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Comment by cperciva | Hacker News Reader

Polling the community: Should I attend?

I've watched videos of past events, and they seem to follow the TED model of being amusing and inspirational but not particularly informative; I'm too cynical to be interested in "inspirational". On the other hand, I get the feeling that the hallway track might be good.

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Attending Startup School last year was one of the few identifiable events that led me to starting Bayes Impact and joining YC with a nonprofit. Listening to Chase Adams talk about his experience with Watsi was incredibly inspiring, and similarly the other speakers instill in you a sense of urgency and possibility. I wouldn't measure the value of going in information -- in fact much of the information can be found in PG's essays and generally online. The value is in lighting a fire under your ass to get started and meet others that feel the same way -- that in itself can change the course of your life.

There are too many startup related videos floating around. If you have watched them, after a point, you notice that they all say the same thing. Next step is to stop watching these videos and actually doing something. If you are already at the stage of noticing the pattern, you don't need to listen anything in person. If not, it might help you get there.

However, you will get to network with some good talent if you visit startup school.

I went last year, and had a great time. I didn't find the talks particularly useful (although they were often fun and I would call Chase Adam's Watsi talk legitimately inspiring), but I think the real value in an event like this is chatting with the other attendees.

Almost everybody I met was doing something interesting, and I had a bunch of great conversations about the realities of startups that weekend. It's a part of the reason that I left my job several months later and joined a small startup.

I attended in 2010, the year that Zuckerberg answered a few questions about "The Social Network" movie.

The talks are more inspirational than informative, but seeing them live was a great experience. What really made it great for me was the chance to be around hundreds of like-minded individuals and have a few conversations about startups that I'd not have gotten in my home city (I live outside SV). There are also pre and post parties to attend and meet more people. There's just an atmosphere there that can't be created easily.

If airfare wasn't an issue, I'd not hesitate to go again. I am assuming it is still free. It was well worth the day I invested.

Yes, you should attend if you get accepted. Sure you can watch it online, but there's nothing like sitting in the audience, actually experiencing the talks, and meeting really smart people. During my first Startup School in 2009, I stayed with the founders of no-name startup (at that time) called Airbnb. It was super early days, and I remember walking into a loft where about 10-18 people were working. I met some really awesome friends during that trip. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I have made to this day.

I highly recommend attending if you get the chance. I've been twice and both times have been well worth it (I traveled from Texas both times).

I say don't attend. Startup school is good, but the delta over watching the videos is not. In essence, the content is great, but there's nothing that the in-person event offers over the content itself.

I attended Startup School NYC, but would have got the same out of sitting down and watching the videos seriously. (The key is to actually do a serious viewing session instead of half heartedly watching them over microwaved lunches).

I was under the impression that the networking aspect of Startup School is a major draw for a lot of people. Did you not find this to be the case?

Networking at a startup event is pretty hit and miss. Conference networking is that way in general, but there's even less coherence when the only thing bringing together the attendees is an interest in running a business.

If you ask me, the primary reason to attend startup school is that you'll see a lot of "famous" people who are just names to you, and you'll begin to realize that they're human. That's a worthwhile experience if you've never done it before, but I wouldn't go into the event with grander expectations.

Couldn't agree more. I've attended the one in NYC last time. While I enjoyed some of the talks (I had seen the others before), it wasn't much different than watching the videos.

The hallway conversations and the networking was indeed vibrant and full of energy, but no different than any other startup event, or sxsw, or meetups, or...

I'd say that there are smaller and more focused events (Eyeo comes to mind, even though not free and much longer), that are more rewarding. Anyway, I'd probably go again if invited, mostly for FOMO (fear of missing out).

Networking part can be very useful. It is up to you, of course.

It's a pretty busy day usually going into late evening. While you might get to talk to some people over lunch, and there are afterparties hosted afterwards, it's not the event I'd call the most beneficial to networking. Combined with introversion and shyness of half the attendees, it makes it a pretty tough proposition for networking.

I'll be flying in from Toronto.

If you're going just for the talks, then I agree, just watch the videos. If you're going for the networking and/or to visit the area, then it's worthwhile.

I'm taking a week, maybe 2, to visit old friends, explore, and network. Maybe some work too.

Shameless plug - If you're looking for other startup-related events to attend the week of Startup School, sign up for Startup Digest's weekly events digest[1].

It's a weekly email newsletter of startup events happening in San Francisco & Silicon Valley, and DISCLOSURE I am a volunteer "Events Curator" for it.

[1] https://www.startupdigest.com/digests (search for "Silicon Valley-SF Bay Area")

Colin,

The energy is very good, and its very fun. I've learned much, been inspired to do more and better things, and some of the friendships I've made have been very deep, some of the connections very useful. If you've never been, it's very worth going.

My favorite part last year was the smaller dinner the night before and the opportunity to meet people outside the talks. You should definitely attend if for no reason other than gracing it with your own presence.

I think the best thing about it, more than being inspirational, is that it normalizes the idea of starting a startup - especially if you're from outside the valley.

Totally. You get to meet cool people during the break.

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