The Best Way To Launch Your Startup | Startup School

[@ycombinator]

Tell us about your most recent launch!

[@sephadmiral6842]

Hey just want to ask if this is a cool 1-2 sentences pitch: 1. Seamless digital art marketplace with all-in-one tools, the solutions to hassle-free minting, buying, trading, and selling art.

[@sumankar4873]

bookface but not only for YC founders for all founders, gigs and content creators

[@lokalpod]

mehungry wants to simplify healthy eating and improve nutrition habits

[@motelejesuolamilekan1950]

We are a marketplace platform for blue collar services and errands. We recently announced on whatsapp that we'll help people in Lagos Island buy fuel, so they can save time and effort, as fuel scarcity is one of the current biggest problems in Nigeria.

[@sephadmiral6842]

@@motelejesuolamilekan1950 Platforms for blue color services that helps Lagos people in buying fuel to save their time

[@chapterme]

Chapters (Powered by ChapterMe) - 00:00 - Intro 00:09 - Launching Your Startup 01:28 - When Should I Launch My Startup? 03:42 - One Sentence Pitch 05:19 - How to Create a Short Memorable Description 09:17 - When is the X for Y Construction Not Too Cliche? 11:26 - Why you need to launch continuously 12:05 - Types of Launches 12:15 - Silent Launch 12:55 - Friends & Family Launch 13:44 - Launching to Strangers 15:10 - How to Launch Through Online Communities 17:25 - Social Media Launch 18:11 - Pre-order Launch 18:54 - Waitlist Launch 19:21 - Press Launch 19:58 - Start to Build Your Own Community 20:43 - Summary

[@ipreign7513]

What is chapterme

[@commissaryclub3168]

This presentation is so valuable--exactly what makes YC so extraordinary.

[@Theone-ou2xt]

Even if someone isn't launching a startup but working on some other project the desire to make it perfect can delay us from finishing it .I deal with this tendency myself, very educational video it was really good to watch, I hope i can apply what i learned.

[@JetSoftProHQ]

The launch is something you do continually! What a great thought! Especially, for software development projects.

[@carlosdesantiago1356]

Summary with highlights 00:01 Launch early and launch frequently - Launch early to determine if you're solving a big enough problem - Launch frequently to iterate and improve until you have a core of users 03:04 Having a core group of users who really love you is important for growth - Understand why users love your product and do more of it - Create a clear and succinct one-sentence pitch to help spread the word about your company 05:47 Be concise and avoid meaningless jargon while pitching. - Start with a crisp and relevant sentence about the company and what it does. - Avoid rambling, give context up front, and communicate efficiently. 08:31 Use descriptive, personalized language when pitching your startup. - Avoid overused X for Y constructions, but use analogies if they are the best way to explain your business to investors, press, etc. - If using an X for Y analogy, ensure that X is a household name, it's clear why Y would want X, and Y represents a huge market. 11:08 Launching early can help you practice and refine your idea - Silent launch: create a simple landing page with domain name, company name, short description, and a call to action - Friends and family launch: test your pitch and gather feedback, but don't stay in this phase for too long 13:42 Direct customer feedback is crucial for building the right product. - Doordash founders spoke to over 200 small business owners to create a product that solved their problems. - Online communities like Bookface and Hacker News' Show HN can provide low risk ways to launch and get early feedback. 16:05 Successfully launch on Hacker News with a simple waitlist strategy - Communities have different audiences, know what appeals to them - Be authentic and avoid marketing/promo language 18:34 Launch again and again to build an engaged community - Pre-order campaigns should be planned properly to maximize success and guidance is available online - Press is not scalable for sustained growth, building a community is important for future launches.

[@arjfnd]

Thank you

[@letsclimb5828]

Thank you so much for providing this content. You have top-notch production with clear and concise instruction; it is rare to see in this space. No fake guru, no fluff. Subbed 👍

[@aligulaj]

This has been a timely clip...been struggling with what to do about my launch but now i have an idea on what to do. My previous launch didn't go so well and i got stuck ...but with this ...i have a rough idea on what to do. Thanks YC

[@topptacticalintelligencelt6855]

Big thanks for this! The one-liner is a life saver and getting it tested in the market as soon as possible is key!

[@zecare]

You guys have the best videos ever

[@oscarmartinezbeltran]

Why do YC bring always the same success examples: Airbnb, Superhuman, Redit, etc? Is not there other success stories?

[@Therealbrez]

A lot of them aren't as famous as the big ones that people know about even for nerds like us. I don't know what checkr does and I honestly don't care.

[@timbukstu]

For most people to understand the analogy, they need to have heard of it, and experienced it in their own life. In this way, most examples will refer to the same startups. Just like when you hear that open AI or artificial intelligence is the new iPhone moment.

[@Moneyvybz50]

They have Open Ai as well, I think it's just because those are more well known so the have more appeal to us

[@onwukatochukwu3406]

Unicorns.

[@JensKoesterSalesConsulting]

Always launch and do not wait. Thank you Kat, great video!

[@AhmedFarrakha]

I think this is the most useful video on this channel.

[@tawonamagede6637]

Always extremely interesting to hear the launch process for companies

[@RecipesLive]

I started a food blog that evolved into an interactive recipe channel. I think I need to niche down again as it is to much work for one person or find a specific customer base. Great video thanks Brendan.

[@johnstalkernet]

Thank you! Love the commentary about starting with “what” before “why.” I was guilty of this recently until people kept interrupting me with “Wait wait, John. What does this actually do?”

[@elliptictree]

Definitely you should launch a video of "How to launch". Very Helpful for startups 👍🗝️

[@ferrerasalexander]

Thanks for this video, I was thinking about that maybe doing something wrong but I see know I'm doing well .

[@poulticegeist]

Thank you. Does anyone know what was said about the concern about competition? I feel like launching too soon without establishing a moat can be giving those with more resources an edge

[@draquibmoin]

What an immaculate overview!

[@doctorale84]

"launch right now" isn't always the answer. This leads to subpar products that fall through the cracks getting launched. Launching isn't just about the product, it's about marketing, positioning, onboarding experience etc. It is not 2010 any more and people have expectations.

[@hodlTheRocket]

“Launch as soon as possible” would be better phrasing. The product still has to be developed enough that it makes at least 1 person happy

[@MatheusLB2009]

1:32 "it's ASAP, it's *probably* right now" And if your launch fails, launch again and again

[@joecod298]

I created my product in less than 5 days, launched it and now 20 days later my business is with almost 60 users, 18 recurrent users and some of them is paying🔥. I’ll join YC this batch. Mark my words

[@TheRealPhillipJacobs]

Let's gooo!! What's your product's name Joe. I'd like to try it out - unless it's geo blocked for now ?

[@zzzyyyxxx]

Interested as well, what's the product?

[@oliv23_]

Sorry to break the vibe here but if you created it in less than 5 days, what's stopping anyone from doing the same?

[@zzzyyyxxx]

@@oliv23_ the difference is, they did it.

[@TheRealPhillipJacobs]

@@zzzyyyxxx I agree. A MVP is not meant to set you apart in order of magnitude. It's just the first step of trying to understand what it is people want.

[@VincentOkpala]

Thank you. Wonderful, this is so great and helpful. I can't find the link on the types of launches that is supposed to be in the description.

[@eazypeazy8559]

Wow! That's great, thank you for the info. I'm really experimenting with my tech project, that has potentially useful idea in its core. Now I understand better how to verify that idea and move forward.

[@alijavibe]

The best speaker! Thx a lot for tons useful information ❤

[@MatsoloMatooane]

I launched a product for farmers and quickly realised that the buyers set the demand for products so producers have to produce what buyers want and in most cases this is not the case. I.e Buyers wanted tomatoes etc and none of the farmers in the community had planted tomatoes to sell. So my customers are the buyers and I need to get farmers to produce what buyers want or what the market wants, which is an education/crop and demand planning problem

[@diegoocasiano]

This is pure gold

[@AbhishekKumar-kh8zp]

Love from India 🇮🇳

[@jinettew.3192]

YC very lucky to have you!

[@goynukk]

Thanks for these great ideas to launch our start-up!

[@dacolsson]

Good video! The only thing is that I was scared when a word containing letter “s” was coming up.

[@SwahiliSpicE]

Can I ask which teleprompter you are using?

[@sosiuasekona]

Thanks for the share Kat.

[@mburu.mwangi]

Such a goldmine!

[@boriszhilinskiy8187]

Incredibly transformational and inspirational!

[@Ghinko]

This was helpful and informative, thank you

[@arpitsingh4937]

We are launching a sales course soon.

[@notkeatonharris707]

Do you have the link to the tiktok tips that were mentioned?

[@machapuis]

When you say launch again and again I am a bit confused. I am currently working on an app ....so I need to remove it from the store if I want to launch again?

[@sandymakesplans]

the communication skills of these presenters arehealing me

[@martinstine]

Nice one Kat. 🙌🙌🙌 YC

[@pedrocosta2472]

Where can I find the alum ship bob pre-order guide?

[@Unknowledgeable1]

The best way to launch your startup Is to know your passion and your heart Let your unique vision be your guide And keep your focus sharp, never let it slide Find your tribe and make a connection Networking is key, with no objection Get feedback and learn from mistakes Don't be afraid to make those high-risk stakes Be fearless and never lose your drive The world needs your talent, your power, your thrive Believe in yourself and your innovative quest And let your startup soar, to be the best.

[@lokthar6314]

nice GPT3

[@angsh]

Beautiful. So clear ❤

[@3nityC]

Can I use "of" rather than "for"?

[@jonassteinberg3779]

The first pave description was better. Immediately describes what problem they're solving: one that plagues tech folks.

[@henry-ng]

Arguments made by the author are: 1. There are different types of launches that a startup can use, including a landing page launch, friends and family launch, launching to strangers, online community launch, and pre-order campaign launch. (12:20-18:55) 2. Building a community is important for startups, and startups should start building their own community while in startup school. (19:56-20:19) 3. Launching is not just one moment in time, and startups should keep launching again and again, even if the first launch doesn't work. (20:45-20:54)

[@Axel.The.Conqueror]

Information shared by yc are extremely valuable i really thank you guys!

[@biswajitmishra1762]

Thanks for the informative content

[@flare_toucan]

Any slack community for YC ?

[@GuneTools]

I like her eyebrows and their strategic movement

[@sandymakesplans]

ikr she gets me so pumped up😅

[@ShoaibMahmudOfficial]

Launch it, get feedback, Interate, Make user happy

[@mentorshq]

Thank you

[@theyruinedyoutubeagain]

Whoever mastered the audio on this video, what the hell lmao

[@Travelsync157]

I want to launch company against a big gaint who was funded by yc, idk should i go with yc or not? Anybody……

[@khenisavan6531]

This Video is a helpful for me

[@saloni379]

What to do when you're friends and family not interested in your any startup (ie they view startup as waste of time)

[@esgosar]

Launch ASAP.

[@Ditto-sCrazyCoding]

Thank you.

[@randy4ii411]

Thank you Kat.

[@welseapply]

good one

[@yairsedaka9776]

QUESTIONS FOR THE AUDIENCE Would you like to have a simple "startup ideas" evaluator framework for better evaluating and comparing startup ideas?

[@carlosbraga9381]

nice, i sign up

[@caesar7733]

Yes please

[@tilkesh]

Thanks

[@mochileroxpress6083]

Thank you!

[@elliott73072]

Can you show us a diagram of common start up exit scenarios? Not only would it be highly intellectually rewarding to see, it'd be interesting to see if there's a formula to acquire large amounts of money (aka get rich 😆)

[@ueang]

thanks a lot!

[@PivotHER]

care4aging is like Yelp for senior care services and housing

[@grammar_shark]

Great video.

[@nickrogge1575]

This video is so much help. Could we maybe get a video in the future on doing a preorder campaign?

[@bluepunkrocker]

I tried launching an nft Eat 2 Earn project. I had a small community and a detailed plan but I'm not a technical developer so I am stuck at building the smart contract. I'm relaunching because of this! TY!

[@saeleor]

bro really said eat 2 earn unironically 💀

[@bluepunkrocker]

@sabo lol I know how it sounds dog. It's really a platform for restaurants to create a rewards program. But since it's NFT related I was mocking STEPN.

[@saeleor]

@@bluepunkrocker I was literally picturing a platform of mukbang mfs eating themselves to death for some tokens

[@bluepunkrocker]

@@saeleor 😆🤣🤣

[@nedyalkokarabadzhakov5405]

the problem is not when to launch but WHERE??? we need a place where people want to try your product. For example i have build this product that you can use to connect your personal interests with content on the web.

[@andreavasconez6387]

Do customer discovery and find your niche! When you find them you’ll also see where they hang out

[@arifinchowdhury3662]

Amazing

[@sngari]

I Wish i knew this in 2008..but it's not too late.

[@GiPa98]

nice

[@brain_respect_and_freedom]

Thank you 👍👏👏👏

[@itsvictoroyedeji]

🔥🔥🔥

[@sysavaneusman5435]

Finally

[@mastershredder2002]

4:02 They use FEWER words. Not "less".

[@AlaZehyeri]

👍

[@ovidiuc4]

FYI The intonation is driving me insane. It's taking not being monotone to the extreme. To the point I can barely focus on the great information being transmitted. I had to turn the speakers in the car really loud, because I couldn't hear/understand the lower tone words. But then the other parts were too loud.

[@penielsalekwa8996]

Wow no wonder Elon recommended you 😃😃

[@joemak8181]

Thank you, but you should not launch if you don’t know your market and customers! A product should offer customer needs satisfaction not just test hypothesis! IMO

[@VeronikaBogush]

former Soviet Union counties

[@flywheelIterator]

low key Angelina Jolie

[@DavidProrok]

The CEO of Indy Cloud watching this video like 😒🫠

[@Math_kru_earng]

thanks a lot!