Oddly enough, "Why did we fund you again?" is not an uncommon question at the first office hours. Often when we fund a startup, it's because of something they could do in the future. So at the first office hours when they describe what they're currently doing, that doesn't always include what we liked about the idea.
You shouldn't apply to YC if...<i>you don’t have the heart and the team to go through five product pivots in three months and back...</i> (from article)
"Even if you feel unsure about your current idea, just apply. Ideas change, awesome teams don't."<p>Don't think you can say it better than that. Nice article crowdboosters
you cannot take constructive criticism, cannot take risks, cannot sell ice to Eskimos, do not have a sense of quirky nerd humor, and most importantly if you do not like eating cereals for breakfast, lunch and dinner for weeks at a time as money is getting tight in your startup budget.
Obviously you guys were a good fit for YC, both in terms of culture and ability.<p>What I wonder is, what percentage of applications are completely unsuitable for YC?<p>What percentage of applications can basically be ruled out as competition?
I actually felt my heart pumping each time I read "## days until Demo Day". That's how starting a business should feel. Money's running out, time is running out, energy is running out. How are we going to make this work, today?
Great post, David! I remember the beginning days and hearing the story as it happened. Nice to read the whole story in one well-written article. Keep it up!
"Ricky and I met Mark at Startup School in October 2009 (I guess we have to begrudgingly thank Berkeley for at least that much)"<p>Hehe. As a bear I say Grrr... =D