I think you're coming at this from the wrong direction. The goal, presumably, is to create a successful business. If you're going to reverse engineer a proces

I think you're coming at this from the wrong direction. The goal, presumably, is to create a successful business. If you're going to reverse engineer a process, start from that goal, not from an arbitrary step along the way (YCombinator). It sounds like you: - don't have an idea you're passionate about - don't have much (any?) entrepreneurship experience - have difficulties finishing a project once you lose interest - want to "make it" My advice would be: - evaluate what "making it" means. Hint: it's not YC. Is it just working on something cool? (you don't necessarily need to start a business for that). Is it setting up a successful "lifestyle" business? Is it getting seed/angel/VC funding, hiring employees, and dealing with the responsibility towards your investors/employees/customers, and working towards an IPO or acquisition? - Find someone who has what you might be missing: passion about an idea, ability for long-term commitment to a project, (possibly) entrepreneurship experience. Provide the technical strength, and rely on them to keep you motivated when you need it. - I want to say "just do a cool project", but it's not necessarily that easy - if you haven't so far, maybe there is a reason for it, like the ones you outlined. On the other hand, I AM going to say it - just do a cool project! It's up to you to make this time different.