5 ms·

How To Get Into Y Combinator

17 points by konsl 17y ago

alain94040 17y ago
And just in case you don't get accepted to YC: http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/04/07/you-didnt-make-it-to-y-combinator-or-techstars-now-what/ http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/04/07/you-didnt-make-it-to... I'm just saying, because it's interview season and we already had at least 4 posts on the topic of how to get accepted... If everyone who read these posts got accepted, the YC building would have to add quite a few floors. Good entrepreneurs are resilient, even in the face of early rejection.
- konsl 17y ago
  If you don't know what to do if you aren't accepted, you shouldn't be applying in the first place.
CSunday 17y ago
lol, thanks...I definetly needed this! I will be back, STRONGER THAN EVER!!!
BRadmin 17y ago
Is the link to your twitter purposefully crossed out to entice more clicks? Genius...
- konsl 17y ago
  It's a (lame) joke, but who knows, maybe it will result in greater than 12.81% clickthrough :) http://dustincurtis.com/you_should_follow_me_on_twitter.html http://dustincurtis.com/you_should_follow_me_on_twitter.html
maxklein 17y ago
How to get into YC: * Be young, about to finish college, or just finished college and working on your startup * Go to a name-brand school like MIT * Done some open source project that may or may not be popular * Done something a bit impressive * Be able to write very good english * Be U.S based * Have a co-founder from a similar background as yours, and who you've known for a while * Do something that sounds simple * Build a personal brand here on this site * In the video, be comfortable and project intelligence That will get you to interview, assuming there are not more impressive people. When you interview: * Don't give off a loser vibe * Have a determined jaw and a friendly personality * Communicate clearly what you want to build * Make what you want to build something that in some way is in one of the major areas where there is potential (like money management or so) * Be sure your idea is something the partners can relate to (i.e, not building huts in africa) Yes, no need to point out the exceptions, I'm well aware.
- ivankirigin 17y ago
  The median age is something like 24 or 25, right? That's young, but not peach fuzzed.
- chris100 17y ago
  Have a co-founder from a similar background as yours, and who you've known for a while While your message is quite tongue-in-cheek, there is some truth to it and I wanted to follow-up on this comment. From anecdotal experience, it seems that YC favors a team of technical founders. Whereas in a blog post today on VentureHacks, the authors recommend the tech/business pair. So which is better? Two techies, or a slick biz plus a techie?
  - nivi 17y ago
    We weren't clear about the definition of a "seller" in the Venture Hacks post. I'll revise to say something like, "The seller doesn't have to be a "salesman" or "business guy". He can be technical, but he must be able to wield the tools of influence. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs aren't salesmen, but they are sellers."
    - chris100 17y ago
      "charistmatic" or "leadership" may be the words you are looking for?
  - maxklein 17y ago
    What you really need is two nerds. But one should be nerdish in a direction where he does not mind book-keeping, writing blogs, ad number tracking and so on. He should still be able to program. The other should be nerdish in a very geeky manner. If you have two linux freaks there, you'll have a company without vision. If you have two doe-eyed powerpoint pushers, you'll lack a product.
  - wheels 17y ago
    There is no right answer. Startup advice seems to only make sense in aggregate: you collect all of the opinions and try to map those to your situation.

17 points by konsl 17y ago

And just in case you don't get accepted to YC: http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/04/07/you-didnt-make-it-to-y-combinator-or-techstars-now-what/ http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/04/07/you-didnt-make-it-to... I'm just saying, because it's interview season and we already had at least 4 posts on the topic of how to get accepted... If everyone who read these posts got accepted, the YC building would have to add quite a few floors. Good entrepreneurs are resilient, even in the face of early rejection.

konsl 17y ago
If you don't know what to do if you aren't accepted, you shouldn't be applying in the first place.

CSunday 17y ago

lol, thanks...I definetly needed this! I will be back, STRONGER THAN EVER!!!

BRadmin 17y ago

Is the link to your twitter purposefully crossed out to entice more clicks? Genius...

konsl 17y ago
It's a (lame) joke, but who knows, maybe it will result in greater than 12.81% clickthrough :) http://dustincurtis.com/you_should_follow_me_on_twitter.html http://dustincurtis.com/you_should_follow_me_on_twitter.html

maxklein 17y ago

How to get into YC: * Be young, about to finish college, or just finished college and working on your startup * Go to a name-brand school like MIT * Done some open source project that may or may not be popular * Done something a bit impressive * Be able to write very good english * Be U.S based * Have a co-founder from a similar background as yours, and who you've known for a while * Do something that sounds simple * Build a personal brand here on this site * In the video, be comfortable and project intelligence That will get you to interview, assuming there are not more impressive people. When you interview: * Don't give off a loser vibe * Have a determined jaw and a friendly personality * Communicate clearly what you want to build * Make what you want to build something that in some way is in one of the major areas where there is potential (like money management or so) * Be sure your idea is something the partners can relate to (i.e, not building huts in africa) Yes, no need to point out the exceptions, I'm well aware.

ivankirigin 17y ago
The median age is something like 24 or 25, right? That's young, but not peach fuzzed.
chris100 17y ago
Have a co-founder from a similar background as yours, and who you've known for a while While your message is quite tongue-in-cheek, there is some truth to it and I wanted to follow-up on this comment. From anecdotal experience, it seems that YC favors a team of technical founders. Whereas in a blog post today on VentureHacks, the authors recommend the tech/business pair. So which is better? Two techies, or a slick biz plus a techie?
- nivi 17y ago
  We weren't clear about the definition of a "seller" in the Venture Hacks post. I'll revise to say something like, "The seller doesn't have to be a "salesman" or "business guy". He can be technical, but he must be able to wield the tools of influence. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs aren't salesmen, but they are sellers."
  - chris100 17y ago
    "charistmatic" or "leadership" may be the words you are looking for?
- maxklein 17y ago
  What you really need is two nerds. But one should be nerdish in a direction where he does not mind book-keeping, writing blogs, ad number tracking and so on. He should still be able to program. The other should be nerdish in a very geeky manner. If you have two linux freaks there, you'll have a company without vision. If you have two doe-eyed powerpoint pushers, you'll lack a product.
- wheels 17y ago
  There is no right answer. Startup advice seems to only make sense in aggregate: you collect all of the opinions and try to map those to your situation.