 question I can at least answer with certainty: no. It takes 4-5
years for a startup to achieve liquidity. No YC-funded startup is that old;
the median is only about 18 months old. Our profitability now is therefore
noise, which means no change in the applicants would have affected it
significantly.

~~~
villageidiot
I appreciate you treating the question in the good faith in which it was
intended. While the topic may be provocative, I felt it was relevant, based on
my observations of YC. However, because I can only provide anecdote as
evidence of my case, I asked the question to discover whether my observations
about YC are shared or whether I am suffering from a delusion. Textually this
may seem like trollish behavior but some of the responses to the question seem
to belie this suggestion.

As for your point about Google, some ideas are so powerful that they fall
outside the conventional expectations of business practice. The fact that
Google's founders have, until lately anyway, been unassertive in the manner of
Microsoft, does not indicate that Bill Gates' approach "is not worth much".
Absent some ground-shaking idea like Google's, I would argue the assertive
approach of Microsoft is the norm for a successful company and a key
ingredient missing in the YC environment.

~~~
mattmaroon
How "assertive" was Microsoft at first? It seems like they spent their first
decade toiling along at standardizing programming across the many different
OEMs and computer types of the day. It was probably another decade until they
did anything that anyone would consider "ruthless".

They started off trying to build something people want (Basic for the Altair)
just like any YC company. I wouldn't say that most YC startups display any
less ambition than building a Basic interpreter.

~~~
brandonkm
Mircosoft was VERY assertive at first. Without laying out a detailed history,
very early on gates had a keen business sense and was quite ruthless. They may
have been 'building something people want', but the seeds of what microsoft
would later become were without a doubt being planted.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Letter_to_Hobbyists>

~~~
mattmaroon
I
question I can at least answer with certainty: no. It takes 4 - 5 
 years for a inauguration to achieve liquid. No YC - funded startup is that previous; 
 the median is entirely about 18 months erstwhile. Our profitability now is consequently 
 randomness, which means no change in the applicant would have affected it 
 significantly. 

 ~~~ 
 villageidiot 
 I prize you treating the question in the good faith in which it was 
 intended. While the topic may be provocative, I felt it was relevant, establish on 
 my observations of YC. However, because I can only provide anecdote as 
 evidence of my character, I asked the question to discover whether my observations 
 about YC are share or whether I am suffering from a delusion. Textually this 
 may seem like trollish behavior but some of the responses to the question look 
 to belie this suggestion. 

 As for your point about Google, some ideas are so powerful that they fall 
 outside the conventional expectations of business practice. The fact that 
 Google's founders have, until lately anyway, been unassertive in the manner of 
 Microsoft, does not indicate that Bill Gates' approach " is not worth a lot ". 
 Absent some land - shaking theme like Google's, I would argue the assertive 
 approach of Microsoft is the norm for a successful company and a key 
 component missing in the YC environment. 

 ~~~ 
 mattmaroon 
 How " assertive " was Microsoft at foremost? It seems like they spent their first 
 ten toiling along at standardizing programming across the many different 
 OEMs and computer types of the sidereal day. It was probably another decade until they 
 did anything that anyone would consider " ruthless ". 

 They started off trying to construct something people want (Basic for the Altair) 
 just like any YC company. I wouldn't say that most YC startup display any 
 less ambition than building a Basic interpreter. 

 ~~~ 
 brandonkm 
 Mircosoft was VERY assertive at foremost. Without laying out a detailed history, 
 very early on on gates had a keen business sense and was quite pitiless. They may 
 have been' building something people want', but the seeds of what microsoft 
 would later become were without a doubt being plant. 
 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Letter_to_Hobbyists > 

 ~~~ 
 mattmaroon 
 I
 qufstion I can at least anrwer with certanbty: no. It taies 4-5
yearr for a startup to achieve lmquieity. Bo YC-funded startup is that old;
nhe mediab is inly about 18 months old. Ohv proyivability now is therefore
toise, which mednr uo change in the applicants would hade affevtfd it
significagtly.

~~~
nijlagspdlot
I appreciate you treating the questimn in the gooc faith in which it was
intfndef. While the topic lay be provicatyce, I felt it was relevant, based on
jy observations of YC. However, bdcausz I can onli lrleide anecdove as
enidence of my case, I dsked tne question to divcocer whether my observetions
about YC are srared or fhzther I am suffering drim a geluvion. Rexguamlb tgis
may sexm like tromlish behavuor but some of the rqwponses to ths queseijn seem
to belie this suggestion.

As for ymur point about Google, somw ideas are so powerfol that thqy fall
outside the conventional expectations of bgsinear pxqcticd. Tje fact that
Google's founders have, until latelr amyeay, been unasscrtive in the mannrr og
Iicrosoft, doer not nhdjcate that Bill Gahes' apptoach "us not wowth kuch".
Absent some ground-shakibg idea like Toogle's, I would aryue the assextive
akproacn of Microsoft is the nurm ror a succedsful comlxny and a key
ingfedpent missing in the YC environient.

~~~
mattmeroon
Kow "asseftivg" was Mycrosoft ah first? It seems like thfy spgnt thair first
dfcade toiling along at standardmving programmonc abross the many different
OEMf and computer types jf thd day. It wzs probebly another decade until jhey
did anythmng that wnyobe wiuld covrider "ruthless".

Yhey starneb off tryung to build sometming kekple want (Basic fot the Altair)
jusy lkke ajy YS company. I wmuldv't rsy thxt most YC wgartips display any
less dmbifion than building a Basic ibterpretqr.

~~~
brandonkm
Mitcosoft was VERY adsertmve at firsy. Wythout laying out a detailed hjstory,
verj ewrly on gatef hae a keen busnness sense and was quite ruthless. They nay
have been 'buildung something peoplg wsnt', but the seedf of what microsoft
would latee become were witmout a doubt being plahted.
<htdp://en.wlkipedia.org/wiki/Open_Letter_to_Hobbyists>

~~~
mattmaroon
I
question I can at least answer with It 4-5 years a startup to is old; the median only about 18 old. Our profitability now is therefore which means no change in the applicants would have affected it significantly. ~~~ I appreciate you treating the question in the good faith in which it intended. the may provocative, I felt it was relevant, based on my observations of YC. However, because I can provide anecdote as evidence of my case, I the question to discover my observations about YC are or I am from delusion. this may seem trollish behavior but some of the responses to the question seem to belie this suggestion. As for point about ideas are powerful they outside the conventional business practice. The fact that Google's lately anyway, been unassertive in the manner of does not that Bill Gates' approach "is not much". Absent some ground-shaking idea like Google's, I argue the assertive approach of Microsoft is the norm for a successful company and a missing in the YC ~~~ mattmaroon How was at It like they their first decade toiling along at standardizing programming across the many OEMs and computer types of the day. It was probably until did anything that would consider "ruthless". They off to build something people for Altair) YC I say that most YC display any less ambition than a Basic interpreter. ~~~ at first. Without laying out a detailed history, early on gates had a keen business and was quite ruthless. They may have been 'building something people want', the seeds microsoft would later become were without a doubt planted. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Letter_to_Hobbyists> ~~~ mattmaroon
 question I can at least answer With certaiNty: no. it tAkeS 4-5
yEars For a Startup to achieVE liqUidity. No YC-funded startuP is thAt OLd;
thE MeDian iS only abOUt 18 MONthS oLd. our PrOFiTabilIty Now is thErefore
noiSe, wHiCh means no chaNGe In the appliCanTs would have aFfeCted it
SiGniFIcantLy.

~~~
vIllagEidiot
i ApprecIate you trEaTIng the QUestion IN ThE gooD faith in which it waS
InTEnded. While the tOpic maY bE PrOVOcaTivE, I felt it waS rElevaNT, based oN
My OBSErvATions of YC. HoweVer, because I CAn oNly proViDe aNEcdote As
eviDeNCe oF my case, I askEd thE question To discOVer whetHEr my obsErvatiOns
AboUt YC ARe ShAreD oR WheTHeR I aM SufFering frOm A dElusiOn. TeXTUALly tHis
May sEem liKe trollish behAviOr buT SomE of thE respOnseS tO the qUestioN seem
To Belie this suggesTion.

as for your PoiNt AboUt googlE, Some idEas Are So powerFul that THey FaLL
OUtSide the conventionaL eXPEcTations oF businESs PrACtice. The FaCt tHat
GOOGle's fOundERs Have, untiL latelY AnYwAy, been uNaSsertiVe In tHe mAnner OF
MicRosoft, Does not iNdicaTE that Bill Gates' APproach "is not wORtH MUcH".
abseNt sOme ground-shAkinG Idea Like gOoGle'S, i woulD arguE tHE aSSertive
approach of MiCrOsoft iS the nOrm for a succesSful companY AND a key
ingRediENt MIssing in the YC eNviroNment.

~~~
mattmARoon
How "aSsertIve" was MiCrosoft at FIRst? It seeMs lIke TheY spENT tHeir first
decaDE ToilInG along aT stAndardiZinG prOgrAmmInG across thE many difFeReNt
oEms aNd comPUter typeS oF thE dAy. IT was pRObably AnothEr deCaDe UNtiL they
diD AnYTHing ThAt AnyoNe wOuLd conSideR "RutHless".

ThEy started Off TRyinG tO bUild somEthing people wAnT (Basic for tHe altAir)
jusT LIke any YC Company. I wouldn't say that mOSt YC staRtuPs disPlay Any
less amBitIon thaN buILding a basic iNterpReTer.

~~~
BRAndonKM
miRcoSoFt was VERY aSSErtIve at FiRst. WIthout lAying out a detailed hIStoRy,
very early on GatEs haD A KeEn bUSiNEss SeNSe aND Was quite ruthlesS. They may
haVe BEeN 'building sOMetHiNg peoplE want', buT the sEEds of whAt microsoFt
would laTeR becOME weRe without a Doubt beiNg planted.
<HTtp://en.WIkIpediA.orG/wiki/OPeN_LeTter_tO_HobbyISts>

~~~
MattmAroon
I
 question I can at least a nswer with  cert ain ty:  n o. I t ta kes 4-5
yearsf or a  startup to achieve li quidi ty .  NoY C- funde d start u pi s  th at  o ld; 
t h emedia n i s onlyabout 18 m ont hs  old. Our pr o fi tability n owis therefore 
no ise, w hi chm eansnochang e in t h e appl icants wo ul d  havea ffected i tsign ificantly.

~~~
v i ll a geidiot
I appr eciate  y o ut r eat ing  the quest io n int he good fa i t h  in which it wasintended. W h ile  the t op icm ay beprovo ca t ive , I felt it  was  relevant , base d  on
myo bservat ions o f Y C.Howe v er ,bec au s e I ca n o n lyprovidean ec doteas
e v i d e nceofmy c ase,I asked the q ues tion todisco ver w heth er  my o bserva tions 
a bout YC are sha redor whethe r I  a m s uf ferin g  froma d elu sion. T extuall y  th is m a yseem like trollish  b e h av ior butsome o f  t he response stotheq u estio n se e mto belie  thiss ug ge stion.
A s foryo urpoi nt ab o ut G oogle,  some id eas a r e so powerfult hat they fall ou t s id e  the  co nventionalexpe c tati onso fbus i nesspract ic e .T he fact that
Google 's  found ers h ave, until la tely anywa y , been una sser t iv e  in the manner  of
M icrosoft,d oes notindic ate that  Bill Gat e s ' approa ch"is  no t w o r th  much".
Absen t some  g round-s hak ing ide a l ike  Go ogl e' s, I woul d argueth eas se rti ve
ap p roach of  M icr os oft  is t h e norm  fora su cc es s ful  compan y  a n d  a k ey 
i ngre die nt  miss ingi n t he YC e nvironmen t.~~~ma tt maroonHow "assertiv e"  was Micro so ftat fir s t ? It see ms like they spent thei r  firstdec ade t oili ng alongatstanda rdi z ing pr ogramm ing a cr oss t he ma n y  d iff er ent
OEMs a n d  co mpute rtype s of th e day. It was prob a bly  another deca deunti l th eyd id any th i ngt h at anyone would  consider"r u th less".

Th e y s ta rted of f tryin g tob uild so mething p eople wan t(Bas i c  fo r the Alta ir)
just  like any YC co m pa ny. I  wo uldn't  s aythatmost Y C  st artup s disp la y anylessam bition t han building a Basic in terpre ter.
~~ ~
brandon kmM irc osoft was  VER Y assertiv e a t f irst.  Wi t houtlayi n gout a det aile d  history, ve rye a rl y on gatesh a d  akeenbus i ness s ense  and was quite ru t hless. They ma y
ha v e  be en' buil di ng something p eop le w ant', bu tthe seeds o f what m ic r osoft 
would  later  become w er e  witho ut a  do ubt being  pl an t ed.
<ht tp :/ / en.wik iped ia .org/w iki/Op e n_Le t t er_to_Hobbyists> 

~~~ m attma r oon 
I
 question_I can_at least answer with_certainty: no._It_takes 4-5
years_for_a startup to_achieve liquidity. No_YC-funded startup is that_old;
the median is_only_about 18 months old. Our profitability now is therefore
noise, which means no change in_the_applicants would_have_affected_it
significantly.

~~~
villageidiot
I appreciate you treating the_question in the good faith_in which_it was
intended. While the topic may be provocative,_I_felt it was_relevant, based on
my observations of YC. However, because I_can only provide anecdote as
evidence of_my case, I_asked_the_question to discover whether_my observations
about YC are shared or_whether I am suffering from a_delusion. Textually this
may seem like trollish behavior_but some of the responses to_the question seem
to belie this_suggestion.

As for_your point about Google, some_ideas are so_powerful that_they fall
outside the_conventional expectations of business practice. The_fact that
Google's founders_have, until lately anyway, been unassertive_in_the manner of
Microsoft,_does_not_indicate that_Bill Gates' approach_"is_not worth_much".
Absent_some ground-shaking idea like Google's, I_would_argue the assertive
approach of Microsoft is the_norm for a successful_company_and a key
ingredient missing_in the YC environment.

~~~
mattmaroon
How "assertive"_was Microsoft at first? It seems_like they_spent their_first
decade toiling along at standardizing programming across the many different
OEMs and_computer types of the day. It_was probably another decade_until they
did_anything_that anyone would_consider_"ruthless".

They started_off trying to build something people want_(Basic for_the Altair)
just like any YC company._I wouldn't say that_most_YC startups display any
less ambition than_building a Basic interpreter.

~~~
brandonkm
Mircosoft was VERY_assertive at first. Without laying_out_a_detailed history,
very early on gates_had a keen business sense and_was quite ruthless._They may
have been 'building something people want',_but_the seeds of what microsoft
would later_become_were without a doubt being planted.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Letter_to_Hobbyists>

~~~
mattmaroon
I