Ask YC: Accepted YC and regret it?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=183187

by nadim • 18 years ago

28 10 18 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

This question is directed to those that applied and have been accepted into YC (both presently and in the past). Was it worth it? Would you do something else with your time knowing what you know about the program now? Any regrets?

dhouston• 18 years ago

nope, totally worth it (dropbox, summer 07)

veeneck• 18 years ago

best decision we have made. YC takes away the distractions and responsibilities of daily life, which allows you to focus on building a product -- all while sharing the experience with great people.

ryan• 18 years ago

If this is your first startup, then it's definitely worth it.

We weren't 100% sure going in, but coming out can say it was absolutely the right move.

zellunit• 18 years ago

Completely agree. At worst you fail, but you learned how to work hard, you gained access to some awesome tech circles, and you will be better off next time. As long as you fail fast and learn from your mistakes there's absolutely no downside.

In the best case, you're Xobni or Loopt or Reddit or Scribd. Seems like a no-brainer.

(Summer 07)

SwellJoe• 18 years ago

No complaints. We heartily recommend it. (Virtualmin winter 07)

I believe the three months was worth the equity, and we're still able to call on them when we need some advice or an introduction. My only hesitation in recommending YC to any relatively inexperienced entrepreneur would come from the increasing size of the programs...but I'm a serious introvert and I don't like crowds, so I might be judging the impact it has incorrectly.

But, it's hard to argue that YC doesn't have a very real positive impact on the companies it funds. The success rate, given how early they invest, is quite high so far, and the biggest successes are yet to come.

jamiequint• 18 years ago

worth it. Check the 1/(1-x) equation (where x is percent equity given away and the result is the percentage of additional value that must be provided to make giving up that equity make sense) usually with YC this is 1/(1-.06) which is ~6.4%. YC easily provides that value. (jamie - snaptalent - winter 08)

altay• 18 years ago

Do it.

Worst case scenario, you'll learn a lesson or two the hard way. But they're going to be some pretty great lessons, and you're going to meet some pretty great people along the way. (MightyQuiz, winter 08)

immad• 18 years ago

I haven't met any YC company that had regrets. Its not really the kind of experience one can regret.

dshah• 18 years ago

I think you meant not the kind of experience one should regret. People are capable of regretting just about anything.

andreyf• 18 years ago

There's an obvious sampling error in asking people who hang out at news.YC...

Ask YC: Accepted YC and regret it?

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