solid strategy for capturing a few more markets. :)
- dotBen 16y ago
  The fact that you've gone on to be successful doesn't mean that they 'failed'/'lost out' because they didn't back you. For a start it could be that the startups they did back have gone on to achieve even more (or they expected to). You're calling it as if it is black and white, and it isn't. Still, I hope you continue to see success in your venture.
  - zachallaun 16y ago
    YC definitely lost out, and I'm sure that pg (and the others) would be the first to admit it. Any good VC or Angel knows they can't always make the right call. In fact, I'm fairly confident that YC has that written down somewhere. Possibly in multiple locations.
    - aaronbrethorst 16y ago
      In theory, pg has already 'admitted' it to ben twice, now: We realize this process is fraught with error. It's practically certain that groups we rejected will go on to create successful startups. If you do, we'd appreciate it if you'd send us an email telling us about it; we want to learn from our mistakes. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=70062 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=70062
      - benologist 16y ago
        Of course they can miss stuff for a whole stack of reasons, and it's not even certain they have made a mistake - I just assume they have and everyone who's not accepted should do so too, to think otherwise about your own startup would be retarded heh.
  - wmboy 16y ago
    It doesn't mean YC failed, but he does have some bragging rights all the same. The truth is, a lot of startups have been accepted into YC and have achieved far less...
- apedley 16y ago
  I agree it doesn't particularly mean they lost out, but well done for getting your startup off the ground without VC support. It can be much better for you in the long run anyway. Although now that you have a business going some VC support might enable you to expand quicker.

Yep, although it was originally called SWFStats. Now I'm tracking 10 billion events a month in real time, and I'm armed with tons of awesome users, some friends and an increasingly solid strategy for capturing a few more markets. :)

dotBen 16y ago
The fact that you've gone on to be successful doesn't mean that they 'failed'/'lost out' because they didn't back you. For a start it could be that the startups they did back have gone on to achieve even more (or they expected to). You're calling it as if it is black and white, and it isn't. Still, I hope you continue to see success in your venture.
- zachallaun 16y ago
  YC definitely lost out, and I'm sure that pg (and the others) would be the first to admit it. Any good VC or Angel knows they can't always make the right call. In fact, I'm fairly confident that YC has that written down somewhere. Possibly in multiple locations.
  - aaronbrethorst 16y ago
    In theory, pg has already 'admitted' it to ben twice, now: We realize this process is fraught with error. It's practically certain that groups we rejected will go on to create successful startups. If you do, we'd appreciate it if you'd send us an email telling us about it; we want to learn from our mistakes. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=70062 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=70062
    - benologist 16y ago
      Of course they can miss stuff for a whole stack of reasons, and it's not even certain they have made a mistake - I just assume they have and everyone who's not accepted should do so too, to think otherwise about your own startup would be retarded heh.
- wmboy 16y ago
  It doesn't mean YC failed, but he does have some bragging rights all the same. The truth is, a lot of startups have been accepted into YC and have achieved far less...
apedley 16y ago
I agree it doesn't particularly mean they lost out, but well done for getting your startup off the ground without VC support. It can be much better for you in the long run anyway. Although now that you have a business going some VC support might enable you to expand quicker.