Jack Luo — 2 minute read

In July 2024 I compiled twenty takeaways from Y Combinator that I found particularly resonant. These notes are terse by design; return to them when you need a quick reset.

1. Team trumps idea. Your co‑founders and early hires matter more than the initial concept.
2. Expect to pivot. Sixty percent of YC companies change direction after committing full‑time.
3. Recruit from MIT. Many of the most successful startups have MIT alumni on the team.
4. Stanford beats Harvard but MIT beats both. Data suggests that, on average, MIT students outperform peers from other elite schools in startup success.
5. Generative AI dominates. A large share of recent YC batches focus on generative AI.
6. Choose your entry point. Start straight after dropping out, after graduation or after gaining work experience.
7. YC cares more about team than idea.
8. Solo founders rarely get in. Having a co‑founder is often essential.
9. YC is an accelerator, not a kingmaker. You can still build a great company without YC.
10. Originality isn’t everything. Unconventional ideas often face skepticism.
11. You can’t know if you’d be a good founder without trying.
12. Most startup journeys include failure. Be prepared to fail and learn.
13. Hire engineers later. Focus on problem validation before scaling engineering.
14. Ship quickly. If it takes longer than eight months to launch, investors may lose interest.
15. Land your first customer within two months. Early traction beats fancy decks.
16. Found with friends. Co‑founding with people you know tends to work better than pairing with strangers.
17. Most people who say they want to start a company never will — and that’s okay.
18. YC culture values directness. Don’t sugar‑coat feedback.
19. Take the walks. If you get into YC, don’t miss Paul Graham’s walks; they’re legendary.
20. Keep this list handy. Read it when you need to recalibrate.