5 ms·

Please tell me more about YC's business model.

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
wickedchicken 14y ago
Convince everyone that node + mongo + backbone + bitcoin is the beginning and end of all software development, from systems software to scientific computing. Receive kickbacks.
vladd 14y ago
HN is mainly goodwill for YC (any VC would pay a fortune to have HN and its audience). So the parent comment seems to suggest that it's damaging to the goodwill of the site to disable signups. If this was a permanent change, I'd agree, but it may be temporary, and it's not totally disabled (you can still signup by submitting content, as someone else wrote).
- briggsbio 14y ago
  vladd, while I completely agree that "HN is mainly goodwill for YC," I think potentially your subsequent parenthetical statement shows misunderstanding of a different business model, the VC model. Or, maybe it was just ambiguous language easily misinterpreted by me (and, I'd assume, others as well). Many content-based companies would love to acquire HN and its audience (e.g. Conde Nast's Reddit acquisition). VCs would love to invest in an HN spin-out to reap returns from said investment via a sale of the entity. However, "VCs would pay a fortune to have HN and its audience," reads more like VC-as-owner/PE rather than VC as investor. Maybe I'm digging too deep in the semantics here, but this seems to be a point that is often lost and VCs vaunted (or derided) as less investors-cum-advisors and more private equity slash-and-burn corporate raiders. Might a VC chime in here? *edited for spell check and readability.
- Mz 14y ago
  Er, no. HN is part of YC's screening and application process. You have to have an HN account to apply to YC and if you have been an active user, your comments here basically become part of the screening process. It is part of why HN is better behaved than a lot of forums: Being an asshole here can help close doors for some folks which are potentially worth million$.* * At least, this was all true last I heard. I have not looked at their application or application rules/process recently.
YmMot 14y ago
- Get users to sign up. - They post/comment on news items. - ???? - Profit.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- alttab 14y ago
  - Get users to sign up for HN. - They get engaged in the community - They get exposed to YC classes and start ups - Talent is attracted to joining YC - YC continues to get best talent - Best talent attracts more/better investors - Increases the likelyhood of start up success in incubator - Profit.
WiseWeasel 14y ago
Maybe they could start featuring a daily paid job posting on HN if they want revenue.

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

Convince everyone that node + mongo + backbone + bitcoin is the beginning and end of all software development, from systems software to scientific computing. Receive kickbacks.

vladd 14y ago

HN is mainly goodwill for YC (any VC would pay a fortune to have HN and its audience). So the parent comment seems to suggest that it's damaging to the goodwill of the site to disable signups. If this was a permanent change, I'd agree, but it may be temporary, and it's not totally disabled (you can still signup by submitting content, as someone else wrote).

briggsbio 14y ago
vladd, while I completely agree that "HN is mainly goodwill for YC," I think potentially your subsequent parenthetical statement shows misunderstanding of a different business model, the VC model. Or, maybe it was just ambiguous language easily misinterpreted by me (and, I'd assume, others as well). Many content-based companies would love to acquire HN and its audience (e.g. Conde Nast's Reddit acquisition). VCs would love to invest in an HN spin-out to reap returns from said investment via a sale of the entity. However, "VCs would pay a fortune to have HN and its audience," reads more like VC-as-owner/PE rather than VC as investor. Maybe I'm digging too deep in the semantics here, but this seems to be a point that is often lost and VCs vaunted (or derided) as less investors-cum-advisors and more private equity slash-and-burn corporate raiders. Might a VC chime in here? *edited for spell check and readability.
Mz 14y ago
Er, no. HN is part of YC's screening and application process. You have to have an HN account to apply to YC and if you have been an active user, your comments here basically become part of the screening process. It is part of why HN is better behaved than a lot of forums: Being an asshole here can help close doors for some folks which are potentially worth million$.* * At least, this was all true last I heard. I have not looked at their application or application rules/process recently.

YmMot 14y ago

- Get users to sign up. - They post/comment on news items. - ???? - Profit.

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
alttab 14y ago
- Get users to sign up for HN. - They get engaged in the community - They get exposed to YC classes and start ups - Talent is attracted to joining YC - YC continues to get best talent - Best talent attracts more/better investors - Increases the likelyhood of start up success in incubator - Profit.

WiseWeasel 14y ago

Maybe they could start featuring a daily paid job posting on HN if they want revenue.