paul

16 ms·

121.
by paul 12y ago
And also fewer partners reviewing applications. He was turned down for a previous batch because he applied with a bad idea (SAT test prep), not because he was a single founder. If we would now pass on DropBox, something has gone very wrong.
122.
by paul 12y ago
Drew Houston applied as a single founder with no product or traction, so yes :)
123.
by paul 12y ago
Hundreds of millions of dollars in sales doesn't count as success? Which non-yc hardware companies started in the last several years would you count as successful?
124.
by paul 12y ago
They had to integrate the electronics as well. The most successful hardware companies (e.g. Apple) are building integrated systems including software and services.
125.
by paul 12y ago
Actually, no, they were building their own boxes.
126.
by paul 12y ago
Guessing which founders are going to start the next multi-billion dollar business is surprisingly hard. To me, the fact that Sacca is an early investor in Uber gives the post more credibility, not less.
127.
by paul 12y ago
It has been years since I heard anyone ask about viral coefficients.
128.
by paul 12y ago
Fascinating. Is there something in hand sanitizer or lotion that makes this happen, or is it just any fluid that facilitates the transfer?
129.
by paul 12y ago
I wonder what other disciplines are this badly skewed. Theology maybe?
130.
by paul 12y ago
Boosted or unboosted is way too simplistic and one dimensional to explain something as complex as autoimmune dysfunction.
131.
by paul 12y ago
Yes, I think tech is one of the few places in society where being awkward and nerdy does not prevent you from being highly successful :)
132.
by paul 12y ago
Show me the documentation where tall people get more venture funding.
133.
by paul 12y ago
What makes you think height is so important? I have not noticed any correlation. One of the nice things about startups vs politics is that appearance is much less important for success. (unless you think Bill Gates is some kind of super mod
134.
by paul 12y ago
Yes, the Weebly story is amazing. He covered part of it at Startup School a few years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_b228qEVi8
135.
by paul 12y ago
For some definition of progress, certainly, but neither company was an obvious winner in the first couple of years. The key is to stay very lean until you have definite product/market fit and can raise a huge growth round.
136.
by paul 12y ago
The climate has changed in that it's easier for startups to raise more, but even those that do not can still be very successful. Justin.tv or Weebly would not require any more money to start today than they did six years ago -- if anyt
137.
by paul 12y ago
Several of my best investments have been from startups raising less than $500k. Justin.tv/Twitch returned 97x my original investment, and Weebly will likely be even more.
138.
by paul 12y ago
It's not a tactic, it's just a fact that people remember stories that confirm their prior beliefs and contrary evidence makes little difference. If it makes you feel any better, I'm mostly criticizing myself for engaging in a
139.
by paul 12y ago
That's the trouble with mob justice, allegations equals guilt, and disagreement is socially indefensible. My purpose in all of this is not to "prove" that these are all nice people, but simply to point that you are all speaki
140.
by paul 12y ago
Why wouldn't I defend "alleged misogynists"? In general, I find the lynch-mob culture here to be problematic and unhealthy. In this particular case I commented because I have direct experience with some of the people being di
141.
by paul 12y ago
Clearly you already have your answer and anything I say will only provide you with more evidence of your own correctness. If they do something harsh, that proves they are mean. If they do something nice, that proves they are a manipulative
142.
by paul 12y ago
It depends whether we're debating the actual person, or the fictionalized character depicted in the media. If you've never been on the other side of the news, you may not understand the difference.
143.
by paul 12y ago
What sort of evidence would convince you that someone isn't mean? I've know and worked with some of those people and not found them to be mean, but as other commenters have said, that makes no difference, because stories.
144.
by paul 12y ago
Settling a lawsuit proves that you're a mean person. Ok. I guess I'm a mean person too. You're right though that it comes down to definitions. I think the prevailing definition here is some closer to villain.
145.
by paul 12y ago
Did he do or say anything mean to you?
146.
by paul 12y ago
I think you're confusing mean with something else. Firing an employ who is not performing is not mean. Mean, at least in the way I think pg is using it, is more like you see in YouTube comments, and everyone has plenty of opportunity t
147.
by paul 12y ago
I'm sure they've all done something mean at some point, but it's a mistake to believe you know someone based on a collection of sensationalized stories. There's no point in arguing though. People will continue to believe
148.
by paul 12y ago
Do you actually know any of those people, or are you simply repeating media noise?
149.
by paul 12y ago
You retain control by coding it into your corporate bylaws. For example, you might have two board seats elected by common (the founders + employees), one board seat elected by preferred (the investors), and the ceo hired/fired by a maj
150.
by paul 12y ago
Too late. You probably already have a cell phone and probably already carry it with you most of the time.

More ›