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I imagine I'd need a High School diploma for that, so probably not gonna happen. Nobody is slamming HBS or MBA's, or questioning the quality of people going in

I imagine I'd need a High School diploma for that, so probably not gonna happen. Nobody is slamming HBS or MBA's, or questioning the quality of people going in, or coming out. You said that people attending Techstars (and YC, I assume) would not be experts in anything except their respective programs, while implying that an HBS MBA would be an expert in so much more. Simply put, I've been working in my field for 13 years, 5 of which I was managing an organization responsible for up to $60M in revenue. I had 4 years of good job experience and glowing recommendations when most of the people you're talking about were just getting their Bachelor's degree. Now, I just wrapped up YC. It didn't make me an expert in running a business, and yet it was extremely educational, even for someone who has run a decent organization before, and had been running their own startup for a year - all of which is a lot more experience than the average HBS entrant or graduate has in actual business management. I'm sure HBS is amazing. I wouldn't kid myself about getting in. But just as going through Techstars and YC doesn't make you an expert at running a business, neither does a degree, no matter what school you get it from. This wasn't intended to tear down the credentials of a HBS MBA. It was simply to clarify that, while you're right about TS and YC not making you an expert of anything, you may have overstated things by implying that being an HBS grad would.

jsavimbi 15y ago
I think you're confused at this point. I'm sorry, but you're comparing an independent certificate program to one of the more competitive MBA programs in the world. As I've stated before, these incubator programs are a great primer if you've never done it before and you're seeking funding from investors. It's a very good tradeoff for ninety days. I don't have any numbers on the average age or experience level of TS/YC grads but after six years in the industry and five years of college it had no appeal to me then and it still doesn't, but for someone who's never done that before in such a focused manner, I think it's great. As a primer. I commend you on you being accepted and completing your program, but rest assured, nobody outside outside of TS/YC alum/friends is going to rank you along with Harvard MBA's. Especially not the investors. Even Eli Portnoy can tell you that.
- earbitscom 15y ago
  Like I said, it's not about comparing the two. Neither one of them makes you an expert at running a business. And, almost certainly, the amount of VC money raised by startup founders coming out of YC and that of founders coming out of Harvard cannot possibly be in favor of HBS.

jsavimbi 15y ago

I think you're confused at this point. I'm sorry, but you're comparing an independent certificate program to one of the more competitive MBA programs in the world. As I've stated before, these incubator programs are a great primer if you've never done it before and you're seeking funding from investors. It's a very good tradeoff for ninety days. I don't have any numbers on the average age or experience level of TS/YC grads but after six years in the industry and five years of college it had no appeal to me then and it still doesn't, but for someone who's never done that before in such a focused manner, I think it's great. As a primer. I commend you on you being accepted and completing your program, but rest assured, nobody outside outside of TS/YC alum/friends is going to rank you along with Harvard MBA's. Especially not the investors. Even Eli Portnoy can tell you that.

earbitscom 15y ago
Like I said, it's not about comparing the two. Neither one of them makes you an expert at running a business. And, almost certainly, the amount of VC money raised by startup founders coming out of YC and that of founders coming out of Harvard cannot possibly be in favor of HBS.