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I think parent's (and OP's) point was that YC was more valuable for investing and strategy, but less valuable for finding customers. And since customers are th

by ethbr0 4y ago

I think parent's (and OP's) point was that YC was more valuable for investing and strategy, but less valuable for finding customers. And since customers are the most difficult part now (because 10-15 players), it adjusts the relative value of something that doesn't help you acquire customers. IOW, the differences between a "build it and they will come" historic era and a "make me care about you" modern one.

BoorishBears 4y ago
I don't agree, the parent's point is directly attacking strategy: > a lot of YC advice, especially w.r.t. what to prioritize, is from an era of startups about 10-15 years ago. I'm saying any misalignment in strategy matters less than implied. I spend a lot of time with current and past YC founders these days, and the recurring thought has always been "if you know already know business they're not going to teach you that much". > it adjusts the relative value of something that doesn't help you acquire customers. Money is how you acquire customers. From outlasting competitors to advertising to improving your product, it's money that turns into customers. So YC being valuable for investing is tantamount to being valuable for gaining customers.
dang 4y ago
YC has never taught "build it and they will come" – they give plenty of advice and encouragement to find customers and will add, er, kinetic energy if you're not actively on that. That's a huge focus. This, however, not so much: > "You basically need 1-2 full time staff doing nothing but content creation and social media outreach marketing" If that's the way you're thinking, YC's going to try to change your mind, and if you don't want to change your mind about that, YC's probably not a good fit. (I'm not speaking for YC here! just from my own experience as a founder, observer, HN mod)
- testmasterflex 4y ago
  What’s your startup Dang? :)
  - tptacek 4y ago
    Dan and Scott Bell did Skysheet.

by ethbr0 4y ago

BoorishBears 4y ago

I don't agree, the parent's point is directly attacking strategy: > a lot of YC advice, especially w.r.t. what to prioritize, is from an era of startups about 10-15 years ago. I'm saying any misalignment in strategy matters less than implied. I spend a lot of time with current and past YC founders these days, and the recurring thought has always been "if you know already know business they're not going to teach you that much". > it adjusts the relative value of something that doesn't help you acquire customers. Money is how you acquire customers. From outlasting competitors to advertising to improving your product, it's money that turns into customers. So YC being valuable for investing is tantamount to being valuable for gaining customers.

dang 4y ago

YC has never taught "build it and they will come" – they give plenty of advice and encouragement to find customers and will add, er, kinetic energy if you're not actively on that. That's a huge focus. This, however, not so much: > "You basically need 1-2 full time staff doing nothing but content creation and social media outreach marketing" If that's the way you're thinking, YC's going to try to change your mind, and if you don't want to change your mind about that, YC's probably not a good fit. (I'm not speaking for YC here! just from my own experience as a founder, observer, HN mod)

testmasterflex 4y ago
What’s your startup Dang? :)
- tptacek 4y ago
  Dan and Scott Bell did Skysheet.