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Comment by yubrew | Hacker News Reader

YC and pg do not even try to push the image of having prophetic ability. He repeats over and over that there are great ideas, business models, and people that are not selected.

I got interviewed for this summer. While I am disappointed that we were not selected, I understand that there's a bunch of great people, with great ideas, and only a handful of spots. When you're trying to pick the best 19 apples from a barrel of 420 apples, you're bound to throw out a couple good ones.

My question is, how many people that were not YC selected went on their own, and now are successful? same question but with people that were interviewed and not selected?

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I might buy that if he didn't write an article right after the last round justifying nonselection of people as "measurement error" between those at the tail end of the talent cutoff. http://paulgraham.com/judgement.html

My question is how many of the start-ups selected wouldn't have done anything if they hadn't made the cut? I think most of the non-selectees switch gears and do something else instead, like school.

Relatedly, how many of the people who were selected had success primarily because of their YC link rather than because of impressive technology? Reddit certainly seems to be one of them, and the "big success" so far.

I think it's usefulness over technology. I'd wager that chances of any of the YC funded startups are outsmarting entire departments in the behemoth companies, technology-wise, are close to nothing.

I'd say it's like the restaurant business. There are many cooks out there, but not all can make a nice shop with the right ambience, right furniture, etc.

Very insightful!

Interviewed for this summer but not selected.

I have no idea if we will be successful or not.. I know for certain though that we will keep trying until we are (which may be never). My co-founder is my cousin, so he isnt exactly going away :) He's keeps my fire lit and I do the same for him.

My biggest fear is not being able to move as fast as if we were in the YC program. I think YC is a gentle push to release as soon as possible, which is important. I suspect many of the early-stage teams who are rejected do not actually execute their idea and release. (Hence the apparent absence of successful "rejected" groups maybe?)

Its totaly in your control... move on, stop hanging out around the YC crowd and go build your company. Don't let YC determine your fate... they had their chance and passed.

The absense of successful rejected is simply a factor of the YC propaganda engine only talking about those accepted. ITs too early for stories about the ones that got away to be well known-- hell, there aren't any real successes from the program yet (which is also because its new.)

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