"We're sorry to say we couldn't accept your proposal for funding.
Please don't take it personally, because most of the proposals we
rejected, we rejected for reasons having nothing to do with the
quality of the applicants. For example, we were very reluctant to
accept proposals with only one founder, because we think starting
a startup is too much work for one person. We also had a higher
threshold for applicants who were still in school, groups where one
or more members planned to keep their current jobs, and groups that
couldn't all move to California. We rejected a lot of proposals simply
because we couldn't understand them, or didn't understand the problem
domain well enough to judge them, or because the project seemed too
big to start on only three months of funding. Sometimes we even
rejected good ideas, because another group proposed the same idea
and seemed further along.<p>We realize this process is fraught with error. It's practically
certain that groups we rejected will go on to create successful
startups. If you do, we'd appreciate it if you'd send us an email
telling us about it; we want to learn from our mistakes.<p>Thanks,<p>Y Combinator Staff"
Also, be grateful you weren't this guy.
<a href="http://distilled.wordpress.com/2006/02/23/ycombinator/" rel="nofollow">http://distilled.wordpress.com/2006/02/23/ycombinator/</a> I think they got an interview for the round after, not sure if they got in from there.
Thanks to all of the Y Combinator Staff for taking the time to read our application. I wish those who made it through best of luck with the interviews. To everyone who didn't, I'm going to keep going, I hope you will also!
It's a hard email to swallow, but I'm going to continue my work. I was excited at the idea to be a part of Y-Combinator; it's tough to entertain the idea of pursuing your product with the support of peers and successful people. Then realize you're not going to have a chance to WOW Y-Combinator at the interviews in November, nor will you be there in January to love the three months. I know my idea is great and I can make it happen, call me if you want to join in - you have my number.
I kind of take it like a diss from a girl.<p>I just want to find a hotter girl with bigger, better assets and make sure that one girl that didn't give me a chance see's that she really lost out. Maybe even send her a nice sex tape.
We got that e-mail, but I promptly replied that they sent us the wrong one. Still waiting for the Boston invite. ;)<p>Will be interesting to see who got the invite and goes through to the 3 months. Does any one document this?<p>Congrats to all who made it!<p>R.
What is important is that YCombinator has already built a community even by rejecting most of applicants.<p>Don't loose a chance to network, cooperate and succeed, we all are in a great team over here!
Good thing they're finally out. I've been driving myself crazy for the past week. (no dice here)<p>Frankly, now that the worry and anxiety is over, I can now focus my leftover time on building my idea.