A Behind the Scenes Look at Y Combinator's Demo Day

I'll add my $.02.

So for the last few batches, I've started doing a/v and random behind-the-scenes stuff for demo day, and it's the two weeks a year I look most forward to.

It's great to see how pitches can go from confusing and meandering to on-point perfection with little time. Even from session to session each pitch improves till the final session ends with all the founders feeling confident, and with investors lining up to talk to them.

My biggest lessons after demo day are simple: Everyone needs the right coach to be at their best. Raw talent gets you in the door, coaching shapes you, and investor support (monetarily and connections wise) pour rocket fuel on your company. The combination of the three is why YC companies are different. Without the coaching and support of YC, I've seen a few early stagers explode after getting burned by less savvy investors who are trying to "do the right thing". I'd say that a lot of other people find mentors and coaches in other places than YC, but that coaching seems to be the difference maker between "hobby startup with no shot" and "thing thing is going to be huge." It's a way of hacking through a lack of startup experience.

The other huge takeaway: Every company founder is probably as uncertain as you are at some point in their company's history. Some of my good new buddies (shouts to the Oracle of Web3.0!!!! [inside joke]) seemed to go from uncertain about their future, to gain a newfound confidence even over the course of a week.

Smart people: Press on, hack your lack of experience through mentors, and you'll get it eventually.

I have read this story like 4 times now, I'm still impressed about how much work is PG putting into the teams. On the other hand I can truly see that the teams work around the clock just to get the best result done before demo day. Good luck for the YC 2011 participants.

Getting these firsthand stories from YC participants is incredibly helpful to those of us who are trying to help the startup scenes in our respective towns. Even if it seems like common sense at times, it's great to have people capturing and sharing this stuff.

The more I read about YC, the more I want to get in SO BAD! I'll huff, I'll puff, and I'll blow the door down if I don't get in!