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There is another aspect to this that is not getting much mention: many more startups are reaching profitability without VC, but still don't have metrics to just

There is another aspect to this that is not getting much mention: many more startups are reaching profitability without VC, but still don't have metrics to justify going for a home run. Ergo, the "ruthless culling" is not resulting in the bloodbath that some predicted. In general, great for startup founders & great for (the remaining) active VCs. pg - do you have any stats around how many more recent YC co's are profitable & have not secured/pursued Series A?

pmarca 13y ago
My guess is very few but I'd love to know as well.
- MediaSquirrel 13y ago
  ZeroCater, Mobileworks.
pg 13y ago
That's a complicated question, because the nature of series A rounds has changed in the last couple years. A lot of so-called series A rounds now are de facto series B rounds, huge "seed" rounds having taken the place of series As (at least financially). A bunch of the companies we've funded are profitable and haven't raised a series A round yet, but it looks like there is only one that is way past the (now much later) series A stage and yet didn't raise a series A: Weebly.
- 2pasc 13y ago
  Didn't Weebly raise a Series A with Sequoia? They list them as a portfolio Company at least! http://www.sequoiacap.com/us/home/weebly/info http://www.sequoiacap.com/us/home/weebly/info
  - drusenko 13y ago
    we skipped what would traditionally be called a series A and series B and went straight to a growth-staged round with Sequoia
    - 2pasc 13y ago
      Interesting. Looking at some of the Weebly figures on the Sequoia website, I thing many people (myself included) would be surprised of the revenue run rate you guys must have today. This is an amazing venture - congratulations to you guys! Well executed "simple ideas" are the best!
    - earbitscom 13y ago
      I learned of Weebly when someone complained on HN about your email communications. I immediately signed up and (with very few technical bones in my body) built a totally bad ass website for a friend of mine in 2 hours. There's a very good reason for your success. Incredible product.

pmarca 13y ago

My guess is very few but I'd love to know as well.

MediaSquirrel 13y ago
ZeroCater, Mobileworks.

pg 13y ago

That's a complicated question, because the nature of series A rounds has changed in the last couple years. A lot of so-called series A rounds now are de facto series B rounds, huge "seed" rounds having taken the place of series As (at least financially). A bunch of the companies we've funded are profitable and haven't raised a series A round yet, but it looks like there is only one that is way past the (now much later) series A stage and yet didn't raise a series A: Weebly.

2pasc 13y ago
Didn't Weebly raise a Series A with Sequoia? They list them as a portfolio Company at least! http://www.sequoiacap.com/us/home/weebly/info http://www.sequoiacap.com/us/home/weebly/info
- drusenko 13y ago
  we skipped what would traditionally be called a series A and series B and went straight to a growth-staged round with Sequoia
  - 2pasc 13y ago
    Interesting. Looking at some of the Weebly figures on the Sequoia website, I thing many people (myself included) would be surprised of the revenue run rate you guys must have today. This is an amazing venture - congratulations to you guys! Well executed "simple ideas" are the best!
  - earbitscom 13y ago
    I learned of Weebly when someone complained on HN about your email communications. I immediately signed up and (with very few technical bones in my body) built a totally bad ass website for a friend of mine in 2 hours. There's a very good reason for your success. Incredible product.