Precis’ Post

I got into Y Combinator without a product. Here is the story. I had applied to YC once before and had gotten rejected. But when applying again, I made sure I did the following- 1. We wrote very to the point, honest and articulate answers in our application. 2. Got all our answers reviewed by some of the top alumni. 3. Since our product was not ready yet, we spent a lot of effort on creating graphics to showcase "what the product does, what problem, we are solving and why we are doing it now” 4. I personally reviewed our application 5-7 times and applied at the last minute, was up the entire night. 5. We made sure the founder video was as clear as it can be since that was the only shot we had at showing our founder personalities. We were in double minds whether to apply or not as we were already in the middle of our seed round and had a few term sheets but we went ahead anyway because it was YC. And we got in. "Getting into YC was the best experience in my startup journey. And it probably will still be till we get to 100m in revenue" If you are looking to apply to YC and need some help, do reach out! #yc #startup #story

How to grow product fast? 1. “25% of the startups in every Y Combinator class could become billion-dollar companies,” wrote Sam Altman when he was still at YC, “but in reality only a few did.” 2. The main reason, according to Altman, is that during the accelerator the founders focused on only three things - a) how to create a product that users will want and love, b) how quickly we are growing and c) how to do all this before demo day 😉 3. And after graduating from YC, they began to do “not real work” - strategic planning, business process optimization, conducting market and user research, building a corporate structure, software refactoring, speaking at conferences, flashing on social networks and everything else like that . 4. Which, of course, is also important. But if you start doing all the equally important things, they automatically become equally unimportant 😉 So the founders, and after them their companies, began to lose the momentum gained in YC - gradually sliding down the inclined plane. 5. You can’t lose focus on two main things - a) creating a product that users will love, and b) achieving targeted growth targets within a given time frame. #productstory

🌟 One year at Accelio! 🌟   It’s officially been one year since I joined the team at Accelio! Reflecting on the past year, it’s been a journey full of challenges, wins, and invaluable learnings.   Some of my favourite takeaways:   🎯Focus on impact: Delivering value to stakeholders goes beyond sharing knowledge or opinions—it’s about what truly makes a difference. 📖Strategy as a narrative: Framing strategy as a story helps people process and connect with it naturally. 🤔Comfort in discomfort: Sitting with uncertainty (and resisting the urge to jump to conclusions) allows better decisions once the right information emerges. ✈️ Plan for traffic: Always leave enough time between workshop debriefs and flights—peak hour traffic will catch you out every time! 😂   I’m incredibly lucky to work alongside amazing people 🙌 and can’t wait to see what the future brings! 🚀 #startup #design #consultancy #team #strategy

🌟 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 🌟 What a journey it has been, evolving from a curious 19-year-old intern at EY to now, navigating the dynamic world of startups and venture capital. Every role, every switch, and every move beyond my comfort zone—be it to a new role or a new city—has shaped me, strengthened me, and helped me mature like fine wine in this corporate ecosystem. Grateful to Vijay Gopalan for believing in me and giving me my first big break into the PEVC world, shaping my journey in investing. Fast forward to the last 2.5 years at Inflection Point Ventures (IPV)—a transformative phase where I realized that people skills often outshine technical skills as you grow. A special thanks to IPV leadership team and Vikram Ramasubramanian for playing a pivotal role in this mindset shift. At IPV, I had the privilege of working closely with portfolio founders to create an impact by driving growth, facilitating synergies (GTM access) and optimising margins. I also had the opportunity to dive deep into investment evaluation and co-lead deals across sectors such as D2C, climate tech, deeptech, and B2B SaaS. Thanks to Vinay Bansal, Ankur Mittal and Mitesh Shah for being the best mentors and support systems throughout. 💡 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 • Building 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 is a game-changer. • 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 drives exponential growth. • Staying 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 and relentless in 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 are non-negotiables. Special thanks to Gautham Sivaramakrishnan for introducing me to world of startups back in 2019 and being that guiding light all throughout my journey! A simple 'thank you' to Divya Ramkumar feels inadequate for being my unwavering pillar of support and constantly encouraging me to pursue what I’m doing today. As I transition into a new role with another 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝, I’m excited to continue working with founders, empowering innovation, and driving growth across the ecosystem. Here’s to the next chapter— More updates to follow soon! 🚀 #Gratitude #startupecosystem #startups #founders #VentureCapital

Bidding Farewell to an Incredible Journey at 100X.VC Sometimes, the right opportunity comes at just the right time. For me, joining 100x.vc was exactly that - a chance to stay connected to the startup ecosystem, learn from some of the most inspiring founders, and witness firsthand how innovation is shaping industries. The experience was nothing short of transformative. From engaging with trailblazing founders to lively lunch-table debates with brilliant colleagues, every moment was a learning opportunity. Sejal Agarwal Harshita Shrivastav Jainish Rathod Prakruti Mukul Shreya Hasurkar Saachi Mehta Vatsal Parikh Prakharr J Shaw Parivesh Sharma Chitra Kesarwani Neha Kulthia Aryan Tyagi Smeet Mehta Tirth Sura , you guys were fun and amazing to work along. Key Learnings I’ll Carry Forward: 1. Scale or fail - Keep trying, and keep trying harder. Either you’ll scale or learn from failing. Ninad Karpe 2. Data-driven decisions - "Anyone other than God, talk to me with data." Always do your homework and back your opinions with evidence. Yagnesh Sanghrajka 3. Take the shot – Be precise and to the point. A shot not taken is a shot lost. Shashank Randev 4. Stay curious - Always be a learner, no matter where you are. Vatsal Kanakiya 5. Clarity is key - Simplicity and clarity in communication go a long way. Utpal Doshi To the incredible founders whose pitches I had the privilege of listening to- you’re a testament to hunger and passion in action. Keep striving, innovating, and disrupting! As I bid farewell to this enriching chapter, I’m grateful for all the lessons, the relationships, and the inspiration I’ll carry forward into the next phase of my journey. Here’s to scaling new heights and staying curious! Will be sharing all my insights and learning shortly from VC perspective! Founders stay tuned. #journey #fun #learnings #team #startups #investors

Just returned from an inspiring retreat with Y Combinator and we're buzzing with new insights and energy! 🌟 The retreat was packed with incredible activities, from ice sculpting and pickleball to fascinating talks by both founders and group partners. Here are some key takeaways that stuck with me: - Resilience is Key: Embracing uncertainty and learning to deal with anxiety positively can make a huge difference. - User-Centric Approach: Truly understanding our users and their needs is crucial to developing products that make a real impact. - Cofounder Relationships: Building strong bonds and fostering open communication with your cofounders can be a game-changer. - Good Taste in Products: Developing a strong opinion on product quality by deeply understanding our users’ lives and preferences is vital. Be ready to adapt if new signals contradict your assumptions. A huge thank you to Tom Blomfield, David Lieb, Tyler Bosmeny, Brad Flora, Nate Smith, and all the other awesome YC Group Partners, who shared invaluable wisdom and guided us through the sessions. Also, it was incredible to connect with so many brilliant founders who are on similar journeys. Your stories and insights are truly inspiring! Looking forward to applying these lessons as we continue to build Educato AI (YC S24) with Pierre-Louis Monnot and Codrut L. and make a meaningful impact in the world of online exam prep. Stay tuned for more updates! 🚀 #YCombinator #StartupJourney #EdTech #Startups #Innovation #Founders #Resilience #UserFocus

How did Y Combinator, which started with just $200k in capital from its founders who “wanted to learn how to be angel investors”, become the most influential early-stage investing firm in the world? The acceleration of an accelerator, by the numbers. 📊 At the end of March, Forbes reported that the company was raising $2 billion for its bi-annual accelerator and follow-on investments—10,000x the capital that the founders first put in. 📊 Its most recent batch of applicants had an acceptance rate of less than 1%. 📊 A staggering 64% of the 2024 winter batch of YC had "AI" or “AI-related” tags in their Y Combinator company profile in the company’s startup directory. https://lnkd.in/eesFhiyR

Hey founders, Y Combinator is accepting applications from startups. Would it be interesting to know Fluently experience on how we got accepted? 18% of YC companies are valued at $100M+ and 4% have become billion-dollar companies. If you're building a startup or even just have an idea, you should apply to the Fall batch. To help increase your chances, I preparing a doc with my personal experience: 🔸 Tips for filling out the Y Combinator application 🔸 How we raised $270k in our pre-seed round before YC 🔸 Examples of successful YC applications 🔸 Fundraising advices for early-stage startups What would you like to see included? Share your thoughts! 🚀 Comment below, and I'll share the slides with you once they're ready

It was an amazing chat at Genesis StartUp Academy together with Meta! 💫 Check out a few takeaways 👇 As part of the program, F1V General Partner Vital Laptenok recently moderated an insightful talk with: ◾ Daniel W. Dippold, Co-founder at EWOR ◾ Matěj M., Associate at Credo Ventures ◾ Maxim Frenkel, Investor at Blossom Capital ◾ Tunya Irkad, VC at 500 Emerging Europe ◾ Paddy Dillon, Investor at Left Lane Capital The discussion covered the current fundraising landscape and what investors are looking for in founders. The investors shared a few things startups should focus on to raise funding at early stages 🔽 ✔️ Pre-seed (and other early stages): Share monthly updates with potential investors to show how your startup is reaching new milestones, even if you don't have much traction yet. ✔️ Series A stage: Focus on post-product-market fit, emphasizing commercial milestones like product usage metrics and overall growth efficiency (it's not solely about revenue). ✔️ AI startups: Investors are moving beyond the "low-hanging fruit" in generative AI. They’re now looking for founders with niche expertise and unique ideas on how AI can be applied, combined with fast product development and execution. Thanks to TRMNL4 and all the participants for this great discussion! 💛 #paneldiscussion #startupacademy #vc #founders #startups

🚀 Why are Y Combinator and Techstars so successful? It’s not just about funding or attracting top investors, and it’s more than just the buzz of legendary demo days. The key? A proven exit strategy. These accelerators showcase impressive portfolios of companies that have either been acquired or IPOed—a true measure of success. They deliver real outcomes for startups, setting a high standard in the ecosystem. Now, look at Africa’s ecosystem. With hundreds of programs running, how many can highlight such exits? How many can show a clear path to acquisition or IPO for their startups? Instead, we hear about how many startups have been “trained” or “supported.” But are we pushing the envelope enough? If accelerators here want to drive real change and boost our ecosystem, it’s time to create paths to exits, not just certifications of participation. Until then, we’re just scratching the surface. 💡 #AfricanStartups #InnovationEcosystem #Accelerators #GrowthMindset