Ask YC: Accepted YC and regret it?

Posted by nadim on Wednesday May 07, 2008 @01:30AM
from the self-post dept.

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?

( 10 comments | 28 points | on HN )

Re:Ask YC: Accepted YC and regret it? by SwellJoe on Wednesday May 07, 2008 @02:55AM (#183220)

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.

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Re:Ask YC: Accepted YC and regret it? by ryan on Wednesday May 07, 2008 @02:49AM (#183217)

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.

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Re:Ask YC: Accepted YC and regret it? by zellunit on Wednesday May 07, 2008 @02:11PM (#183617)

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)

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Re:Ask YC: Accepted YC and regret it? by immad on Wednesday May 07, 2008 @04:05AM (#183245)

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

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Re:Ask YC: Accepted YC and regret it? by dshah on Thursday May 08, 2008 @10:35PM (#185161)

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

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Re:Ask YC: Accepted YC and regret it? by altay on Wednesday May 07, 2008 @03:59AM (#183242)

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)

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Re:Ask YC: Accepted YC and regret it? by jamiequint on Wednesday May 07, 2008 @03:50AM (#183238)

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)

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Re:Ask YC: Accepted YC and regret it? by veeneck on Wednesday May 07, 2008 @02:47AM (#183216)

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.

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Re:Ask YC: Accepted YC and regret it? by andreyf on Wednesday May 07, 2008 @06:28PM (#183946)

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

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Re:Ask YC: Accepted YC and regret it? by dhouston on Wednesday May 07, 2008 @01:53AM (#183199)

nope, totally worth it (dropbox, summer 07)

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