4 ms·

Startup School 2014 applications are open

94 points by katm 12y ago

jliechti1 12y ago
The lineup looks pretty good so far: Ron Conway, Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn), Danae Ringelmann (Indiegogo), Emmett Shear (Twitch). Anyone know who else they might be bringing in? Does Zuckerberg do it every year?
jjling 12y ago
Awesome. Application submitted. Anyone know what the typical acceptance rate is for this?
- fizx 12y ago
  I've never seen a technical person rejected.
  - mbreese 12y ago
    It depends on how much space they have. If they are doing it at De Anza College again (and it looks like they are), then they'll have lots of space. But even then, it was pretty packed. I didn't get in until last year, I suspect because of the extra space - and I'm technical.
  - erikpukinskis 12y ago
    I've been rejected every time. I have a cs degree and was a technical founder for 5 years. I always wonder if it's worth applying again.
cperciva 12y ago
Polling the community: Should I attend? I've watched videos of past events, and they seem to follow the TED model of being amusing and inspirational but not particularly informative; I'm too cynical to be interested in "inspirational". On the other hand, I get the feeling that the hallway track might be good.
- ajiang 12y ago
  Attending Startup School last year was one of the few identifiable events that led me to starting Bayes Impact and joining YC with a nonprofit. Listening to Chase Adams talk about his experience with Watsi was incredibly inspiring, and similarly the other speakers instill in you a sense of urgency and possibility. I wouldn't measure the value of going in information -- in fact much of the information can be found in PG's essays and generally online. The value is in lighting a fire under your ass to get started and meet others that feel the same way -- that in itself can change the course of your life.
- dabent 12y ago
  I attended in 2010, the year that Zuckerberg answered a few questions about "The Social Network" movie. The talks are more inspirational than informative, but seeing them live was a great experience. What really made it great for me was the chance to be around hundreds of like-minded individuals and have a few conversations about startups that I'd not have gotten in my home city (I live outside SV). There are also pre and post parties to attend and meet more people. There's just an atmosphere there that can't be created easily. If airfare wasn't an issue, I'd not hesitate to go again. I am assuming it is still free. It was well worth the day I invested.
- TheMakeA 12y ago
  My favorite part last year was the smaller dinner the night before and the opportunity to meet people outside the talks. You should definitely attend if for no reason other than gracing it with your own presence.
- wz3chen 12y ago
  Totally. You get to meet cool people during the break.
- arjunnarayan 12y ago
  I say don't attend. Startup school is good, but the delta over watching the videos is not. In essence, the content is great, but there's nothing that the in-person event offers over the content itself. I attended Startup School NYC, but would have got the same out of sitting down and watching the videos seriously. (The key is to actually do a serious viewing session instead of half heartedly watching them over microwaved lunches).
goshx 12y ago
Are there other networking events happening during the same weekend? If not, maybe some locals could make them happen?
- pshin45 12y ago
  Shameless plug - If you're looking for other startup-related events to attend the week of Startup School, sign up for Startup Digest's weekly events digest[1]. It's a weekly email newsletter of startup events happening in San Francisco & Silicon Valley, and DISCLOSURE I am a volunteer "Events Curator" for it. [1] https://www.startupdigest.com/digests https://www.startupdigest.com/digests (search for "Silicon Valley-SF Bay Area")
pptr1 12y ago
I think if your in the area or you know tons of people going; it might be worth going. I would't go out of my way to attend. I went to the one in NYC few years back and it was not a good experience for me. I traveled from Boston and was super excited. Just a big let down. PG was like a celebrity their. Impossible to get in anything with him. Same with other famous founders. Basically everyone was just circling and try to figure out who to talk to next. Was super awkward. My takeaways from NYC: 1.) PG looks exactly like his pics and acts the same. It pretty hard to get to talk to him (due to all the people clamoring for his attention). 2.) Some famous YC alum are stuck up. Never met anyone as stuck up as the non-technical reddit co-founder. 3.) Justin Kan is the nicest person. Pure respect for him. 4.) In NYC at least hordes of MBA trolling looking for "technical cofounders". Met a really rude person who actually introduced himself as having an MBA from Harvard. San Francisco might be different.
- leelin 12y ago
  > 2.) Some famous YC alum are stuck up. Never met anyone as stuck up as the non-technical reddit co-founder. I highly disagree. The "non-technical reddit co-founder" is both humble and awesome -- but if it's the same event I'm thinking, you might have misinterpreted his joke about serving orange-colored kool aid at the event. Also, June 2014 was the first NYC Startup School. You might be talking about the "YC in NYC" event in September 2011. That was more of a talk by PG about how NYC had overtaken Boston as a clear #2 startup hub, followed by what makes a startup hub work (basically startup and investor density, which creates more chance encounters). Other founders spoke, but those were hiring pitches, not really the same kind of advice talks you get at startup school.
  - pptr1 12y ago
    Ok thanks for clarifying the "YC in NYC". You are correct. Though it is different event than the 2011 "YC in NYC". I hope you guys have worked out the logistics so attendees who have really went out of their way to be there can benefit in some way; different than just the talks which they can watch online. I hope more people get benefits out of it.
- 12y ago

94 points by katm 12y ago

The lineup looks pretty good so far: Ron Conway, Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn), Danae Ringelmann (Indiegogo), Emmett Shear (Twitch). Anyone know who else they might be bringing in? Does Zuckerberg do it every year?

jjling 12y ago

Awesome. Application submitted. Anyone know what the typical acceptance rate is for this?

fizx 12y ago
I've never seen a technical person rejected.
- mbreese 12y ago
  It depends on how much space they have. If they are doing it at De Anza College again (and it looks like they are), then they'll have lots of space. But even then, it was pretty packed. I didn't get in until last year, I suspect because of the extra space - and I'm technical.
- erikpukinskis 12y ago
  I've been rejected every time. I have a cs degree and was a technical founder for 5 years. I always wonder if it's worth applying again.

cperciva 12y ago

Polling the community: Should I attend? I've watched videos of past events, and they seem to follow the TED model of being amusing and inspirational but not particularly informative; I'm too cynical to be interested in "inspirational". On the other hand, I get the feeling that the hallway track might be good.

ajiang 12y ago
Attending Startup School last year was one of the few identifiable events that led me to starting Bayes Impact and joining YC with a nonprofit. Listening to Chase Adams talk about his experience with Watsi was incredibly inspiring, and similarly the other speakers instill in you a sense of urgency and possibility. I wouldn't measure the value of going in information -- in fact much of the information can be found in PG's essays and generally online. The value is in lighting a fire under your ass to get started and meet others that feel the same way -- that in itself can change the course of your life.
dabent 12y ago
I attended in 2010, the year that Zuckerberg answered a few questions about "The Social Network" movie. The talks are more inspirational than informative, but seeing them live was a great experience. What really made it great for me was the chance to be around hundreds of like-minded individuals and have a few conversations about startups that I'd not have gotten in my home city (I live outside SV). There are also pre and post parties to attend and meet more people. There's just an atmosphere there that can't be created easily. If airfare wasn't an issue, I'd not hesitate to go again. I am assuming it is still free. It was well worth the day I invested.
TheMakeA 12y ago
My favorite part last year was the smaller dinner the night before and the opportunity to meet people outside the talks. You should definitely attend if for no reason other than gracing it with your own presence.
wz3chen 12y ago
Totally. You get to meet cool people during the break.
arjunnarayan 12y ago
I say don't attend. Startup school is good, but the delta over watching the videos is not. In essence, the content is great, but there's nothing that the in-person event offers over the content itself. I attended Startup School NYC, but would have got the same out of sitting down and watching the videos seriously. (The key is to actually do a serious viewing session instead of half heartedly watching them over microwaved lunches).

goshx 12y ago

Are there other networking events happening during the same weekend? If not, maybe some locals could make them happen?

pshin45 12y ago
Shameless plug - If you're looking for other startup-related events to attend the week of Startup School, sign up for Startup Digest's weekly events digest[1]. It's a weekly email newsletter of startup events happening in San Francisco & Silicon Valley, and DISCLOSURE I am a volunteer "Events Curator" for it. [1] https://www.startupdigest.com/digests https://www.startupdigest.com/digests (search for "Silicon Valley-SF Bay Area")

pptr1 12y ago

I think if your in the area or you know tons of people going; it might be worth going. I would't go out of my way to attend. I went to the one in NYC few years back and it was not a good experience for me. I traveled from Boston and was super excited. Just a big let down. PG was like a celebrity their. Impossible to get in anything with him. Same with other famous founders. Basically everyone was just circling and try to figure out who to talk to next. Was super awkward. My takeaways from NYC: 1.) PG looks exactly like his pics and acts the same. It pretty hard to get to talk to him (due to all the people clamoring for his attention). 2.) Some famous YC alum are stuck up. Never met anyone as stuck up as the non-technical reddit co-founder. 3.) Justin Kan is the nicest person. Pure respect for him. 4.) In NYC at least hordes of MBA trolling looking for "technical cofounders". Met a really rude person who actually introduced himself as having an MBA from Harvard. San Francisco might be different.

leelin 12y ago
> 2.) Some famous YC alum are stuck up. Never met anyone as stuck up as the non-technical reddit co-founder. I highly disagree. The "non-technical reddit co-founder" is both humble and awesome -- but if it's the same event I'm thinking, you might have misinterpreted his joke about serving orange-colored kool aid at the event. Also, June 2014 was the first NYC Startup School. You might be talking about the "YC in NYC" event in September 2011. That was more of a talk by PG about how NYC had overtaken Boston as a clear #2 startup hub, followed by what makes a startup hub work (basically startup and investor density, which creates more chance encounters). Other founders spoke, but those were hiring pitches, not really the same kind of advice talks you get at startup school.
- pptr1 12y ago
  Ok thanks for clarifying the "YC in NYC". You are correct. Though it is different event than the 2011 "YC in NYC". I hope you guys have worked out the logistics so attendees who have really went out of their way to be there can benefit in some way; different than just the talks which they can watch online. I hope more people get benefits out of it.
12y ago