How To Get Into Y Combinator

http://christophergolda.com/y-combinator-interview

by konsl • 17 years ago

17 16 17 years ago

alain94040• 17 years ago

And just in case you don't get accepted to YC: http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/04/07/you-didnt-make-it-to...

I'm just saying, because it's interview season and we already had at least 4 posts on the topic of how to get accepted... If everyone who read these posts got accepted, the YC building would have to add quite a few floors.

Good entrepreneurs are resilient, even in the face of early rejection.

konsl2• 17 years ago

If you don't know what to do if you aren't accepted, you shouldn't be applying in the first place.

CSunday• 17 years ago

lol, thanks...I definetly needed this!

I will be back, STRONGER THAN EVER!!!

BRadmin• 17 years ago

Is the link to your twitter purposefully crossed out to entice more clicks? Genius...

konsl2• 17 years ago

It's a (lame) joke, but who knows, maybe it will result in greater than 12.81% clickthrough :)

http://dustincurtis.com/you_should_follow_me_on_twitter.html

maxklein4• 17 years ago

How to get into YC:

* Be young, about to finish college, or just finished college and working on your startup

* Go to a name-brand school like MIT

* Done some open source project that may or may not be popular

* Done something a bit impressive

* Be able to write very good english

* Be U.S based

* Have a co-founder from a similar background as yours, and who you've known for a while

* Do something that sounds simple

* Build a personal brand here on this site

* In the video, be comfortable and project intelligence

That will get you to interview, assuming there are not more impressive people. When you interview:

* Don't give off a loser vibe

* Have a determined jaw and a friendly personality

* Communicate clearly what you want to build

* Make what you want to build something that in some way is in one of the major areas where there is potential (like money management or so)

* Be sure your idea is something the partners can relate to (i.e, not building huts in africa)

Yes, no need to point out the exceptions, I'm well aware.

ivankirigin• 17 years ago

The median age is something like 24 or 25, right? That's young, but not peach fuzzed.

chris1002• 17 years ago

Have a co-founder from a similar background as yours, and who you've known for a while

While your message is quite tongue-in-cheek, there is some truth to it and I wanted to follow-up on this comment.

From anecdotal experience, it seems that YC favors a team of technical founders. Whereas in a blog post today on VentureHacks, the authors recommend the tech/business pair.

So which is better? Two techies, or a slick biz plus a techie?

maxklein4• 17 years ago

What you really need is two nerds. But one should be nerdish in a direction where he does not mind book-keeping, writing blogs, ad number tracking and so on. He should still be able to program.

The other should be nerdish in a very geeky manner. If you have two linux freaks there, you'll have a company without vision. If you have two doe-eyed powerpoint pushers, you'll lack a product.

wheels2• 17 years ago

There is no right answer. Startup advice seems to only make sense in aggregate: you collect all of the opinions and try to map those to your situation.

nivi• 17 years ago

We weren't clear about the definition of a "seller" in the Venture Hacks post. I'll revise to say something like,

"The seller doesn't have to be a "salesman" or "business guy". He can be technical, but he must be able to wield the tools of influence. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs aren't salesmen, but they are sellers."

wheels2• 17 years ago

Honestly, this is sufficiently bad "advice" that the exceptions far outnumber the occurences.

maxklein4• 17 years ago

I would not really describe this as advice.

Keyframe• 17 years ago

In that case you don't need YC, YC needs you!

How To Get Into Y Combinator

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