4 ms·

It’s not a knock on the product but moreso on ycombinator. It’s questioning why such a product is being funded (at least at this stage when it’s so niche and on

It’s not a knock on the product but moreso on ycombinator. It’s questioning why such a product is being funded (at least at this stage when it’s so niche and only available on mac) and if there’s a bigger issue in the ycombinator system funding “trivial” startups The other side of the coin could be they’re getting funded because yc likes the founders :)

ryneandal 6y ago
> The other side of the coin could be they’re getting funded because yc likes the founders :) I think you're entirely correct. It's akin to hiring, sometimes the best prospect isn't the one with the most relevant experience.
llaolleh 6y ago
If you want a crazy win, then you have to invest in some crazy things. Crazy simple also makes sense. YC is doing what they were created to do. To invest in extremely early stage startups no one is willing to bet on. But maybe their product is questioning a fundamental assumption that is outdated that has not been thrown out yet, given current technological advances. Who knows. You could be right on founders. Founders are hungry people. If there is one thing I've learned in my short time on Earth is do not underestimate hungry people.
- andreilys 6y ago
  Investing in a calendar widget is not a “crazy idea nobody will bet on” This is something that’s easily bootstrapped and which can be run as a lifestyle business at best.
  - llaolleh 6y ago
    I don't understand why people hate on calendar apps so much. They are also not there yet. My definition of an ideal calendar app is it would set the meetings I need for the right amount of time with the right people. It will obtain theoretical correct schedule S that maximizes my happiness and satisfaction on earth. The design space is huge. Maybe cutting edge tech can help us get closer to the scheduler that we all need.
    - smoldesu 6y ago
      None of this is germane to the question at hand though.
    - s__s 6y ago
      This isn’t a calendar app. It’s a toolbar menu that shows your daily schedule for $10/ month. Anyone could build this in a day. Apple could easily add it as a native feature. It’s comical that it even exists, and absurd that it’s received funding.
frakkingcylons 6y ago
YC cares more about funding people/teams rather than specific products. The people are what drives the growth of a successful company in the long run, not their very first product.
fchu 6y ago
I'm pretty sure they pivoted after starting YC, so in this instance the specific criticism about YC doesn't hold
koonsolo 6y ago
The person who buys a calendar widget for $10/month, probably has some other productivity issues that he wants to pay for. If they can actually sell a decent amount of these widgets, I can see them growing into something bigger in an adjacent space.

ryneandal 6y ago

> The other side of the coin could be they’re getting funded because yc likes the founders :) I think you're entirely correct. It's akin to hiring, sometimes the best prospect isn't the one with the most relevant experience.

llaolleh 6y ago

If you want a crazy win, then you have to invest in some crazy things. Crazy simple also makes sense. YC is doing what they were created to do. To invest in extremely early stage startups no one is willing to bet on. But maybe their product is questioning a fundamental assumption that is outdated that has not been thrown out yet, given current technological advances. Who knows. You could be right on founders. Founders are hungry people. If there is one thing I've learned in my short time on Earth is do not underestimate hungry people.

andreilys 6y ago
Investing in a calendar widget is not a “crazy idea nobody will bet on” This is something that’s easily bootstrapped and which can be run as a lifestyle business at best.
- llaolleh 6y ago
  I don't understand why people hate on calendar apps so much. They are also not there yet. My definition of an ideal calendar app is it would set the meetings I need for the right amount of time with the right people. It will obtain theoretical correct schedule S that maximizes my happiness and satisfaction on earth. The design space is huge. Maybe cutting edge tech can help us get closer to the scheduler that we all need.
  - smoldesu 6y ago
    None of this is germane to the question at hand though.
  - s__s 6y ago
    This isn’t a calendar app. It’s a toolbar menu that shows your daily schedule for $10/ month. Anyone could build this in a day. Apple could easily add it as a native feature. It’s comical that it even exists, and absurd that it’s received funding.

frakkingcylons 6y ago

YC cares more about funding people/teams rather than specific products. The people are what drives the growth of a successful company in the long run, not their very first product.

fchu 6y ago

I'm pretty sure they pivoted after starting YC, so in this instance the specific criticism about YC doesn't hold

koonsolo 6y ago

The person who buys a calendar widget for $10/month, probably has some other productivity issues that he wants to pay for. If they can actually sell a decent amount of these widgets, I can see them growing into something bigger in an adjacent space.