3 ms·

I wouldn't worry that much about the money, its not what YC is about. I'd worry more about not getting access to all those YC connections.

by vaksel 18y ago

nanexcool 18y ago
Of course the YC connections were the first things on my mind. I don't think you can equate them to hard cash. It's just that the cash would have given me the chance to quit consulting and go 100% on my idea. But it's not the end of the world.
- goodkarma 18y ago
  So you're letting $10,000 hold you back from your dream? For real?
  - nanexcool 18y ago
    Of course not! I'm still going to do my thing! I'm just going to have to continue consulting to pay the bills. That's all I'm saying. The money would have let me work full-time on my startup.
    - goodkarma 18y ago
      Does your startup have a business model? Can you try to grow it while generating revenue at the same time?
      - nanexcool 18y ago
        My business model (tentatively) is the typical freemium with some ads. I will as you say, try to grow it from revenues generated. So the rate of growth will be tied to the revenues. I do not plan (now that YC is not an option) on raising capital.
  - silencio 18y ago
    I think second to the valuable networking opportunities YC provides, the money that could be spent not worrying about rent and the bills for at least a couple months is not insignificant. I know personally it's not a huge deal to have that money and we're continuing regardless of rejection, but that kind of money could possibly shave off a few months of development time where I don't have to worry so much about classes and contract work to pay for stuff at the same time, while I would also have an opportunity to work in person with the other developer in the group...someone who lives across the country from me (but that I've gotten to know well over the years online). I know we could get $10k+ from other sources, but when it's not from a venture firm like YC and it's instead from our own savings and from friends/family like we have considered before, it's a lot harder to accept.
    - goodkarma 18y ago
      I have no doubt that YC provides great networking opportunities. My question was in direct response to nanexcool's comment that the cash would have given him the chance.
      - silencio 18y ago
        Yeah, but I was guessing nanexcool's reason for saying that was similar to mine and it turns out I wasn't too far off ;) I doubt many people are just going to give up right now after rejection even (and especially) if they had a good idea, it's just that YC would have helped a ton.
      - rms 18y ago
        I think a lot of people saying that the money is important really mean that a socially acceptable framework for quitting your job/school is important.
    - jacquesm 18y ago
      I don't know how to say this gently, but YC money should be harder to accept. After all, they don't have a pre-existing relationship with you, and friends and family do. It's a bit as if you're saying that it is easier to accept money from 'strangers'. Personally I think that if your idea has merit and 10k is the big issue that you should get an extra job, save like the devil for the next 10 months to a year and then do it anyway. And face up to the fact that if 10k is the real problem that your idea may not have as much merit as you think after all. I know this sounds quite harsh but good ideas + good teams are not going to go down because of a little bit of $.
- dotmatrix 18y ago
  im looking for a technical co-founder,. i think i have the funding bit figured out if i found a technical co founder. at least i know a bit of people wit moola
- vaksel 18y ago
  if $$$ is a problem, can either bum around relatives and see if you can convince them to give you the loan or get one of those 10-30K @ 0% APR for 9 months credit card offers. That way you'll be able to do your thing
  - comatose_kid 18y ago
    Credit cards aren't a good idea. After 9 months, if things don't work out, you have some really high interest debt. Why not just save some money for a few months (or however long it takes)? If you want it badly enough, waiting shouldn't be a problem...
dbul 18y ago
If you are smart, you will be able to succeed anyway. Somehow it escapes us that companies can be built without being in SV and knowing everyone there. Sure, it would be a heck of a lot easier if we were there and did make connections. I'm not sure what exactly lead up to this scenario, how MS was able to talk with IBM execs, but you have to give MS credit for securing this business deal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcWjOodAtoE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcWjOodAtoE I hope that some of those who weren't accepted will figure out a way to have a ragingly successful business. It would make for a great story.

I wouldn't worry that much about the money, its not what YC is about. I'd worry more about not getting access to all those YC connections.

by vaksel 18y ago

I wouldn't worry that much about the money, its not what YC is about. I'd worry more about not getting access to all those YC connections.

nanexcool 18y ago

Of course the YC connections were the first things on my mind. I don't think you can equate them to hard cash. It's just that the cash would have given me the chance to quit consulting and go 100% on my idea. But it's not the end of the world.

goodkarma 18y ago
So you're letting $10,000 hold you back from your dream? For real?
- nanexcool 18y ago
  Of course not! I'm still going to do my thing! I'm just going to have to continue consulting to pay the bills. That's all I'm saying. The money would have let me work full-time on my startup.
  - goodkarma 18y ago
    Does your startup have a business model? Can you try to grow it while generating revenue at the same time?
    - nanexcool 18y ago
      My business model (tentatively) is the typical freemium with some ads. I will as you say, try to grow it from revenues generated. So the rate of growth will be tied to the revenues. I do not plan (now that YC is not an option) on raising capital.
- silencio 18y ago
  I think second to the valuable networking opportunities YC provides, the money that could be spent not worrying about rent and the bills for at least a couple months is not insignificant. I know personally it's not a huge deal to have that money and we're continuing regardless of rejection, but that kind of money could possibly shave off a few months of development time where I don't have to worry so much about classes and contract work to pay for stuff at the same time, while I would also have an opportunity to work in person with the other developer in the group...someone who lives across the country from me (but that I've gotten to know well over the years online). I know we could get $10k+ from other sources, but when it's not from a venture firm like YC and it's instead from our own savings and from friends/family like we have considered before, it's a lot harder to accept.
  - goodkarma 18y ago
    I have no doubt that YC provides great networking opportunities. My question was in direct response to nanexcool's comment that the cash would have given him the chance.
    - silencio 18y ago
      Yeah, but I was guessing nanexcool's reason for saying that was similar to mine and it turns out I wasn't too far off ;) I doubt many people are just going to give up right now after rejection even (and especially) if they had a good idea, it's just that YC would have helped a ton.
    - rms 18y ago
      I think a lot of people saying that the money is important really mean that a socially acceptable framework for quitting your job/school is important.
  - jacquesm 18y ago
    I don't know how to say this gently, but YC money should be harder to accept. After all, they don't have a pre-existing relationship with you, and friends and family do. It's a bit as if you're saying that it is easier to accept money from 'strangers'. Personally I think that if your idea has merit and 10k is the big issue that you should get an extra job, save like the devil for the next 10 months to a year and then do it anyway. And face up to the fact that if 10k is the real problem that your idea may not have as much merit as you think after all. I know this sounds quite harsh but good ideas + good teams are not going to go down because of a little bit of $.
dotmatrix 18y ago
im looking for a technical co-founder,. i think i have the funding bit figured out if i found a technical co founder. at least i know a bit of people wit moola
vaksel 18y ago
if $$$ is a problem, can either bum around relatives and see if you can convince them to give you the loan or get one of those 10-30K @ 0% APR for 9 months credit card offers. That way you'll be able to do your thing
- comatose_kid 18y ago
  Credit cards aren't a good idea. After 9 months, if things don't work out, you have some really high interest debt. Why not just save some money for a few months (or however long it takes)? If you want it badly enough, waiting shouldn't be a problem...

dbul 18y ago

If you are smart, you will be able to succeed anyway. Somehow it escapes us that companies can be built without being in SV and knowing everyone there. Sure, it would be a heck of a lot easier if we were there and did make connections. I'm not sure what exactly lead up to this scenario, how MS was able to talk with IBM execs, but you have to give MS credit for securing this business deal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcWjOodAtoE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcWjOodAtoE I hope that some of those who weren't accepted will figure out a way to have a ragingly successful business. It would make for a great story.