Ask HN: What percentage of Y Combinator apps are successful/profitable?

I'd like to narrow the question down to which companies are profitable.<p>Successful and "make it big" are subjective. Profitable isn't. You either are or you aren't.<p>I don't work there or know anyone at the company personally, but I'll start the list with one that I remember reading was profitable pretty much right out of the gate: GazeHawk

This question comes up a lot.<p>PG says "We don't know ourselves yet, because it takes so long for startups to exit. But we have a decent idea how many are successful at the next stage after YC-- the number who are either able to raise more after YC, or don't need to because they're profitable (or in very rare cases acquired). I think for the winter 2010 batch the percentage was in the low to mid 80s."<p>VIA - <a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1694832" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1694832</a><p>PG previously said "According to our data, 98/145 or 67.6% of companies we funded in s2009 or before are funded and/or profitable and/or acquired."<p>VIA - <a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1185345" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1185345</a><p>More resources:<p>Current list of HN startups and spin-offs?<p><a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1825396" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1825396</a><p>What percentage of YC startups make it and what percentage fail?<p><a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1276356" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1276356</a><p>Spreadsheet listing all YC-Startups, exits etc:<p><a href="https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkkhSN3vaY4jdF90b1l1Vnl5NmZjaTBNQWlJYVozMEE&#38;hl=en#gid=20" rel="nofollow">https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkkhSN3vaY4jdF90b1l...</a>

There used to be a good list on Wikipedia but it's been "deletionated" over the past few years.

There was a really nice google spreadsheet on HN once that showed all the startups in more than just YC. If I remember correctly, it's purpose was to show which startups in each incubator were dead/still active/got acquired. You could go off of that list and actually do it for more than just YC. I've been looking for the OP but I can't seem to find it.

I like your question! Most YC Companies have been named and written about -- why don't you do the research and write it up for us?

There's no way to know yet. Most YC companies haven't had their fate determined yet.

Here are a list of different incubator companies and acquisition price... doesn't answer your question, but may help. <a href="https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkkhSN3vaY4jdF90b1l1Vnl5NmZjaTBNQWlJYVozMEE&#38;hl=en#gid=20" rel="nofollow">https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkkhSN3vaY4jdF90b1l...</a>