Y Combinator S12 Demo Day Batch 1

http://techcrunch.com/2012/08/21/yc-demo-day-s12/

by kacy • 14 years ago

44 21 14 years ago

9GAG? Really? I don't want to live on a planet where 9GAG gets into YC. The others look pretty innovative. It would be nice to see some more robotics stuff. And work place collaborative stuff. But internet curated memes? sigh

ktsmith• 14 years ago

I was surprised to see 9GAG in there as well but the reality is it's probably going to make a good amount of money. It's a magnification of all the worst parts of reddit which are also extremely popular.

jack-r-abbit7• 14 years ago

True about the money. I suppose that is why we still have Jersey Shore getting produced... AND a spin-off! double sigh

natrius• 14 years ago

It's "make something people want," not "make something people will think is noble."

emmett3• 14 years ago

Are you against the funding because you think 9gag will fail and YC will lose money on the deal, or because you think 9gag will be successful but you wish it weren't?

jack-r-abbit7• 14 years ago

I don't think my answer falls into the two options you presented. Also, I'm not sure how we even measure success/failure anymore. A site can be a huge success and still be a bad investment. Ask anyone holding Facebook stock. (yes... horrible, horrible example... I know... but you can see where I'm coming from... right?) I'm not sure what about 9GAG stands out among all the many, many other lame sites just like it. I find most of those sites to be trash, but to each their own. One man's trash is another man's treasure. I don't know how any of them make any money. But I guess the people who pick the winners see something here.

geuis• 14 years ago

Why? Reddit was yc-funded. http://alexisohanian.com/our-y-combinator-summer-05-applicat...

Given reddit's success, YC certainly has historical data to know that this type of business can be successful.

jack-r-abbit7• 14 years ago

I only end up on Reddit when I accidentally click on a link I didn't know was going there. It looks like trash too.

kgp7• 14 years ago

Really excited for the BufferBox and Plivio guys !

jack-r-abbit7• 14 years ago

BufferBox looks really nice. I like that kind of thinking. Solving a real world problem.

damncabbage2• 14 years ago

I'm curious; what gets you excited about Plivio?

iceron• 14 years ago

I like Kippt. I just wish their was a service like it where I didn't have to worry about any of my saved content becoming public. Or that it might be acquired and then I have to start over (I'm looking at you, Spool). For now, I suppose I will continue to use Kippt. Their search needs some work, though.

graue• 14 years ago

I was thinking the same thing. I'd love it if they grew like Dropbox, charging users who extract more value from their service so that they can stay independent. The pro offering for $25 is a good sign in that direction. Still a tiny bit worried about them getting acqui-hired though.

GFischer• 14 years ago

The ones I'm most exited about are BufferBox and Double.

BufferBox solves a real pain point for me (to the point I was thinking about setting up something similar here in Uruguay, but I don't have the cash).

And Double would be great for everybody who can't afford to travel constantly for meetings (both time AND money), though face-to-face meetings aren't going away anytime soon (too much off-band communication, relationship building, etc..).

EvanKelly• 14 years ago

What's the time horizon on something like FundersClub being open to non-accredited investors due to the recent law being passed that takes away some investment restrictions?

damncabbage2• 14 years ago

Anyone else see "Airbrite" and furrow their brow?

(I don't know if there are grounds for a trademark infringement nastygram from Eventbrite, given they're in the same space.)

DigitalSea• 14 years ago

It seems in the ideas pond, people are combing up dry or Y Combinator have set their standards at a new low. Seriously, 9GAG, Imgfave and Kippt are the most unoriginal ideas for websites I have ever seen. I hate to be negative and cynical but am I the only one that sees no true value in these particular "startups"?

For starters any startup that pens itself as "A Pinterest for..." or "A Reddit for..." I wonder what is going through the minds of any investor or person who thinks these are legitimate ideas for websites trying to mirror the success of other sites by doing nothing new.

One of the startups that almost didn't make it into YC, "Bufferbox" is probably the best startup by far YC have opted to support. As for the others, most will fail because they're nothing exciting.

Y Combinator S12 Demo Day Batch 1

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