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Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by bigthboy on Thursday October 30, 2008 @02:03AM (#348482)
Didn't make it but we're still moving forward. I mean, its not like PG and Ycombinator is the ONLY way to make a start-up work. What about those billions of them that came before YC existed?
Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by rodmaz on Thursday October 30, 2008 @09:14AM (#348674)
We didn't make it. We seriously believe we have a strong aplication: experienced people (developers), revenue model, an advanced demo, and already very very good reviews from other people. I am sure now that YC looks at two things basically: -a team larger enough to have at least 2 guys working full-time until Demo Day (we had only one) -younger coders (20-28) at most. We are 29, 31 y.o.

If you don't have those two things, you probably didn't make it in this round, since it was more competitive, even if you had a demo and your solution was very interesting.

Needless to say, we will move forward faster than ever now. Most of the negative things I got in life turned out to be positive later if I look backwards. I hope it's true with YC rejection too. :)

Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by icey on Thursday October 30, 2008 @10:20AM (#348710)
A lot of people have been funded who were older than you guys; so I seriously doubt that's part of their criteria.
Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by satyajit on Thursday October 30, 2008 @03:23PM (#349046)
If you think 29/31 is old - what about me? 37? I am doomed, LOL! Somewhere in his essays, PG mentioned that startups are achievable within 21 to 38 yrs of age. So I was thinking this is my last chance - what the heck? I will still do it, because I believe in it and my users do!
Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by green on Thursday October 30, 2008 @12:05PM (#348788)
I am afraid I have to agree with rodmaz's "findings" as for the criteria of selection.
Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by stevexd on Thursday October 30, 2008 @12:56PM (#348845)
I applied knowing my company didn't fit the profile and that my chances were slim (one founder, a couple decades out of college, family, not based in MV or Boston.) Rejection is never pleasant, but the experience was positive overall and I take my hat off to Y Combinator for pioneering this unique approach to helping startups. I know other investors are watching closely and some are beginning to emulate them. All good. It would be most helpful if YC could provide statistical profiles of companies that applied and those that made it to the next round. Would also be interesting to know how many YC is planning to fund (given the current economic stituation.)
Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by satyajit on Wednesday October 29, 2008 @11:35PM (#348392)
Nope, we didn't make it. Just saw the email. But we are NOT depressed. We still are believers!
Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by gqwu on Thursday October 30, 2008 @12:05AM (#348410)
Our group submitted 4 apps. We got a PG question on two of them. Still got rejected on all 4, sucks...
Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by satyajit on Thursday October 30, 2008 @01:07AM (#348448)
What's a PG question?
Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by gqwu on Thursday October 30, 2008 @01:47AM (#348468)
He asked some followup questions. Showed up at the top of HN when you login, or check http://news.ycombinator.com/ycquestions
Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by ktom on Wednesday October 29, 2008 @11:40PM (#348396)
Didn't make it,

kind of crushing. I'll admit I am depressed.

Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow

Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by nolanbrown23 on Thursday October 30, 2008 @01:20AM (#348455)
We got a question and thought we offered a pretty sufficient response but no joy.
Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by fernyb on Thursday October 30, 2008 @09:34AM (#348688)
How do we know if we made it? I didn't receive any email. Though I did receive a call from a blocked number last night, but I didn't hear it ring and no voice mail was left. Maybe... I doubt it though.
Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by thorax on Thursday October 30, 2008 @09:46AM (#348693)
Be sure to check your spam box for the email. Mine went there, strangely.
Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by durdn on Thursday October 30, 2008 @03:30PM (#349054)
mine went there too, on gmail.
Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by fernyb on Saturday November 01, 2008 @10:56PM (#351133)
yeah I didn't make the cut, and thats where it ended up in my spam!
Re:Ask HN: Passed the first selection for YC 2009? Share you... by greg_helfer on Wednesday October 29, 2008 @11:39PM (#348395)
Did you get any questions from YC during the process?