It seems like the proper advice here is, "Network with your friends."

Agreed, one of the things I learned is that leads can come from anywhere.

Plus, if you're building something that is actually solving a problem for people that you know you might find that you get it right in fewer iterations than if you're only getting feedback from outside users. Being more familiar with the problem domain and the people most affected by it can certainly go a long way towards building something people can get excited about.

"Mudge submitted an early version of AtD to Y Combinator Demo Day, Spring '09 and was promptly rejected."

I imagine that YC rejects EVERYBODY that applies to YC DEMO DAY.

I'm not sure whether this is supposed to be a jokingly phrased insight or criticism or just a plain joke, but I don't get it. Would someone care to explain?

Demo Day is where all the startups in a round demo what they've been working on. Thus, applying then would be a bit late for that round and a bit early for the next.

Properly, but does the blogger who told the story know that?

Nice story, but it sounds more like a pet project which landed him a job rather than a company which was acquired.

He states "With Automattic, I am still an entrepreneur", but he's really not: He's an employee and his objective (to have a job again before he was 29) indicates that's his lifestyle preference.

Entrepreneurship isn't about finding a 'job' at another company, it's about making that company.

I thought it was making something from nothing and having an impact. Something to do with vision and all that other nonsense?

Nope. You can make tons of cool stuff and have an impact with loads of 'vision' as an employee, but you're not an entrepreneur if you're taking a paycheque and instructions from someone else.

Well, reading through your previous comments, you seem like a very knowledgeable guy who shares a lot here. I appreciate that. The insights and discussion from those who have made it and accomplished something great are why I come here.

This is a great story and I'm happy for Mudge, but I wish the story had been a bit more detailed. It pretty much boiled down to "he had this idea, some friends liked it so he didn't quit, he got acquired". When I saw the title, I was hoping for details on what made it all come together.