Everything We Teach at YCombinator in 10 Minutes

How to START a STARTUP with Michael Seibel (Reddit, YC, Twitch)
Interested in starting a startup? In this video, YC's Michael Seibel shares valuable insights on how to start a successful business from scratch.
Welcome to our channel! In this video, Michael Seibel, CEO of Y Combinator, provides a comprehensive guide on how to start a startup in just 15 minutes. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or already in the startup world, this video is packed with invaluable advice and insights.
Michael covers:
1. The importance of having a technical co-founder.
2. How to brainstorm and validate your startup idea.
3. Key steps to building an MVP (Minimum Viable Product).
4. Strategies for achieving growth and gaining traction.
5. Tips for fundraising and dealing with investors.
6. Essential operations and hiring practices.
7. Don't miss out on this quick yet powerful session to jumpstart your entrepreneurial journey!
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:12 - Requirements to Start a Tech Startup
01:08 - Ideas and Problems to Solve
02:12 - Launching the MVP
03:12 - Achieving Growth
04:24 - Doing PR Yourself
05:20 - Fundraising Tips
06:00 - Controlling Operations and Costs
07:04 - Hiring the Right People
08:24 - Conclusion

[@Nykd14]

always great to listen guy - fast without the fuzz

[@Startupistanbul]

thanks

[@LetsBeHuman]

4:51 - What is significant new BD deal means?

[@Nykd14]

@@LetsBeHuman Business development deal

[@ismettr]

in 10 min. no wasted time. so compact. just perfect.

[@sitrakaforler8696]

00:02 Key points for starting a technical startup 01:21 Focus on daily and weekly problems for successful market entry. 02:37 Achieving growth is crucial for raising money in Silicon Valley. 03:53 PR can be done by founders in early stages 05:14 Fundraising strategy: Avoid needing money upfront 06:36 Having growth is the solution to fundraising problems. 07:47 Focus on people who understand your problem and can be initial investors. 09:04 Hire smart people to attract more talent and be transparent in offers

[@Startupistanbul]

Thanks for summarizing the key points from the video!

[@sitrakaforler8696]

@@Startupistanbul pleasure ! Also it helped me to take key points hahah :D and thx for the upload !!!

[@syedadeelqamar3547]

Best 10mins video I have watched ❤ Amazing !!

[@Startupistanbul]

Wow, thanks!

[@SaadAlShiekhAli-sg4dl]

wow, this content is something people would pay for

[@Startupistanbul]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@DimaHuz-pv2bq]

Big thanks to the man in this video for his efforts !

[@Startupistanbul]

Thank you too!

[@zoravursingh5617]

this guy seriously called MVP most valuable product

[@Startupistanbul]

Maybe he's onto something... Most Valuable Product might just be the next big thing!

[@economistfromhell4877]

He said most viable product but you might be right!

[@n0c0de]

Thank you. Loved the straight talk!

[@Startupistanbul]

I'm glad you found the content helpful!

[@ShadUgata]

So glad I found this.. thanks for the upload

[@Startupistanbul]

No problem!

[@LetsBeHuman]

4:51 - What is significant new BD deal means?

[@user-lb2gu7ih5e]

By "YouSum Live" 00:00:08 Starting a Technical startup essentials 00:00:12 Begin with co-founders, engineering focus 00:00:41 Brainstorm ideas collectively with team 00:00:55 Solve personal or well-understood problems 00:01:11 Focus on daily and weekly problems for success 00:01:36 Research market viability and competitors 00:01:50 Incorporate in the US for fundraising 00:02:21 Emphasize launching quickly for user feedback 00:03:03 Growth crucial for fundraising success 00:03:07 Experiment with ads, focus on reference customers 00:03:24 Ensure usage equals sharing for virality 00:03:59 DIY PR in early stages, build relationships 00:08:02 Avoid unnecessary spending, extend runway 00:08:41 Increase average talent with each hire 00:09:32 Be fair, transparent, and loyal to employees By "YouSum Live"

[@Startupistanbul]

Thanks for summarizing the key points from the video!

[@apex-lazer]

Exactly what kind of content I want to be digesting in to my consciousness thank you. 🙏 ❤

[@Startupistanbul]

You're so welcome!

[@KlaasVictor]

Incredible! Thank you so much!

[@Startupistanbul]

You're very welcome!

[@PinoyAccountant]

Very compact and helpful presentation.

[@Startupistanbul]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Nowobserving]

Very honest & practical!

[@Startupistanbul]

I try to keep it real, no sugar-coating here!

[@emthority]

Great presentation. One big thing is missing, although that is understandable because the experts have yet to crack the code. And that is don't just build a company, but build people too. In line with the comment about the shortcomings of entrepreneurs there is a smart omission. They tend to be sociopaths. In fact, that is what leads to their business success. In other words, they tend to be great at building companies but horrible at building people. So unless you want your startup to be as socially inept and morally bankrupt as much as, well, anything that has come out of silicon valley ever, hire people who will make you humane.

[@Startupistanbul]

Thank you for your insightful comment! Building people is indeed crucial for long-term success in any venture.

[@justme-dz1wy]

Siebel's advice is gold.

[@Startupistanbul]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@LetsBeHuman]

4:51 - What is significant new BD deal means?

[@chukwumaukaha2933]

Gold Nuggets❤ Thanks for sharing

[@Startupistanbul]

You're in!

[@ryanwilliams165]

great 10 minutes! tons of value

[@Startupistanbul]

Glad you liked it!

[@jamesyin3220]

First slide: be single, have no children, and not in a job you like: that's it, you can start a startup! I personally think every slide presented here is the reason why some people would say VCs hurt your startup instead of help it: everything here is to maximize the probability that the VC does not lose money on your startup, and not to maximize your chance of success.

[@Startupistanbul]

Who knew being single and jobless was the secret to startup success? Sign me up!

[@mzf11125]

I'm building ayojajanapp

[@joshcockrell1677]

? Are you serious? Did you even listen to the advice? Good luck with your “I need $1M marketing plan before I can launch, < 50% of my team is technical, I meet with investors spread out over months, I waste money on PR firms” startup.

[@jamesyin3220]

@@joshcockrell1677you do whatever makes you happy mate 😂

[@Loremips9966]

It s not that VCs won t lose money. Shareholders won't lose money. And both you and VCs are shareholders. Or at least both of you share the risk. So if you win, they win. It s not for their wellness alone, you will win as well.

[@dahcrown]

I love listening to Michael Seibel

[@Startupistanbul]

That's awesome! Michael Seibel is so inspiring.

[@LetsBeHuman]

4:51 - What is significant new BD deal means?

[@helsontaveras7961]

Business Development

[@DrPhyoPaing]

Big Thanks! 🎉

[@Startupistanbul]

You're welcome!

[@avonzo]

Fantabulous!

[@Startupistanbul]

Thank you!

[@bibek915]

Awesome! To the point Thanks

[@Startupistanbul]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ultimatevideoco]

That's really all you need to know to run a succesfull startup, great video!

[@Startupistanbul]

Absolutely!

[@henrymadumere8471]

Great content! Thanks most immensely for sharing

[@Startupistanbul]

My pleasure!

[@ShavonneWarren]

Your lessons always contain a lot of useful information about trading. Thanks for your valuable help!

[@Startupistanbul]

I'm glad you find the trading tips helpful!

[@thumarzeel]

The perfect roadmap

[@Startupistanbul]

It's all about having a clear path to success!

[@alliswealthh]

Lots of big ideas!😊

[@Startupistanbul]

Glad you like them!

[@ashishkr01977]

Just amazing 😉

[@Startupistanbul]

Thank you so much for your kind words!

[@user-ze7nw9ud7m]

That's valuable, but what I really really want to know is how to detect if you are working for startup company. Apparently nobody want to work for statrups and everyone including startup owners and investors know it. So startups evolve to mimic classic investor-free private companies. And they are really good at it. "We have actual sales and organic growth" they said and do fundraising backstage.

[@Startupistanbul]

It can be tricky to differentiate between a startup and a traditional company sometimes.

[@raymobula]

Read the book 2024 “The venture mindset” by Stanford Prof. ILYA STREBULAEV, and ALEX DANG. All you need to know about how VC’s tick.

[@Startupistanbul]

Thanks for the recommendation! Sounds like an interesting read.

[@garakchy]

It makes me proud that the video is from Istanbul. 🇹🇷❤ Great video though a decade late.

[@Startupistanbul]

Glad you liked it!

[@hasseaouled6032]

I thought he was Indian.

[@marquisegreen4391]

I wish I saw this 3 years ago

[@Startupistanbul]

It's never too late to start implementing new strategies!

[@saicharanjogu]

🎯 Key points for quick navigation: 00:00 *🚀 Introduction to Starting a Technical Startup* - How to start a startup with 2-4 co-founders, - Importance of having financial stability for a year, - The need for co-founders to quit their jobs before starting. 00:29 *💡 Brainstorming and Idea Generation* - Importance of team brainstorming and ownership of the idea, - Preference for solving personal problems or those the founders deeply understand, - Focusing on solving daily and weekly problems rather than infrequent issues. 01:38 *📈 Market Research and Legal Incorporation* - Conducting an hour of research to understand the market, - Using competitors' products, - Incorporating in the US for raising funds from American investors. 02:05 *🛠️ Minimum Viable Product (MVP)* - Importance of launching quickly, - Advice to launch within two months, - The necessity of user feedback for iterations. 02:48 *🌱 Achieving Growth* - The primary importance of growth for raising funds, - Strategies: experimenting with ads, focusing on reference customers, and ensuring usage equals sharing, - Making sharing an integral part of product usage. 03:57 *📢 Public Relations (PR)* - DIY PR strategies, - Treating PR like business development, - Building relationships with reporters and the importance of follow-up. 05:21 *💰 Fundraising Tips* - Positioning the company to not need money, - Scheduling investor meetings tightly to create buzz, - Focusing on growth to attract investors and using press to gain attention. 07:53 *🛠️ Operational Efficiency* - Spending less money and paying attention to monthly expenses, - Extending the runway by reducing costs, - The importance of knowing and managing company expenses. 08:47 *🧑‍💼 Hiring Strategy* - Increasing the average talent with each hire, - Being fair and transparent with offers, - Hiring slowly and effectively, focusing on high talent over quantity. Made with HARPA AI

[@Startupistanbul]

Thank you for summarizing the key points so well!

[@srjkpndt]

Boring to hear but really helpful. So suck it up and just listen. You don't have to watch if you don't want to.

[@Startupistanbul]

I appreciate your honesty! Sometimes the best advice isn't always the most exciting to hear.

[@srjkpndt]

@@Startupistanbul yes.

[@ilyas8523]

Whats boring about it?

[@srjkpndt]

@@ilyas8523 you'd have to take appointment with my subconscious mind.

[@saura_]

I wonder how could we apply some of this principles out of tech too

[@Startupistanbul]

That's an interesting thought! Many of the principles we discuss can actually be applied to various fields, like education, business, and even personal development. It’s all about innovation and adapting ideas!

[@rafalflorek.]

Why Clerky not AngelList?

[@Startupistanbul]

it is a YC company

[@El_Diablo_12]

8:20 examine finances every month

[@Startupistanbul]

It's important to stay on top of your finances!

[@Startupistanbul]

It's important to regularly review your finances to stay on track!

[@jwolpert]

This formula limits the field to young people without families willing to couch surf (fodder for venture capitalists feeding off young flesh), those who have had an exit and can do sweat equity, addicts that will sell the house and risk the kids’ college fund to do one more startup. Good news: this formula stopped being exactly right in 2023/24. There’s still a lot right here. But there is a field of innovators with nuanced insights into real problems from years of experience (at least the subset who stayed hungry, curious and inclined toward changing games rather than just playing the current ones) who have been unleashed…and we don’t need VC money up front.

[@jwolpert]

In the 90s, the “I win button” was A list engineers and money. In the early 2000s, it was a well known VC, then A list designers (and a fancy VC). Now…good team is still important, but the VC is less important and…I think this is right…access to people who can help you break through the noise. That “don’t waste money on PR” slide is still more or less right, but access to people who can help you “break through noise” is more important than access to seed capital. (Maybe) ;)

[@Startupistanbul]

It's fascinating how the dynamics of success have shifted over the years!

[@Entropy-eg1yo]

From the first slide, I don't have any of these things😢😢

[@Startupistanbul]

I appreciate your feedback and will look into addressing your concerns.

[@mthunzimapatwana]

You do have something though

[@user-pi3bu2lm8o]

Nothing about marketing and getting revenue

[@Startupistanbul]

Thanks for pointing that out, I'll keep it in mind for future content.

[@littlebrit]

Very hard to get a press. I don't think relationship will cut. You have to spend on ads. Then they will be talking.

[@Startupistanbul]

It can definitely be a challenge to get press coverage, but staying persistent and exploring different avenues can make a big difference.

[@PatrickThurmond]

Basically, you have to either already be wealthy or be able to live on next to nothing. Then you need to find at least one other person like yourself. Then make sure you have no kids, no other responsibilities, and no life. Lol, the VC view on startups is for quick sale of a company or relatively quick jump to the stock market. F-that.

[@Startupistanbul]

Who needs a life when you have a startup, right? 😄

[@steeveedeee]

You forgot the “10 year old advice” in the title

[@Startupistanbul]

Oops, looks like I missed the memo from the 10-year-olds! I'll make sure to include their sage advice next time!

[@Zavaroth]

based

[@jojo-tx8xq]

im still lost that didnt help me at all

[@Startupistanbul]

I'm sorry to hear that! Can you share what specific parts you found confusing? I’d love to help clarify things for you.

[@antonslonkin]

And in the end it doesn’t mean that your startup will succeed 😜

[@Startupistanbul]

Remember, even the biggest companies started with a crazy idea and a lot of caffeine!

[@OmAnilGonade]

hypocrisy at 0:32 / 10:18 😂

[@Startupistanbul]

Your attention to detail is appreciated!