4 ms·

They don't have to be 100%, and I did not say so. But there has to be some alignment, say 60 to 80%, or the whole YC biz model falls apart, for obvious reasons

by vram22 6y ago

They don't have to be 100%, and I did not say so. But there has to be some alignment, say 60 to 80%, or the whole YC biz model falls apart, for obvious reasons. Good sales and profits, or being acquired for a good price, or a good IPO, etc.

jedberg 6y ago
I think YC has the companies best interests in mind because that's just who they are how they were built. But I don't think there has to be much alignment at all. One unicorn every couple of years is all that YC needs to "make their fund" since they don't have LPs to satisfy. And one every few years will also keep the applicants coming.
- skeeter2020 6y ago
  >> I think YC has the companies best interests in mind because that's just who they are how they were built. Serious question: "Who" exactly are they? I could have told you 10 or even 5 years ago, but now? There are a lot more hands in the cookie jar.
  - jedberg 6y ago
    There really aren't all that many more hands in the cookie jar. You can see them all here: https://www.ycombinator.com/people/ https://www.ycombinator.com/people/ All the group partners and management are people who have been with YC for many many years.
    - vram22 6y ago
      On a rough count, ~60 people, not including founders.
- vram22 6y ago
  >One unicorn every couple of years is all that YC needs True, but there is no ongoing guarantee of that, no matter how many times it has happened in the past, and no matter who claims it[1], be it a Midas-list VC or a serial founder or whoever. Past performance is not a sure predictor of future performance. Just see any company's statutory annual report, and the ifs and buts in the legalese therein. [1] If anyone claims that, just ask them to put their money where their mouth is. E.g. by paying the predicted unicorn future value for the stock, but now. And then see the disclaimers and caveats flowing fast and freely from their mouths.

by vram22 6y ago

jedberg 6y ago

I think YC has the companies best interests in mind because that's just who they are how they were built. But I don't think there has to be much alignment at all. One unicorn every couple of years is all that YC needs to "make their fund" since they don't have LPs to satisfy. And one every few years will also keep the applicants coming.

skeeter2020 6y ago
>> I think YC has the companies best interests in mind because that's just who they are how they were built. Serious question: "Who" exactly are they? I could have told you 10 or even 5 years ago, but now? There are a lot more hands in the cookie jar.
- jedberg 6y ago
  There really aren't all that many more hands in the cookie jar. You can see them all here: https://www.ycombinator.com/people/ https://www.ycombinator.com/people/ All the group partners and management are people who have been with YC for many many years.
  - vram22 6y ago
    On a rough count, ~60 people, not including founders.
vram22 6y ago
>One unicorn every couple of years is all that YC needs True, but there is no ongoing guarantee of that, no matter how many times it has happened in the past, and no matter who claims it[1], be it a Midas-list VC or a serial founder or whoever. Past performance is not a sure predictor of future performance. Just see any company's statutory annual report, and the ifs and buts in the legalese therein. [1] If anyone claims that, just ask them to put their money where their mouth is. E.g. by paying the predicted unicorn future value for the stock, but now. And then see the disclaimers and caveats flowing fast and freely from their mouths.