2100 Ventures’ Post

As somebody who is deep in the weeds on the importance of "place" when building startup ecosystems, I found this recent blog post from Y Combinator on selecting their new HQ's location fascinating. Some key takeaways: 1️⃣ People forget that YC began in Boston and then relocated to the bay area 2️⃣ Many of their early decisions about where to locate were driven by where they could get free space. The story of MassChallenge and the Boston Seaport is a similar story. 3️⃣ A recognition of how the bay area startup community is changing and shifting. Their bet is that founders want to be back in the city, not in the suburbs. 4️⃣ Proximity to other companies is critical. Originally companies wanted to be proximate to Google and now the blog post closes by highlighting their proximity to OpenAI. 5️⃣ Most importantly to my current work at National Science Foundation (NSF) and U.S. Department of Commerce, ecosystems are tightly-knit, dense clusters built on top of talent concentrations. If you think your regional innovation ecosystem is 4-5 states, I would really rethink that. https://lnkd.in/ecp9cXYq

Innovation does not happen in a vacuum. This is a great example of the importance of the “local buzz” in proper clusters which is also effectively countering the idea of the “death of distance”. Enrico Moretti had already highlighted the matter more than 10 years ago with his quote that “a handful of cities with the “right” industries and a solid base of human capital keep attracting good employers and offering high wages, while those at the other extreme, cities with the “wrong” industries and a limited human capital base, are stuck with dead-end jobs and low average wages”. 

Y Combinator was a force to be reckoned with for almost the entirety of my time at Fast Company, and while it was always present -- generating characters, innovative companies, etc -- FC hadn't dug into how it operates and the power of its formidable network since 2015. Until today. Ainsley Harris did a masterful job trying to understand the leading tech accelerator and how it really has become the decentralized corporate giant that had been its founder's ambition. [Hat tip as well to Anne Latini and Mike Schnaidt for the brilliant art direction.] Y Combinator has turned "building" into a job and becoming a company founder into a career. But what is that actually like? Is the YC network only getting stronger as it grows? Are there risks to its dominance in Silicon Valley (and increasingly, the world)? For the tens of thousands of founders who apply to YC every six months for its vaunted batches, you have to read this story before you do. https://lnkd.in/e9HxHvxD

🌟 Exciting News Alert! 🚀 TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 is heading back to San Francisco this October 28–30, and the anticipation is building up already! 🔮 Prediction: With the promise of bringing innovation at every stage of your startup journey, this year's Disrupt is bound to be an incredible platform for groundbreaking ideas and game-changing collaborations. 🌟 Major Key: The participation of world-class partners means attendees will have the rare chance to tap into the expertise and resources of tech's leading companies, paving the way for endless possibilities and growth opportunities. 🎉 Can’t Miss Opportunity: Mark your calendars and get ready to immerse yourself in a whirlwind of inspiration, networking, and knowledge-sharing that could potentially transform your startup's trajectory. ✨ As a bustling hub for tech enthusiasts and visionaries, TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 is set to ignite creativity, foster new connections, and propel the next generation of disruptive innovations. Let's gear up for an unforgettable experience that will shape the future of the tech industry! 🚀💡

Understand problems before creating solutions It seems obvious but most hopeful founders' instinct is the opposite… Y Combinator once tried an experiment They funded a bunch of promising founding teams with no ideas In the hopes they would land on a promising idea after they were funded Long story short... → All of them failed This proves we shouldn’t force ourselves to come up with startup ideas If we do then we may create a square-shaped idea Trying to solve our clients circle shaped problem Instead, I personally try to and would recommend to: → Be curious about a lot of different things → Meet lots of people and read lots of books → Most importantly practice noticing problems The best businesses come from the identification of a problem

The application deadline for participating in Y Combinator is April 22nd⏳ This is your opportunity to transform your innovative idea into a successful global business. Don't delay! 💡We've prepared a quick, 5-minute read on Medium. A must-read for anyone interested in applying to aiming to apply to YC. This piece compiles advice on application submission discussed with YC alumni during our previous online event, "Pathway to YC: Ukrainian Edition". 👉🏻Follow the link to read more on Medium: https://lnkd.in/dkbzVhuH 📌Subscribe to our Medium blog and stay updated to find more tips for early-stage founders.

Applying to Y Combinator—for the 6th time. This isn’t about capital. It’s about community. Most founders look to Y Combinator for funding. But for me, it’s always been about learning, about finding a group that would challenge me, push me, and even question my sanity—just as much as I question my own. When I started, I had nothing but grit, youthful ignorance, and a drive to learn fast. The school of hard knocks was inevitable, but I wondered—was there a way to fast-track those lessons? If I couldn’t have a peer group of founders just yet, I’d create my own. Each month, I’d meet with my customers, updating them on progress and learning from the insights they shared. They were my “peer group,” and through these interactions, I realized: different business scales, same fundamental challenges. Some say I’m crazy, aiming too high, too fast. But if you’re going to aim, why not for the moon? Every YC application is another checkpoint, reminding me how far I’ve come. In the last month, Chase Cohn and I clocked over 80 hours a week, sacrificing sleep to bring our vision to life. Some days felt like slow progress, but when you step back, the strides are unmistakable. We’re not here for comfort. Comfort kills creativity. Whether we make it into YC or not, we’ll keep applying. For us, it’s about marking growth, reflecting on lessons, and keeping a reminder of why we started. And meeting YC founders along the way has shown me we’re not so different; we face the same hurdles, fight the same battles. #startup #founderlife

One thing we learned during Y Combinator is that to win, a startup needs to work as closely as possible with its customers. That's a big part of why we took the unconventional path of basing our team in New York. YC's thesis that the bay area adds alpha to a startup's odds of success is spot on. But like all generalized advice, there can be narrow reasons to diverge from the typically wise path. New York is the financial capital of the world. Our thesis at Greenboard is that being as close to our customers as possible will drive even more alpha.

Getting very excited to fly across the country (commercial, this time) for the Startup Grind Global Conference! We’ll be immersed in innovation and can’t wait to share the lessons learned. TODAY is the last day that our final comp pass is valid — if you want to join us in Silicon Valley, let us know now! #StartupGrind #SGGlobal2024 #StartupGrindConference Startup Grind Lansing Startup Grind

Just returned from an inspiring retreat with Y Combinator and we're buzzing with new insights and energy! 🌟 The retreat was packed with incredible activities, from ice sculpting and pickleball to fascinating talks by both founders and group partners. Here are some key takeaways that stuck with me: - Resilience is Key: Embracing uncertainty and learning to deal with anxiety positively can make a huge difference. - User-Centric Approach: Truly understanding our users and their needs is crucial to developing products that make a real impact. - Cofounder Relationships: Building strong bonds and fostering open communication with your cofounders can be a game-changer. - Good Taste in Products: Developing a strong opinion on product quality by deeply understanding our users’ lives and preferences is vital. Be ready to adapt if new signals contradict your assumptions. A huge thank you to Tom Blomfield, David Lieb, Tyler Bosmeny, Brad Flora, Nate Smith, and all the other awesome YC Group Partners, who shared invaluable wisdom and guided us through the sessions. Also, it was incredible to connect with so many brilliant founders who are on similar journeys. Your stories and insights are truly inspiring! Looking forward to applying these lessons as we continue to build Educato AI (YC S24) with Pierre-Louis Monnot and Codrut L. and make a meaningful impact in the world of online exam prep. Stay tuned for more updates! 🚀 #YCombinator #StartupJourney #EdTech #Startups #Innovation #Founders #Resilience #UserFocus