Calling Y Combinator - need for YC in other countries | Hacker News Reader

Calling Y Combinator - need for YC in other countries

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12 pointsakshaye22 comments

YC is in other countries. 5 of the 20 startups in the current batch have non-US founders.

In fact, non-US founders seem to do better on average than US founders. I'm not sure exactly why; probably because they have to be more committed, and commitment is the biggest predictor of success in a startup. But whatever the reason, YC clearly works internationally.

I think software/web startups are basically international now. It's all one big market. Now all we need to do is explain this to the governments.

There was an article on the San Jose Mercury News last year that talked about the percentage of foreign-born founders of successful startups in the Valley was around 40-50%. If I find a link, I'll post it.

Anyway, they interviewed a number of foreign born founders, and the consensus was that it took so much risk to move to another country as an immigrant, the risk of founding a startup really seemed small in comparison.

Having grown up in Central America in the 80's myself, I'd also postulate that you're able to think outside the box a bit better as well. Why? Because to the immigrant, everything in a new country is so profoundly different to begin with, that you barely see the boxes that so many other native-born people are hung up on.

int. students graduate with 44% of STEM (Science, Tech, Eng., Math.) degrees

"I think software/web startups are basically international now. It's all one big market. Now all we need to do is explain this to the governments."

But there is a big difference between applications and their usage in certain international markets. Even if web applications are international, many apps are mainly focused on a North American/ Western European market.

pg, what is your opinion on starting something on the lines of startup school in international locations?

Startup school is even more international, because it's less of a commitment to come to the US for a weekend than for 3 months.

Sure, you have to fly and find somewhere to stay, but you have to do that from most places in the US too.

5 of the 20 startups in the current batch have non-US founders.

Can you name the countries?

There's a reason that YC is based in Boston and the Valley. The culture of risk, entrepreneurial spirit, invetment and technology in the Valley is like no other place I've ever lived, and that includes 6 states and 3 countries. Not that it's a utopia. It's not. But, if you're going to found a startup, it's the place to be.

I moved here two years ago, and I'm working as a nurse while I finish my CS degree. My goal is to be a serial entrepreneur when I'm done, and I've been setting up my life to do that for 4-5 years now. Since being here, I've received 2 offers for funding in the past 2 years. I've also been offered several introductions to VC's from people I work with in my hospital. I'm not even done with school, and I've barely talked about starting a software business at work without giving specifics. You won't get that any place else on the planet.

If you are willing to do YC why not apply and do it. Successful founders have been through much more insurmountable obstacles before, why restrict yourself at the first hurdle.

As a UK founder in YC i can say that the move to the valley is really worth it and you've got to do whatever it takes to succeed.

Or, equally useful would be if YC and clones could help smooth candidates' entry into the US. Has YC ever considered signing off on the founders' visas as their employer? Or providing the services of a good immigration lawyer for free?

Perhaps this should be the task of some of the overseas YC "clones" to come to SV, setup shop and perform the above, given the location's well known advantages?

I wish it was that easy to get a work visa to come into US :(. As PG said in one of the essays about why Silicon Valley is special, immigration is one area where it falls flat.

Getting a work visa is next to impossible these days. You apply by Apr 1 and you MAY know in OCT if your visa was approved or not - it is a lottery system.

6 months is a lifetime for a YC startup.

IMHO, there must be another solution, like setting up a YC hub in Vancouver or something :)

there could be multiple solution - one can start the yc shop in Canada and/or BRIC - the talent market in these countries is huge - the other option for pg is to see whether they can start franchising - the most important thing in this model is connections with VCs - if someone can bring VCs on board then even few investors, entrepreneurs and hackers can come together and start a clone.

Startups are all about the quality of the people and their ability to work in harmony. The YCombinator type of company, requires even higher level of wisdom. If and when they'll decide to expand it will only be after they'll find the right people.

Any idea why there are no efforts of starting a YC-like organization in other parts of the world? The only attempt I remember was yc-europe but I think they are gone. Isn't there any bunch of angels or VC's that are interested in doing this?

In some countries there are laws that don't facilitate the formation of seed funding companies. e.g. A funding company can't simply take 5% equity for so much money in a brand-new company. Something like that. One reason among many.

I would love to see YC in Australia! Even just meetups and nothing too formal!

yeah, i agree. if setting up seed funding is too complicated, starting regular meets or something like startup school will still be very beneficial. In fact, that will help more than hard cash.

"In fact, that will help more than hard cash."

Totally agree with that. If I ever decide to take my ambitions any further, I can come up with a fair amount of money myself. But the advice and insight that could come from other players in the arena would be nigh-impossible to find where I am.

That's good point, there is so much talent and so much economic activity in the BRIC countries that it is surprising that YC doesn't operate in those places.

'Surprising'? I think pg has his hands full with the companies that he already helps, in a country where he knows how things work. Why would they go to some country where they don't speak the language, know the laws, or have many contacts? It would be insane, in my opinion.

>>Why would they go to some country where they don't speak the language, know the laws, or have many contacts?

For the same reason companies expand to BRIC economies -- to make more money. Every growing business has their hands full with operations, however the challenge is to perform the balancing act of scaling up the business through expansion while keeping the existing business in order. I wouldn't call it insane though, risky is a more appropriate term imo. Nonetheless it is a sort of risk that many businesses manage to overcome successfully. I think the real question is whether pg manages YC as a business or as a hobby.

Most companies try to grow in their home country prior to expanding abroad, and YC has yet to do any of that at all, as far as I know. Also, not all businesses try and grow all over the world in a short period of time. Some realize their limitations and try and concentrate on doing their niche really well, leaving other places to other people.

> I think the real question is whether pg manages YC as a business or as a hobby.

My offhand guess would be "as an experiment". Past comments have indicated that they do want to come out ahead with it, to justify its continued existence, but that it's too new to just start franchising it... it's not exactly like McDonalds in terms of their business model!

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