How many summer Y Combinator fundees decided not to continue with their startup and go back to school? and what were the reasons?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3891

by sharpshoot • 19 years ago

15 21 19 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

sharpshoot2• 19 years ago

I know pollground decided to go back to school after getting y combinator funding

pg3• 19 years ago

Going back to school is not identical with giving up. Some founders go back to school and keep working on the startup while there. However, those do so much worse than the people who work on the startup full-time that going back to school seems, in practice, not too far removed from a death sentence for a startup.

Off the top of my head, I'd guess we've had about 8 startups where the founders went back to school. It doesn't only happen with summer batches. Founders from winter batches do it too.

Usually the reason is that the startup isn't doing very well. However, that judgement depends a lot on how determined the founders are. One reason we now shy away from funding people still in school is that they often unconsciously want the startup to fail, because the idea of dropping out frightens them.

A lot of startups look bad after 3 months. Someone who's out of school and has to make it work or get a job in a cubicle will say "don't worry, we'll figure out how to make it successful."

danielha3• 19 years ago

Were there any of the (approx.) 8 groups where you felt: "These guys are really close to having something. It's a huge mistake for them not to continue pursuing this."?

pg3• 19 years ago

Yes, but that is not surprising, because the biggest predictor of success is determination. In startups, merely being determined to succeed tends to make it so, if you're reasonably smart and flexible.

The Kikos are the only startup so far that has died of causes not of their own making. As everyone will soon realize when they launch justin.tv, they did not fail because of lack of balls.

Alex3917• 19 years ago

I would guess that most people afraid of dropping out lack the entrepreneur's mindset. That is:

Purpose of school (to the entrepreneur): Train to MSPW

Purpose of startup: MSPW

When viewed from that angle, the only thing to fear is that you won't be able to hack it yet. (no pun intended)

nickb• 19 years ago

MSPW?

danielha3• 19 years ago

There will invariably be those who don't see the success they set out for, and they fall back to their original path.

That's why a founder's commitment is so critical. When your one plan is to become a startup founder, regardless of school or any other factors, you will do your damndest to make something of value and succeed. It's part _doing_ it better than the next guy and _wanting_ it more than the next guy.

python_kiss3• 19 years ago

That is a good point! Dropping out of school is analogous to "buring all your ships". Sun Tzu writes that "put your enemies in a spot where they have no place to go, and they will die before fleeting. If they are to die then, what can they not do? Warriors exert their full strength. When warriors are in great danger, then they have no fear. When there is nowhere to go, they are firm, when they are deeply involved, they stick to it. If they have no choice, they will fight to death."

You do your "damndest" when your success depends on the success of your startup.

iamwil• 19 years ago

That's kinda funny. I've always read that passage to mean, those are the types of armies you don't want to be fighting against, since the best victory is victory where you don't have to fight at all and the opposing side just gives up. I never thought of it as advice to put your own people in a corner, so they have no choice but to fight their way out. I suppose morale had better be high, or else instead of "Prepare for glory", one can "prepare for slaughter."

jamongkad• 19 years ago

I guess it really depends on how hungry you are and how much you believe in your product. I'm only 24 and still in school as of the moment, yet I'm more than willing to leave school in order to initiate my start up. Come to think of it, I'm willing to travel half the world just to get advice and connections from YC.

sharpshoot2• 19 years ago

Where are you based jamonklad?

pg3• 19 years ago

I better get to work on messaging.

zaidf2• 19 years ago

For me school is a way to be connected to what is going on in the "real world". I entered school thinking it is EITHER school or entrepreneurship. But in last year my views have changed. I really think there is a middle path where you do JUST enough to stay in school all the while trying out new ventures. (May be the Steve Jobs route?)

School is an awesome platform to launch your site off and get quick feedback - ESPECIALLY if your venture fits in with the social networking ecosystem.

How many summer Y Combinator fundees decided not to continue with their startup and go back to school? and what were the reasons?

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