1. We pivoted a several times during YC days. Initially we were trying to pivot into similar ideas. (standard "pivots") but after discussing really hard internally, we decided to think what we really are excited about regardless of what we had been working on, and we felt AnyPerk is the idea that we wanted to work for the next 10~ years.
2. I have to admit that it was not easy, but when you are working on your best idea with best people you know is so exciting that you can feel so positive about everything.
Thanks for the advice, I have reached out and learnt a great deal from some of their team members and hope to continue to learn from both failed and successful startups in the space. There are other similar and very successful companies in other countries, and thought it would be great to have US startup employees be rewarded as well.