Y Combinator is an American seed accelerator launched in March 2005 and was used to launch over 2,000 companies including Dropbox, Airbnb, Stripe, Reddit, Optimizely, Zenefits, Docker, DoorDash, Mixpanel, Heroku.
I have come across several statements such as: a single person cannot raise money on their own (you need to be in a team of at least 2 people), it is not worth it because there is pressure on you, etc.
What is your experience with raising money?
What did it give you, and who did you raise it from?
What do you think helped you to a large extent to get the raise?
credit the program with transformational guidance and momentum, calling it the best accelerator and a life-changing experience. Broader users praise the community, practical resources like essays, videos, and SAFEs, and a network that empowers rather than hand-holds. A few ask for more support for non-admitted startups. Overall: an elite launchpad with unmatched alumni access, clear frameworks, and durable founder confidence.
YC changed our lives. Speaking for myself, I had no idea how to do a start-up when we went through YC the first time around with Citus Data. YC has also been instrumental for Ubicloud, so wanted to give a shoutout.
As part of YC W23, we’ve experienced firsthand how YC accelerates growth. The mentorship, network, and focus on building what users need are unmatched.
Thanks to Paul Graham's advice and Y Combinator, I learned to create products that people truly need, and one of them is ProblemHunt. It's hard to put my gratitude into words, but I'm sincerely thankful to you guys. I really hope we can meet in person soon. 🙏