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I was one of the founders in the same batch as Tracy / PlanGrid. Yes, I worked very hard (probably everybody worked as hard), and yes I got nothing. In fact, th

I was one of the founders in the same batch as Tracy / PlanGrid. Yes, I worked very hard (probably everybody worked as hard), and yes I got nothing. In fact, the opportunity cost of not working at a FAANG starting in 2012 is probably in the millions of dollars given their recent stock performance. Nevertheless, I was very happy to be there and was happy to take YC's deal. Pretty much everybody else was too - we were all adults (average age ~29) and we knew what the deal was and were very happy to take it. If I do a startup again, I will certainly apply for YC again. More broadly, your attitude/comment is very typical of the negative, cynical place that HN has become and it's quite sad. This place used to be more balanced between encouragement and criticism - the top comment in the famous Dropbox thread was actually encouraging, the famous dismissive comment was not #1. Today, there is little beyond self-reinforcing cynism and negativity around here. That is, your comment is not insightful, edgy or even remotely realistic. It's just shitty.

czep 6y ago
Provocations aside, I think my comment reflects a growing backlash against SV startup culture that needs to be heard. Just yesterday a YC company posted this in their job descriptions: "Understands the commitment required in an early-stage startup and is willing to sacrifice to grow our company". This mentality of sacrifice as the only way to disrupt and succeed demands a critical rebuttal. Calling me cynical and shitty for pointing out that YC investors subliminally encourage unhealthy overwork as part of their business model will not dissuade me from calling attention to it. I bought into it myself and spent precious years of my life working for the benefit of such investors which I have no doubt will regret on my death bed. I am not attacking you or your decisions personally. I am speaking as a recovering startup employee who is tired of watching yet another generation being sold appealing ideals like risk-taking and entrepreneurship and who pay dearly for it with their health, family, and friendships. I love the work I do, so do not attempt to paint me as a sad negative hater. I just want more people to think critically about YC's business model. Read stories like Tracy's and think twice before signing up for life at a startup. Better yet, I would like to challenge the idea that it takes 80 hours a week to be successful. YC wants you to think so, because if they can overclock you for a 1% chance your company will hit it big, then they win. They don't care if you burn out because there's another startup school class right around the corner.

czep 6y ago

Provocations aside, I think my comment reflects a growing backlash against SV startup culture that needs to be heard. Just yesterday a YC company posted this in their job descriptions: "Understands the commitment required in an early-stage startup and is willing to sacrifice to grow our company". This mentality of sacrifice as the only way to disrupt and succeed demands a critical rebuttal. Calling me cynical and shitty for pointing out that YC investors subliminally encourage unhealthy overwork as part of their business model will not dissuade me from calling attention to it. I bought into it myself and spent precious years of my life working for the benefit of such investors which I have no doubt will regret on my death bed. I am not attacking you or your decisions personally. I am speaking as a recovering startup employee who is tired of watching yet another generation being sold appealing ideals like risk-taking and entrepreneurship and who pay dearly for it with their health, family, and friendships. I love the work I do, so do not attempt to paint me as a sad negative hater. I just want more people to think critically about YC's business model. Read stories like Tracy's and think twice before signing up for life at a startup. Better yet, I would like to challenge the idea that it takes 80 hours a week to be successful. YC wants you to think so, because if they can overclock you for a 1% chance your company will hit it big, then they win. They don't care if you burn out because there's another startup school class right around the corner.