7 ms·

Goodbye YC

284 points by awaxman11 6y ago

techcofounder 6y ago
appreciate everything you did to help us on our journey, and good luck on your next one.
kowlo 6y ago
> inhaled jet fuel, and literal blood on the interview floors. These are the things that I’ll remember long after everything else. Any more information on this?
- breck 6y ago
  Memories fade but a persistent cough and scars last forever.
jonathanehrlich 6y ago
Amazing work, Aaron! What an impact! Can't wait to see what you do next....
teej 6y ago
Aaron Harris and Adora Cheung leaving YC the same day. I wonder if that means there’s internal changes happening or if they’re founding something together.
- ak_111 6y ago
  It seems he wasn't aware of her leaving (from twitter), so probably weren't intending to found something together.
  - gkoberger 6y ago
    It's so over the top ("No way! You too??") that I don't think it can be taken at face value!
seehafer 6y ago
Thanks Aaron. Your office hours with us were some of the most valuable parts of our YC experience. Happy trails & look forward to seeing what you do next.
- akharris 6y ago
  Wow, what a nice thing to say. Loved working with you as well. The world needs what you're doing, and I'm happy to have helped even a little.
jdoliner 6y ago
Aaron is an absolute mensch, I've greatly enjoyed working with him and all the advice he's given us has been helpful.
- akharris 6y ago
  There's no higher compliment. My Bubbe would have been proud to hear it.
Brushfire 6y ago
THANK YOU AARON!
jdsully 6y ago
Aaron was super helpful as we went through the S20 batch. I hope his next adventure is fruitful.
- akharris 6y ago
  Thanks so much!
gkoberger 6y ago
I couldn't have raised money without Aaron's help. There's so many people who are willing to offer advice or try to be involved with a raise, but Aaron and Janelle were the only two people who actually helped. They made great intros, had lots of advice, and were incredibly helpful from start to finish. I remember a few times calling Aaron randomly to get his take on a meeting I had just had, and he was always there to help. Aaron was the only person I trusted... he was on my side and helped when he could, but was also brutally honest when necessary. Thanks Aaron, and best of luck with whatever is next!
- akharris 6y ago
  Thanks so much Greg. I've always enjoyed working with you and watching what you build and do (and draw). I'm always happy to help, whenever you need it.
hua 6y ago
Thank you Aaron!!!!!!
jondishotsky 6y ago
One of the best. Wishing you all the best Aaron, you made a huge impact on Starcity's trajectory...
- akharris 6y ago
  Thank you sir! Glad to have played a small role.
rgbrgb 6y ago
Thanks Aaron and good luck! Excited to see what's next.
akharris 6y ago
Oh wow - didn't know this was on HN, so I'm guessing at least a few founders are shaking their heads at me and wondering why I'm not engaging with the commenters... I may have left YC, but HN is still home, so long as Daniel lets me stay.
- eganist 6y ago
  We'll always have boundless bandwidth to learn from you. Thank you!
- justicezyx 6y ago
  What's your next project (s)? Are you interested in working in auto industry?
chanfest22 6y ago
It was a pleasure learning from Aaron during YC. Perhaps best of all was his uncanny ability to take some pieced together ideas that founders had but which didn't make any sense and re-structure them into the most compelling and eloquent pitches I've ever heard. Can't wait to see how you apply yourself next!
- akharris 6y ago
  You brought great material! Just happy I could help nudge it along.
jayjay71 6y ago
Thank you Aaron!
yeldarb 6y ago
So many people are eager to steer a conversation. That’s not Aaron. He’s one of the best listeners I have ever met. And he’s one of those people that engenders so much respect that it makes you want to be better just because you don’t want to let him down. (Or maybe it’s because you don’t want to be on the wrong end of that “I’m not mad I’m just disappointed” look.) I aspire to be the type of mentor someday that Aaron has been to us.
- akharris 6y ago
  This is such a kind thing to say. Thank you. It certainly helps that our conversations have always been so interesting. Can’t wait for our next one.
antonber 6y ago
Thanks Aaron! We went through YC because of you. I wish you the best on your next adventure!
irjustin 6y ago
I had the pleasure of having Aaron as my sub-group partner and our 'primary partner'. Sharpest tool in the shed and always told you what you needed. When it was tough love, it was the best. He is the exact mentor we wanted. YC won't be the same with out you, and all the best on your next path in life!
lewisf 6y ago
Thank you Aaron! Appreciate everything you taught us and the all the support you gave us even when times got really tough.
raywu 6y ago
From all the comments, I wished we had a chance to speak with you during our time. One of the regrets is not have met you. I came across a lot of your content the last couple of years. "On Shutting Down" really spoke to me
AviationAtom 6y ago
How does someone with big ideas, but no clue how to pull off execution, ever make their way into the YCsphere? It all sounds cool, but I haven't the slightest clue how to build the starting phases of a project, when I haven't a coding bone in my body, nor any real contacts that I know to be capable of coding.
- bjelkeman-again 6y ago
  Sound like you may need a technical cofounder. Even better would be to learn to code or at least work alongside developers with systems/business analysis for example, so you can have a sensible discussion with them. The gap, if you have no idea how the tech works, tend to be very hard to bridge otherwise.
- gigantecmedia 6y ago
  used to be like you few years ago (not YC yet but we are venture-backed). my only recommendation: find a partner and convince him/her to join with you. no need to be technical but do need to be complementary to your skillsets and characteristics. read somewhere (pg’s blog?) that cofounder relationship is like marriage but without the best part ;) so you can imagine. looking forward to your future success, don’t give up man.
cl42 6y ago
Aaron, thank you for all the advice with Canopy back a few years ago. It meant a lot and still does and I wish you all the best in your next steps!
Snoupy 6y ago
Thank you Aaron!! All the best!
sarthakjshetty 6y ago
Wow 2 YC partners leaving on the same day? Even Adora Cheung announced that she's leaving YC [1] [1] - https://twitter.com/nolimits/status/1360317612060737537 https://twitter.com/nolimits/status/1360317612060737537
sandGorgon 6y ago
@akharris - you are awesome. Thank you for being there. Nobody grokked India like you did. Which was tricky a few years ago at YC. But most of all, thank you for just being an email away - that meant a lot.
nhourcard 6y ago
Best of luck Aaron! Really enjoyed our conversations at YC

284 points by awaxman11 6y ago

appreciate everything you did to help us on our journey, and good luck on your next one.

> inhaled jet fuel, and literal blood on the interview floors. These are the things that I’ll remember long after everything else. Any more information on this?

breck 6y ago
Memories fade but a persistent cough and scars last forever.

jonathanehrlich 6y ago

Amazing work, Aaron! What an impact! Can't wait to see what you do next....

teej 6y ago

Aaron Harris and Adora Cheung leaving YC the same day. I wonder if that means there’s internal changes happening or if they’re founding something together.

ak_111 6y ago
It seems he wasn't aware of her leaving (from twitter), so probably weren't intending to found something together.
- gkoberger 6y ago
  It's so over the top ("No way! You too??") that I don't think it can be taken at face value!

seehafer 6y ago

Thanks Aaron. Your office hours with us were some of the most valuable parts of our YC experience. Happy trails & look forward to seeing what you do next.

akharris 6y ago
Wow, what a nice thing to say. Loved working with you as well. The world needs what you're doing, and I'm happy to have helped even a little.

jdoliner 6y ago

Aaron is an absolute mensch, I've greatly enjoyed working with him and all the advice he's given us has been helpful.

akharris 6y ago
There's no higher compliment. My Bubbe would have been proud to hear it.

Brushfire 6y ago

THANK YOU AARON!

jdsully 6y ago

Aaron was super helpful as we went through the S20 batch. I hope his next adventure is fruitful.

akharris 6y ago
Thanks so much!

gkoberger 6y ago

I couldn't have raised money without Aaron's help. There's so many people who are willing to offer advice or try to be involved with a raise, but Aaron and Janelle were the only two people who actually helped. They made great intros, had lots of advice, and were incredibly helpful from start to finish. I remember a few times calling Aaron randomly to get his take on a meeting I had just had, and he was always there to help. Aaron was the only person I trusted... he was on my side and helped when he could, but was also brutally honest when necessary. Thanks Aaron, and best of luck with whatever is next!

akharris 6y ago
Thanks so much Greg. I've always enjoyed working with you and watching what you build and do (and draw). I'm always happy to help, whenever you need it.

hua 6y ago

Thank you Aaron!!!!!!

jondishotsky 6y ago

One of the best. Wishing you all the best Aaron, you made a huge impact on Starcity's trajectory...

akharris 6y ago
Thank you sir! Glad to have played a small role.

rgbrgb 6y ago

Thanks Aaron and good luck! Excited to see what's next.

akharris 6y ago

Oh wow - didn't know this was on HN, so I'm guessing at least a few founders are shaking their heads at me and wondering why I'm not engaging with the commenters... I may have left YC, but HN is still home, so long as Daniel lets me stay.

eganist 6y ago
We'll always have boundless bandwidth to learn from you. Thank you!
justicezyx 6y ago
What's your next project (s)? Are you interested in working in auto industry?

chanfest22 6y ago

It was a pleasure learning from Aaron during YC. Perhaps best of all was his uncanny ability to take some pieced together ideas that founders had but which didn't make any sense and re-structure them into the most compelling and eloquent pitches I've ever heard. Can't wait to see how you apply yourself next!

akharris 6y ago
You brought great material! Just happy I could help nudge it along.

jayjay71 6y ago

Thank you Aaron!

yeldarb 6y ago

So many people are eager to steer a conversation. That’s not Aaron. He’s one of the best listeners I have ever met. And he’s one of those people that engenders so much respect that it makes you want to be better just because you don’t want to let him down. (Or maybe it’s because you don’t want to be on the wrong end of that “I’m not mad I’m just disappointed” look.) I aspire to be the type of mentor someday that Aaron has been to us.

akharris 6y ago
This is such a kind thing to say. Thank you. It certainly helps that our conversations have always been so interesting. Can’t wait for our next one.

antonber 6y ago

Thanks Aaron! We went through YC because of you. I wish you the best on your next adventure!

irjustin 6y ago

I had the pleasure of having Aaron as my sub-group partner and our 'primary partner'. Sharpest tool in the shed and always told you what you needed. When it was tough love, it was the best. He is the exact mentor we wanted. YC won't be the same with out you, and all the best on your next path in life!

lewisf 6y ago

Thank you Aaron! Appreciate everything you taught us and the all the support you gave us even when times got really tough.

raywu 6y ago

From all the comments, I wished we had a chance to speak with you during our time. One of the regrets is not have met you. I came across a lot of your content the last couple of years. "On Shutting Down" really spoke to me

AviationAtom 6y ago

How does someone with big ideas, but no clue how to pull off execution, ever make their way into the YCsphere? It all sounds cool, but I haven't the slightest clue how to build the starting phases of a project, when I haven't a coding bone in my body, nor any real contacts that I know to be capable of coding.

bjelkeman-again 6y ago
Sound like you may need a technical cofounder. Even better would be to learn to code or at least work alongside developers with systems/business analysis for example, so you can have a sensible discussion with them. The gap, if you have no idea how the tech works, tend to be very hard to bridge otherwise.
gigantecmedia 6y ago
used to be like you few years ago (not YC yet but we are venture-backed). my only recommendation: find a partner and convince him/her to join with you. no need to be technical but do need to be complementary to your skillsets and characteristics. read somewhere (pg’s blog?) that cofounder relationship is like marriage but without the best part ;) so you can imagine. looking forward to your future success, don’t give up man.

cl42 6y ago

Aaron, thank you for all the advice with Canopy back a few years ago. It meant a lot and still does and I wish you all the best in your next steps!

Snoupy 6y ago

Thank you Aaron!! All the best!

sarthakjshetty 6y ago

Wow 2 YC partners leaving on the same day? Even Adora Cheung announced that she's leaving YC [1] [1] - https://twitter.com/nolimits/status/1360317612060737537 https://twitter.com/nolimits/status/1360317612060737537

sandGorgon 6y ago

@akharris - you are awesome. Thank you for being there. Nobody grokked India like you did. Which was tricky a few years ago at YC. But most of all, thank you for just being an email away - that meant a lot.

nhourcard 6y ago

Best of luck Aaron! Really enjoyed our conversations at YC