YC’s motto is “make something people want”, which is a great objective for early stage startups.  Came across an extended version of it which is a level more profound  Good read  https://www.da...

YC’s motto is “make something people want”, which is a great objective for early stage startups.

Came across an extended version of it which is a level more profound

Good read - https://www.danhock.co/p/when-to-join-a-startup

Extended version of the YC motto

Investor

Extended version of the YC motto- Grapevine

Welcome to Business Roles's Private Community

The title speaks for itself.

As a fresher, should I focus only on developing my experience or should I care about funding, number of employees and all that stuff?

By the way this startup is a part of YC.

Working at a Pre-Seed or Seed stage startup?

Data Analyst

Welcome to Indian Startups's Private Community

Has anyone applied to YC? If yes what was your experience, what all have you done before applying to YC? What was your market segment? Any other stories and gyaan related to applying and working with YC please!

Experience with Y Combinator

Software Engineer

I have worked in startup’s all my life and I haven’t come across a single founder who has the sensibility to make it big. 

The last two years have burnt me out. I have been working 16 hours a day and have no time left for anything else. 

I have decided that I cannot work in startup’s anymore. But do MNCs even hire people who have only worked in startup’s and that too in a generalist role?

How can I get into a company with some degree of WLB?

I am sick of startups.

Head Of Growth

What’s the one big motivation that makes you work for a startup?

Drive to part of a startup

Program Manager

Welcome to Office Gossip's Private Community

I have worked at a YC startup and a non-YC one (Nexus backed). From my experiences YC one had very good work culture and business growth was rapid too. But Nexus backed startup gave me significant raise (10LPA to 18LPA). But the sample size is extremely low to conclude anything.

Also, whenever a YC backed company’s recruiter reaches me out, he or she is delighted to see a YC tag in my resume. But some recruiters give zero Fs. Few dont even know YC.

So,
1. Does a YC tag generally mean the startup is of higher in quality (work culture, team dynamics, business outlook etc.)?
2. Is a YC tag a plus point on resume while switching?

Does YC tag still have value?

MNC worked but didn’t liked the culture. Thinking to work in a startup and hoping for a good culture. Work life balance can not always be good ik.

Want to join startup

Software Developer

The only thing I wish all investment firms and YC taught founders was conducting themselves and talking with empathy and not using it as a buzzword. 

- How to put your point across without being a whiny bitch
- Dummies Guide for “Founders”
- Talk nicely, why won’t you?
- You’re reflecting. Poorly.

Dummies Guide for Founders

Content Strategist

Hello guys,
I would want to know what is the benefit of getting ESOPs in an early stage startup?
The startup has a great team and working on a promising product. 
I have been offered a package with somewhat lower fixed component and somewhat higher ESOPs. Need insightful pointers here. TIA :)

Value of ESOPs in early stage startups?

The ESOP is a bit of a blind bet.  
  
 It's paper money that can get you a windfall if all goes to plan and execution, solution, pricing, market readiness amongst other things, all line up over the next few years.  
  
 I wouldn't take a pay cut in lieu of ESOPs.  Keep the real money real and the paper money as an outside bet.

Sales Manager

Product Manager

Welcome to Software Engineers's Private Community

Hi Folks,

Want to understand what makes you stay at a startup vs shop around in other companies or leave after 6months- an year? 

Please tell things other than initial compensation because you can always find someone paying more. Assume a market standard here.

How to get people to stay at a startup?

Founder

A lot of folks working at startups seem to be "passionate " about their job. Some of them possibly, truly are. Some foolishly reverse engineer this passion because they're paid really well and they've been doing a good job and it's good personal PR to say "passion".  A few reality checks.

1. Your cool Bangalore lifestyle is a result of investment risks/bets taken by VC's .

2. Your salary is as much about the market demand as it is about your " passion " and talent.

3. Startups will generally lower the bar for hiring processes to meet their demand for talent. Why need so much talent? Because the startup  needs to spend that 100M$ Series C that just made them a unicorn. That's how they convince the VC to give more money. "We are going to 2x revenue by 2xing our salesforce and buying 10M$ worth of Saas that will increase our productivity by 5x. " And boom ...100M$ transferred into you SVB bank account.

4. You are as replaceable as a garbage bag on your dustbin. The HR is probably flirting with 10 other like you over linkedin.


5. The "values" this startup apparently espouses are mostly nothing but a honey trap and positioning to lure talent.

It's great to have a nice tech job that pays well and allows you to gloat on twitter like a techbro but don't let it fool you into getting an inflated sense of entitlement. You're probably living on borrowed time....and money. :)

" Passionate " Startup folks

Hi All, I am thinking of starting up in a space that in very passionate about and feel I have a unique insight. I also have a cofounder who I know from a long time from college when we studied comp science

What are some common pitfalls to avoid at the early stage of an startup?

Startup pitfalls to avoid

Business Development Manager

willl try my best to be honest, ask me anything

AMA - I work at a VC fund

Analyst

Hi folks, 

I'm Kashish, the CEO of EquityList and Founder of Cloud Capital which I run as a solo GP.
A little bit about what we do: 

EquityList is a full-stack equity management platform by AngelList India. Companies across India, US and Singapore use EquityList to manage their cap table, stock options (ESOP/SAR), shareholders, and related compliances. Managing equity for 10k+ stakeholders, 250+ companies and ~$1B in stock options.

Cloud Capital has deployed $8M+ in 55+ startups such as Airmeet, Rupifi, Orange Health, DevRev, ZET (OneCode) and others. I've also angel invested in startups such as OSlash, Atlys, Chronicle, Even Healthcare and others.

Excited to do this AMA, and look forward to answering any of your questions about ESOPs, cap table management, investing, entrepreneurship, and more!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kashisharma

Live AMA: Hey everyone, I'm Kashish, CEO of EquityList. Ask me anything!

Startup success is not a "lottery ticket" -- a framework for evaluating opportunities.

You Should Get Wealthy Joining Startups

Reading this feud on X. Any YC or Neo founders here who can spill more?

Any ☕ on YC vs Neo?

Generalist

Is this guy for real?

Product Designer

Not just about a fancy Startup

Business Analyst

Was reading the Steve Jobs book recently and realized he probably wasn't the easiest to work with / definitely did not create a great culture around him, especially in the early Apple years.

Remembered the movie on blackberry that I saw couple weeks ago and how it was this crazy, hard-ass ceo took charge and actually turned the company around, otherwise Blackberry would be nowhere in our memories today.

Do you think this is what is actually needed to build successful companies early on - and employee wellbeing and culture are things to be solved for later in the journey of a company?

Does a founder need to be abrasive / put company needs over employee needs for a startup to succeed?

Growth And Strategy

I am a fresher (2024 graduate), just got hired in June , got fired last week. The company had an absolutely shit culture , they hire and fire on a regular basis, I have 2 possibilities ahead,  join a startup(known people) at MVP stage but hasn't raised any funding yet, or search for another job, what to do?

Advice

Asking this on behalf of many founders like myself, wanted to collate across multiple inputs: what is it that VCs really want to hear/see from a startup? 

Would love to get inputs from VCs and other founders alike - basis your experience on what has worked what hasn't worked.

The usual suspects: obviously the founder credentials, TAM, insights, metrics. But, what else? 
Look forward to informed answers.

Extended version of the YC motto

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