By Jason Shen
ABOUT THE BOOK
This advisor started as a sequence of private notes to assist neighbors and friends drawn to using to Y Combinator. Its major objective is to light up the YC method and to equip you with principles and ways to carry out the easiest on your software. learn it as you are going to peruse prolonged notes from an extended espresso assembly after which pass use it to make your software stronger.
My identify is Jason Shen and that i utilized with cofounders to YCs summer time 2011 batch we have been lucky to get in. This was once my first time utilizing to YC, and Ridejoy is my first tech startup. Im nontechnical, yet occurred to have technical acquaintances (and roommates) who either labored at startups. Im conscious of how fortunate i'm to be during this position.
We obtained loads of support from pals and YC alumni while getting ready our software, so i needed to make this consultant to provide again. operating with YC has certainly been a game-changer for me and my startup wouldn't exist without it. I clearly wish that this consultant leads you to an analogous position, and gives you the advantages Ive received.
Disclaimer: This advisor is predicated on completely my own event and judgement, conversations with YC alumni, and issues that Paul Graham and folks have written and/or said approximately moving into YC. Act in this recommendation at your personal discretion if issues cross good, congratulations! If issues cross poorly, you settle to carry me innocuous (though if youre relatively distraught, I might purchase you a beer).
MEET THE AUTHOR
Jason Shen is the co-founder of Ridejoy - a Y Combinator-funded neighborhood market for ridesharing. His web publication, The artwork of Ass-Kicking, has been featured by means of Lifehacker and ReadWriteWeb. Jason studied biology and philosophy at Stanford the place he led the men's gymnastics workforce to an NCAA nationwide championship.
EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK
Get to the purpose Fast
Y Combinator got over 2,000 purposes for YC in S11 and an identical quantity for W12. There are a complete of ten companions who learn the essays and YC additionally asks a few founders for suggestions, however the sheer variety of functions, paired opposed to time constraints, ability the 1st run-through of your app is particularly very short.
Tedious, hand-wavey and typically illustrative math follows:
According to PG, each accomplice reads each app. companions examine 700-1000 apps (after the 1st culling via YC alums) over a interval of approximately 10 days. Assuming an eight hour day with five minute breaks each one hour potential each one program, on commonplace, will get approximately 2 mins of every companions time. (440mins in step with day / ~85 apps consistent with day = 5.2 minutes in line with app)
The takeaway here's you'll want to get to the purpose speedy and make each solution subject. on the finish of the day, not anything concerns other than that they are saying oh shit, this group is actually smart/over-the-top hardworking/resourceful/can get issues done/likes every one other/could effectively construct an excellent startup. imagine continuously approximately how one can galvanize with substance, now not kind (unless the fashion is on your product). provide numbers in the event that they look huge, and clarify issues within the such a lot favorable manner possible.
Note: Its very important that you simply dont ever lie or say whatever fake. yet simply as you dont talk about your paintings week within the related solution to your boss as on your buddy on the bar be very conscious of the way your program comes throughout. they should first take into accout you and secondly imagine youre legitimate. and you've got little or no time to make your case.
Buy a duplicate to maintain reading!
CHAPTER OUTLINE * advent: advisor To Y Combinator * Acknowledgements * Readme * bankruptcy 1: history * YC, Ridejoy, and Me * bankruptcy 2: Why practice * the method * bankruptcy three: easy suggestion * the simple Stuff * bankruptcy four: The staff * In strong corporation * comparing the Founders * ...and even more