4 ms·
First, I do not understand the reason for the fear of applying. Your BigCo employer should not treat it any different than your applying to another BigCo. They
by ptero 2y ago
First, I do not understand the reason for the fear of applying. Your BigCo employer should not treat it any different than your applying to another BigCo. They are not going to care (much), people explore other opportunities all the time.
But acceptance to YC is an all or nothing deal. They fund teams and would generally not fund a company that lost a key cofounder between acceptance and attendance. That's why they ask you to commit. Thus you should be upfront with your cofounders that you might not attend, which will likely void the acceptance (which, I guess, would greatly demotivate them). My 2c.
- pfounder 2y agoThanks for the answer! With other BigCos, I know that they do not publicize people's application. But with YC, I see that it lists the funded companies at each batch in its website. My fear is if my name is shown there. Or if it's shown somewhere else even earlier in the process. I am okay on the case that I am accepted and I choose to go for the batch. My fear is if I am accepted but choose to stay, but my name is listed on the YC website
- ptero 2y agoAre you applying with other cofounders? Deciding not to go will affect them, too. My point is that if you pull your name will not be listed. And your cofounders will probably not be listed either, as YC will likely pull the invite if a cofounder chooses not to accept. I would make sure your cofounders know you are undecided. And what is the thing about YC posting acceptances? I was not aware they do it.
- pfounder 2y agoYes, I am applying with other cofounders. They are aware of my situation and encouraged me to apply. There would be a 50-50 chance that I join the batch if we are accepted.
- bruce511 2y ago>> My fear is if I am accepted but choose to stay, but my name is listed on the YC website I don't know who you work for, but frankly it sounds to me like you're over-thinking this. You're suggesting that BigCo routinely searches the YC website, or perhaps the whole web, and then name-matches that against an internal list of employees? I guess maybe they do, but as an employer this sounds bonkers. Quite apart from names not being unique, it sounds like a colossal waste of time. Why stop at YC? I should do this for all incubators... Plus, they're gonna fire you preemptively? For looking elsewhere? Geez man, what kind of place are you working for?
- mousetree 2y agoPerhaps his company doesn’t need to search the whole web when they already have an index of it…
- burnttoast300 2y agoThey won't fund you unless you quit your job. YC Partner: "I see you're working at X company, why aren't you full time on X startup? If we were to fund X startup and accept you into the batch, are you going to quit your job at X company?" You would be shooting yourself in the foot in you stumbled over this question. Speaking from personal experience here.
- doctorpangloss 2y agoYou already know the answer. This isn’t for you.