Ask PG: we don't have an idea, should we leave the yc application mostly blank?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=65563

by jotto • 19 years ago

5 19 19 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

how should we fill out YC application if we don't have an idea that we are really into? how can we solicit PG's ideas, and still prove we are hungry animals?

SwellJoe2• 19 years ago

OK, I think you're missing the point of the "the idea doesn't matter much at this stage" assertion by pg.

I'm not the keeper of pg's mind on this stuff, of course, but I'm pretty certain that pg and Co. would like to know that you are capable of having good ideas--even if it later proves to be unworkable, unmarketable, or otherwise wrong. Having no ideas at all is probably a danger sign.

You have to be able to recognize problems in order to solve them...so if you can't think of a single problem in the world today that needs solving that the skill set of your team would be uniquely qualified to solve, then you're probably not quite ready to do a startup. You clearly haven't seen enough of the real work world, if you can't think back on a hundred and one things that you or coworkers did in inefficient ways because there was no good alternative.

The note about the idea being fungible is just that--it's early, and you may end up changing your idea through the program, or YC might say, "This is stupid, but you seem pretty smart, anyway...how about we sit down and come up with something else?"

YC wants you to be hungry _and_ smart.

In short: If you want into YC, I'm pretty certain you should find some kind of idea.

dfranke• 19 years ago

PG announced at SS07 that they would start considering applicants with no idea. I still imagine it's better to have one, though.

pg2• 19 years ago

He's right, Joe, we did. So if people want to leave the idea parts blank, that's ok.

SwellJoe2• 19 years ago

Ah, yes. Now that you mention it, I remember it clearly (OK, not really clearly, but I do remember it). Of course, that makes me wonder how much can be gleaned from the application without an idea. But pg knows his business far better than I do.

nailer• 19 years ago

If you're a smart person with a record of implementing great things, have the skills we need (see http://www.crunchboard.com/item/22635744-Banquet-needs-a-PHP... ) but no idea of your own, join our idea - which is less of an idea and more a product at this point.

Email is mike.maccana PANTS gmail PANTS com. I'll be flying to the US on November 1-5 via LA and Boston provided we make it to the Cambridge YC meeting. Otherwise, we'll be continuing on as usual - our main coders based in California, we're looking for people who can move to SF if necessary.

brianmckenzie3• 19 years ago

You must be able to think of something.

Just ask yourself "What are the major pains in the ass I deal with on a regular basis, and can any of them be solved with technology?"

It's probably better to go in with a high-concept, far-fetched idea than no idea at all. Just see what you can come up with.

cstejerean• 19 years ago

Well, that's one way to come up with ideas. The other is to think "what would millions of people like to waste their time with".

brianmckenzie3• 19 years ago

Touche'.

That's another good strategy.

blader• 19 years ago

I have this great idea for a dating site ...

brianmckenzie3• 19 years ago

Funny you should mention that, I'm building this semantic search engine...

aston• 19 years ago

I think last time me and my buddies applied, I left the main idea part blank, then threw like 15 into the "anything else" section. Didn't get an interview, but did get a little bit noticed.

Ask PG: we don't have an idea, should we leave the yc application mostly blank?

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