Tell HN: If you haven't got your YC email, check your Spam folder
My partner phoned me on receiving a YC response email. I was surprised, not having seen mine yet - but actually it was in my Spam folder in Gmail. Since I might not have seen it for a while otherwise, I thought this information might be helpful to others.
61 comments
We applied during the last cycle and didn't get accepted. We forged ahead (Were doing this regardless if we are a part of YC or not), started prototyping, networking, and solidified our business vision and plan.
We applied again this cycle and got accepted for an interview. Our YC application has changed a bit since we now have a much more focused direction, but our technology stack has been pretty much the same from day one.
I hope that this can be an encouragement to those of you who didn't get it this time, but I'm sure that if you try again you can only increase your chances. BTW, last time we applied we did it fairly last minute and I missed an email from pg asking us some questions. This time, we applied a month in advance and I checked my YC mail daily so I wouldn't make that mistake again. And yes, he did email us some questions again but this time I replied on time. =).
We applied again this cycle and got accepted for an interview. Our YC application has changed a bit since we now have a much more focused direction, but our technology stack has been pretty much the same from day one.
I hope that this can be an encouragement to those of you who didn't get it this time, but I'm sure that if you try again you can only increase your chances. BTW, last time we applied we did it fairly last minute and I missed an email from pg asking us some questions. This time, we applied a month in advance and I checked my YC mail daily so I wouldn't make that mistake again. And yes, he did email us some questions again but this time I replied on time. =).
GMail > PG?
Fail :P
oh well, onward and upward I suppose, can't let something like this knock you down. Like it was said many many times. Everyone who didn't make it, please, by all means, keep moving forward because this is not a death certificate.
Fail :P
oh well, onward and upward I suppose, can't let something like this knock you down. Like it was said many many times. Everyone who didn't make it, please, by all means, keep moving forward because this is not a death certificate.
Like it was said many many times. Everyone who didn't make it, please, by all means, keep moving forward because this is not a death certificate.
This is an important point. I would hate to think that we might be discouraging any of the startups we didn't invite to interviews. It's not just to make people feel better that we talk in the "no" email about how bad we are at judging startups. It's really true. The single biggest topic of conversation within YC is how we can get better at it.
In fact, as we often find ourselves saying to YC-funded startups when they're looking for their next round, practically all investors suck at judging startups. But we probably do worse than most, because we have to judge so many based on so little information.
This is an important point. I would hate to think that we might be discouraging any of the startups we didn't invite to interviews. It's not just to make people feel better that we talk in the "no" email about how bad we are at judging startups. It's really true. The single biggest topic of conversation within YC is how we can get better at it.
In fact, as we often find ourselves saying to YC-funded startups when they're looking for their next round, practically all investors suck at judging startups. But we probably do worse than most, because we have to judge so many based on so little information.
Can you share any examples of startups that you regret saying no to?
I haven't gone looking for specific companies we missed, but there must be some by now considering that we've read thousands of applications and only funded 102 of them.
If startups funded by "YC clones" succeed, those are probably ones we missed, since most people who apply to them apply to us too.
If startups funded by "YC clones" succeed, those are probably ones we missed, since most people who apply to them apply to us too.
Guys, remember, Ycombinator is a great resource but you'll see that some of the ventures they've backed are either completely stupid, already invented by google or simply not existing today because even they failed. Ycombinator seems to be seeking a very specific set of ideas and type of team. My personal opinion is that this lack of diversity in type of ideas and teams doesn't contribute much to the growth of their endeavor. Why just programmers? The real value is in the vision and outsourcing is easier than ever today. Overall, keep at it! I guarantee that many of the ventures Ycombinator didn't accept are going to do well. Good luck.
Welcome to the world of startups and investing. Enjoy your stay.
For those that just got rejected: Welcome. If you're seriously getting into the startup world that will be your first of dozens of rejections. Learn to take it in stride.
Investors invest in stuff they get, stuff that's presented well, and stuff that they relate to. That's triply true for early phase where they're going more on a hunch than anything even bothering to be hand-wavey with projections.
Just one kind of cute story, both from successful founders cum angels: We've had meetings with two angels now. One of them thought my co-founder was a turd. The other thought he was the swellest guy on the planet and has been telling all his buddies about us. Are either of them idiots? No. In one case things clicked, and in the other they didn't. All of the business plans and prototypes in the world wouldn't have changed that.
All early phase investors make some dumb investments. In fact, most early stage investments are dumb. YC is a bit ahead of the curve there, but they don't have a crystal ball.
For those that just got rejected: Welcome. If you're seriously getting into the startup world that will be your first of dozens of rejections. Learn to take it in stride.
Investors invest in stuff they get, stuff that's presented well, and stuff that they relate to. That's triply true for early phase where they're going more on a hunch than anything even bothering to be hand-wavey with projections.
Just one kind of cute story, both from successful founders cum angels: We've had meetings with two angels now. One of them thought my co-founder was a turd. The other thought he was the swellest guy on the planet and has been telling all his buddies about us. Are either of them idiots? No. In one case things clicked, and in the other they didn't. All of the business plans and prototypes in the world wouldn't have changed that.
All early phase investors make some dumb investments. In fact, most early stage investments are dumb. YC is a bit ahead of the curve there, but they don't have a crystal ball.
lack of diversity in type of ideas
news site: http://reddit.com
geolocation on cellphones: http://loopt.com
form builder: http://wufoo.com
server administration: http://virtualmin.com
electronic components: http://octopart.com
Etc, etc. Lack of diversity? It seems like these ideas span the whole range of Internet startups.
news site: http://reddit.com
geolocation on cellphones: http://loopt.com
form builder: http://wufoo.com
server administration: http://virtualmin.com
electronic components: http://octopart.com
Etc, etc. Lack of diversity? It seems like these ideas span the whole range of Internet startups.
This is silly. And by silly I mean moronic. You can't outsource an entire start-up, especially without more than $15,000. Hell, we couldn't manage to successfully get a Wordpress template created when we supplied a full PSD and offered $300 for it. Talk about epic goddamn fail.
You realize the whole "Clone Amazon for me, $100-500" thing doesn't actually work, right? And look at the last batch of YC companies, will you? There's a lot of diversity there.
Maybe the only thing you got right here is that some of the start-ups YC doesn't fund will likely go on to succeed. Since YC themselves admit that, it wasn't much of a point though, was it?
You realize the whole "Clone Amazon for me, $100-500" thing doesn't actually work, right? And look at the last batch of YC companies, will you? There's a lot of diversity there.
Maybe the only thing you got right here is that some of the start-ups YC doesn't fund will likely go on to succeed. Since YC themselves admit that, it wasn't much of a point though, was it?
I definitely see your point and by no means am I advocating for your typical "send it to China or India for $100" gig. My point is that if you are not a programmer and trying to enter this arena, it's not the end of the world. The value is in your idea, your ability to network, market yourself and create a solid team with well-rounded skills.
Ycombinator definitely has some diverse ideas many of which are fantastic. Like any start-up catalyst, sure, they have backed some ideas that have already been out there to some degree or are no longer around--but that is totally to be expected. There will always be some overlap and like any regular distribution bell curve will show us, some will fail, some will surpass our expectations and rest will be in the middle. I have a great deal of respect for all that Ycombinator does and the people involved. Good luck guys!
Ycombinator definitely has some diverse ideas many of which are fantastic. Like any start-up catalyst, sure, they have backed some ideas that have already been out there to some degree or are no longer around--but that is totally to be expected. There will always be some overlap and like any regular distribution bell curve will show us, some will fail, some will surpass our expectations and rest will be in the middle. I have a great deal of respect for all that Ycombinator does and the people involved. Good luck guys!
It is the 30-th already, and neither from our team got any response yet (anyone else haven't got a response till now too? Or is that we so unlucky?). Checked in the trash folder, under the subfolders, and in the outbox (just to be sure). My ISP will kill me for DDOSing their IMAP.
Of course, we won't stop our project if not invited by Paul-and-the-team. Together with Y, or separately, we'll keep working on it, and, as every self-confident startupper does, we truly believe into it and are sure that it will hit the Web, gain several billions and finally takeover both Google and Apple, so that every investor-who-ignored-us will kick themselves thinking of missed profit...
... but holy, where is that email?
Of course, we won't stop our project if not invited by Paul-and-the-team. Together with Y, or separately, we'll keep working on it, and, as every self-confident startupper does, we truly believe into it and are sure that it will hit the Web, gain several billions and finally takeover both Google and Apple, so that every investor-who-ignored-us will kick themselves thinking of missed profit...
... but holy, where is that email?
I'm still waiting on a response too...maybe it's some kind of YC startup challenge; none of the undecideds get notified, and the team that handles the pressure the best gets the final spot!
Or is that a challenge of self-sufficiency in an ICFPC style? "Claiming you are a hacker but crying you haven't received a response? Come to our server and get your response yourself!"
okay, we've got 1 spot left but i'm tired of sifting through these entries. let's cagematch the remaining 50 groups and see who's left standing...
should have done that from the beginning IMHO. i fight dirty
should have done that from the beginning IMHO. i fight dirty
Ok, but all jokes aside, we're still waiting for an email :(. I might have made a mistake, but I'm pretty sure I triple-checked my email address in the application, and I also have it in my profile. I know my application was submitted, since I received a question from pg himself.
Maybe something went awry with the mail script? I don't want to assume one way or another until I get an actual response...All I know is that productivity is going to suffer today! Is anyone else still waiting?
Perhaps providing responses through the HN profile could be a good fix to this problem and the spam folder issue for future cycles?
Maybe something went awry with the mail script? I don't want to assume one way or another until I get an actual response...All I know is that productivity is going to suffer today! Is anyone else still waiting?
Perhaps providing responses through the HN profile could be a good fix to this problem and the spam folder issue for future cycles?
[deleted]
my mail is terribly unreliable, but my co-founder got our rejection letter, just now managed to forward it to me :D
wanted to see me sweat, obviously
wanted to see me sweat, obviously
Don't know if I could congratulate you or sympathize... but you definitely are much less strained now, then other remaining poor souls suffering from uncertainty.
Good luck. Maybe we'll meet one day, in Sequioa Capital or somewhere, and share a laugh on good old YC application times ...
Good luck. Maybe we'll meet one day, in Sequioa Capital or somewhere, and share a laugh on good old YC application times ...
honeyman, is your group still waiting on a response? Am I the only one left that can't find a response email?
Yep, still waiting. I am slightly worried that something is wrongs with us in general, cause seems that everybody here received a question or two from PG :). We haven't.
Either we were incredibly clear (having sent out the form long before the deadline and tweaked it numerously since then), or they just tired of reading our form, which slightly (but intentionally) breaks the "200 word" request almost everywhere.
Hard to fit into 200 words, when you have almost everything in mind preplanned and thought, from the scalability-related technical questions and repayment strategy, up to the image-creating plans...
Either we were incredibly clear (having sent out the form long before the deadline and tweaked it numerously since then), or they just tired of reading our form, which slightly (but intentionally) breaks the "200 word" request almost everywhere.
Hard to fit into 200 words, when you have almost everything in mind preplanned and thought, from the scalability-related technical questions and repayment strategy, up to the image-creating plans...
Still nothing here, either ... so don't feel alone.
Tired of waiting, wrote them directly, got a reply promptly... and joining the "Waiting for another lucky chance" team :)
They told me that my email was issued out on Wednesday; so probably it was some mail fault why it haven't arrived before.
still missing mail as well. you get google and apple and i'll take amazon and ebay. deal?
Recently, I've been amused that gmail has been marking my Google Alert emails as spam. Screenshot: http://tinyurl.com/5v7c6w
In IRC:
<frisco> lol, didn't pg invent that spam filter?
According to a conversation I had with Paul Buchheit (paul here at HN) in the past, GMail spam filters are heavily reputation based, which leads me to believe that Bayesian filtering is not a first line of defense, and likely would be specific to each mailbox rather than universally applied. So, if it's happening to everyone, then it's a universal rule at GMail that's doing the filtering, and thus I would guess not heavily based on any Bayesian results. But I might be wrong, GMail spam filtering may have changed dramatically since paul worked on the project, or I may have simply misunderstood his explanation.
But pg did invent the most powerful recent spam fighting technique. I'm not sure why one would say the description provided in the essay isn't the same as inventing it? Certainly Bayesian analysis existed long before the essay, but I think it's safe to say that the inventor of the airplane was no less its inventor because the internal combustion engine existed before.
But pg did invent the most powerful recent spam fighting technique. I'm not sure why one would say the description provided in the essay isn't the same as inventing it? Certainly Bayesian analysis existed long before the essay, but I think it's safe to say that the inventor of the airplane was no less its inventor because the internal combustion engine existed before.
"But pg did invent the most powerful recent spam fighting technique. "
While it may be the case that PGs essay was many peoples first exposure to baysian spam filters, he didn't invent the technique.
The first time I heard of it was in a paper published in 1998 at Microsoft research. This predates 'A plan for spam' by 4 years. http://research.microsoft.com/~horvitz/junkfilter.htm
While it may be the case that PGs essay was many peoples first exposure to baysian spam filters, he didn't invent the technique.
The first time I heard of it was in a paper published in 1998 at Microsoft research. This predates 'A plan for spam' by 4 years. http://research.microsoft.com/~horvitz/junkfilter.htm
I think I knew about that and completely forgot about it.
I just don't pay as much attention to the spam problem as I once did a few years ago--it seems to be reasonably solved for me. I got over 600 spam messages to my primary address yesterday, and only 3 made it to my mailbox...and all I do is run SpamAssassin with almost entirely default settings and auto-white/black listing (which is Bayesian). Now, the primary things that motivate me are making the system more efficient with regard to resource usage, rather than more effective (though being more effective is also good). Some of our customers still seem to have problems, but I've not really figured out why SpamAssassin works so poorly for them and so well for me.
I just don't pay as much attention to the spam problem as I once did a few years ago--it seems to be reasonably solved for me. I got over 600 spam messages to my primary address yesterday, and only 3 made it to my mailbox...and all I do is run SpamAssassin with almost entirely default settings and auto-white/black listing (which is Bayesian). Now, the primary things that motivate me are making the system more efficient with regard to resource usage, rather than more effective (though being more effective is also good). Some of our customers still seem to have problems, but I've not really figured out why SpamAssassin works so poorly for them and so well for me.
Maybe Gmail thinks it's one of these:
http://paulgraham.com/firstwatergatesltd.html
http://paulgraham.com/firstwatergatesltd.html
Good point wrt inventing. Wanted to be on the safe side, but that makes complete sense!
I wonder if people are flagging YC rejection emails as spam out of spite.
1) how many applications did they receive ?
2) and how many did they accept ?
3) weve edited the application a lot of times since July. I understand that they started reading them before application deadline. could they have read an older version of our application ?
4) since Google is God, its good is infinite. Hence I assume GMail marked the mail as spam to protect me from feeling rejected, 'cause shit was already happening today since I woke up.
What's the rejection email look like? Just a one liner or an explanation about how "it's not you, its me"? :-)
---
We're sorry to say we couldn't accept your proposal for funding. Please don't take it personally. Despite the stock market crash we got a record number of applications this time, and the average quality was high. And since there's a limit on the number of interviews we can do, we had to turn away a lot of genuinely promising groups.
Another reason you shouldn't take this personally is that we know we make lots of mistakes. It's alarming how often the last group to make it over the threshold for interviews ends up being one that we fund. That means there are surely other good groups that fall just below the threshold and that we miss even interviewing. We're trying to get better at this, but it's practically certain that groups we rejected will go on to create successful startups. If you do, we'd appreciate it if you'd send us an email telling us about it; we want to learn from our mistakes.
Y Combinator Staff
Another reason you shouldn't take this personally is that we know we make lots of mistakes. It's alarming how often the last group to make it over the threshold for interviews ends up being one that we fund. That means there are surely other good groups that fall just below the threshold and that we miss even interviewing. We're trying to get better at this, but it's practically certain that groups we rejected will go on to create successful startups. If you do, we'd appreciate it if you'd send us an email telling us about it; we want to learn from our mistakes.
Y Combinator Staff
That's probably one of the nicest and most humble rejection emails.
Mine was in spam too
Thanks! Same here, mine was in my GMail spam folder.
[deleted]
spam for me too! thanks for pointing this out.
What does the rejection email say?
anyone know if they just mail the main applicant or do they send a mail to each of the group members? my email is a tad unreliable and i hadn't heard back about my app.
Only the main applicant will be contacted. I'm waiting on mine too! Is anyone else that applied still waiting for a response?
Yes, also waiting for a response. My best wishes to those who didn't make the cut, you know you'll succeed anyway!.
In my application they sent an e-mail to both founders who were attached with HN accounts.
Interesting - thought i saw pg say only the main applicant would be contacted.
The plan changed: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=348328
Presumably they decided to use the email addresses entered into the YC application itself, rather than waiting for all main applicants to complete their HN profiles (which would surely have meant delaying the mailout).
Presumably they decided to use the email addresses entered into the YC application itself, rather than waiting for all main applicants to complete their HN profiles (which would surely have meant delaying the mailout).
I didn't get any response from YC as off yet :(
REJECTED! KILLS SELF
Naw it's coo-. I was kind of hoping I would get rejected since I've had second thoughts about someone owning 5% of my idea since I applied a few months back.
Hope the lucky winners blow apart the interwebz 2.5 with some crazy new productive ideas.
Naw it's coo-. I was kind of hoping I would get rejected since I've had second thoughts about someone owning 5% of my idea since I applied a few months back.
Hope the lucky winners blow apart the interwebz 2.5 with some crazy new productive ideas.
If your application read anything like this comment I think I know why you got rejected.
gmail marked it as spam
How many applicants received any questions on their proposals
from YC before tonight?