Chapters (Powered by ChapterMe) - 00:00 - Coming Up 00:13 - Intro: Founders should not think like VCs 00:24 - What is thinking like a VC? 01:04 - Investing in small companies with expert networks 03:05 - How would a YC Partner think when reading applications? Early-stage Investor Priorities 04:56 - Why do founders do this? 06:41 - Thinking from first principles 08:41 - Fear based: Choosing a bad idea 10:06 - VCs give positive feedback to startups, but founders struggle 11:18 - First Customers struggle: Founders thinking like VCs encountering the real world 12:43 - Launch quickly: Avoiding zero-to-one mentality 12:56 - Scaling: Not a lot of founders engaging in zero-to-one 14:19 - Macro Vs. Micro 15:54 - What's the cure for founders? Turn off skills that don't serve startup 17:22 - Spending time with users is a cure 20:36 - Superpowers: Restrict thinking like a VC 21:42 - No Exit Strategy: Humans are trained to have the entire plan worked out 22:26 - You don't need a fool-proof plan today 23:48 - Outro
@matthcw87456 ай бұрын
*Chapterme - Backed by Y Combinator*
@ocanodiego2 ай бұрын
I have found a lot of YC advise is really humbling yourself down and do the hard work. Which makes sense.
@jasoncheung84076 ай бұрын
On a related note, having lots of resources and doing a lot with them is not always how you create progress for your startup. Any founder with a ton of resources can make a lot of decisions like spend a lot on an office, spend a lot on ads, etc. But just because a lot is happening at a startup does not mean progress is actually being made. What separates progress from just a lot of effort and activity? What you choose to do should either help you help your user better by helping them solve the problem you’re trying to solve for them. For example, if you’re running ads to push a vanity metric like signups but don’t look into who is signing up or why they are, you’re technically doing the right thing but not making progress.
@AnthonySistilli6 ай бұрын
as a starcraft grandmaster & startup founder this episode was everything I've ever wanted in life
@gergelymarton6 ай бұрын
P? T? Z?
@jaroddgeorge6 ай бұрын
As another starcraft gm and YC youtube addict I couldn't believe I was hearing a perfect starcraft analogy on the channel
@AnthonySistilli6 ай бұрын
a fellow harstem subscriber - a man of culture i see @@jaroddgeorge
@JohnSmith-mu8fx5 ай бұрын
hopefully not a trucking copilot right?
@RIP2124 ай бұрын
Same. Pleased by analogy a lot :D
@leadgenjay6 ай бұрын
Great insights on the pitfalls of overthinking in the startup phase. Entrepreneurs should also remember that early customer feedback is gold; it's less about impressing investors and more about creating a product that solves real user problems. Quick iterations based on user experience can differentiate between success and stagnation.
@Musa_Media_6 ай бұрын
Jeff Bezos was a VP level investment banker before he started Amazon. Thinking like an investment banker is fine, you just have to understand how entrepreneurship works too. Building, getting the first customer, and scaling are 3 different tasks.
@sammcalpine68516 ай бұрын
No, he worked at D.E. Shaw, a quant hedge fund, not an investment bank
@Trucho19963 ай бұрын
U're wrong buddy. He wasn't a banker
@tigerrx76 ай бұрын
The dynamic duo dropping GEMS!!!!
@juanantonioquiroz95706 ай бұрын
Founders create markets :) Investors speculate.
@beepdotboop6 ай бұрын
As an old school RTS player, I love the micro/macro analogy
@techievena6 ай бұрын
To all the founders crying in the corner after facing daily rejections... just confused where they are going wrong... Dalton and Michael - We're here for you 🤟
@PigeonPost-t9s6 ай бұрын
the premise is: focus on building the shiny object & let the VCs auction it
@msolomonbush6 ай бұрын
If you want to be hired by a VC, then act like one. If you want to be funded by a VC, then act like a Founder.
@Kingromstar6 ай бұрын
Micro -> Macro. I love the analogy.
@Geniusproduction6 ай бұрын
It’s so good, really eye opening
@maximlitvinov846 ай бұрын
So how do u bridge the gap? If a founder isnt thinking like a vc, how can a founder fundraise? Since a founder and VC speak two difrent languages?
@derek-yap6 ай бұрын
I like the part about unlearning. "Turn of the pollution" makes a lot of sense. I think folks are more influenced by what they hear/read than they realize.
@turoczy_6 ай бұрын
Always always always appreciate folks calling out the "exit" slide 😂 Such a good episode.
@hsuyuting19936 ай бұрын
This channel is a goldmine
@perfectlycontent646 ай бұрын
The StarCraft metaphors are so perfect 😂 How do I get product market fit so I can focus on macro and just stay in my base and build pylons.
@NilsWestgardh6 ай бұрын
Love the StarCraft talk! Maybe Kerbal Space Program is more like launching? Quite literally.
@joeingram16 ай бұрын
So helpful in mindset differences Founder v Investor - thanks!
@danielr53436 ай бұрын
I love these two hackers and how they interact. Great episode, helped affirm that my startup mentality's on the right track.
@honorquest6 ай бұрын
Same here.
@kelleyau90566 ай бұрын
I love the starcraft reference and micro / macro discussions!!
@mrjohncrumpton6 ай бұрын
Is micro / macro related to StarCraft? Could you explain this more simply?
@sephypantsu6 ай бұрын
@@mrjohncrumpton micro is how well you control your units in battle, macro is the sequence you build your base in
@SacredCASHcow6 ай бұрын
I don't understand why micro is more important.. in the context of startups
@sephypantsu6 ай бұрын
@@SacredCASHcow micro wins you battles, macro wins the the game. But in startup, at least early stage, you have limited resources and you can't really effectively macro. Thus micro is more important. In StarCraft term is you start out with a group a marine but haven't found a mineral deposit yet
@SacredCASHcow6 ай бұрын
@@sephypantsu yeah I actually played starcraft III quite a bit and was a total noob who would cannon rush people into ...gold? I don't remember. How does this apply to startups? Is micro like coding ability and macro is market research? or?..
@AbuChanChannel5 ай бұрын
This video should be for consultants who trying to build startups.
@JabariHolloway6 ай бұрын
Thank you both for your help & guidance 🙏. In my own journey, I'm excited about reducing the "pollution"/noise and embracing being a beginner again 😎
@StreamAgency6 ай бұрын
I measured 0x and cut 100x!
@rishabhchopra64186 ай бұрын
Where’s the orange?
@sbamba30276 ай бұрын
This is your best video. Micro macro analogy so violent and on point.
@jeroenjansen38356 ай бұрын
I would love a video about the laser focus on the relation between product and early customers
@ageofjeremy6 ай бұрын
Starcraft podcast on the horizon
@LindleyWhite6 ай бұрын
How would you go about widening your own personal filter for good ideas?
@gabe-villasana6 ай бұрын
Summary/Takeaways generated by Zenfetch: Summary The video discusses the risks of founders thinking like investors when starting a company, and instead emphasizes the importance of focusing on building something users want, getting early customer feedback, and understanding your own strengths and superpowers. Key Takeaways 1. It's easy to get stuck in an 'investor mindset' and overthink what to build based on what you think VCs will like, rather than focusing on what users actually want. 2. The most important things when starting a company are simpler than many founders think - things like getting early customer feedback, understanding your own strengths, and scaling gradually. 3. Unlearning the 'investor mindset' and instead focusing on first principles, positive feedback from users, and your own unique superpowers is key to building a successful company.
@nexovec6 ай бұрын
This is a VERY important video
@guiller23716 ай бұрын
I guess all points to what we founders actually have; an idea, a prototype, a product, an actual plan, or a real business. The earliest we seek fundings; the more we are giving away our future company; including the work on converting our company into an actual business. For instance; I am conscious of the fact that I don't really have a business yet. I have an idea? Absolutely! I had invested, and I even have access; but not enough to start the sales. Well; probably, I am still too early to start raising funds. On the other hand; my business could die for the lack of funds. How can you blame founders for trying everything to survive?
@gabep3586Ай бұрын
StarCraft 2 analogies! Awesome!
@stephaneessomba94416 ай бұрын
It's always refreshing to listen you
@ProcessAgilist5 ай бұрын
It's amazing how many people start a business with the sole purpose of getting funding and getting bought out, rather than "solve a problem".
@capaneo5 ай бұрын
That's because they get their advise from reality TV and tiktok.
@alfred82945 ай бұрын
Is it me, or is Michael skinnier? Way to go amigo!;
@qet-lab5 ай бұрын
FYI yc motto 'make something people want' is less than 50 characters
@haimbender6 ай бұрын
Would be great if you where more specific on what to focus on against what not to focus on, seems like don't think like a VC is super general
@opioo.49986 ай бұрын
They're building on all their previous videos... details you're looking for are most likely in previous videos...me thinks
@tpwb58824 ай бұрын
Y combinator is like the large hydron collider of particles but just companies and people gets collided in YCs case. I am coming to get smashed good in there guys. Wait foe me.😅
@danielmarco78636 ай бұрын
I would like to think I have 300 APM, and right now those actions aren't amounting to THAT much, but when it's time, I'll be ready to act.
@valentinn35076 ай бұрын
Exactly what I needed right now.
@danielkaufmann21916 ай бұрын
Same
@grammar_shark6 ай бұрын
Same
@jessenorthcutt99266 ай бұрын
. . . Hmm, why didn't they bring up the 'tar pit' analogy as they did in youtube episode about a year ago ? . . .
@nang886 ай бұрын
Ok
@Nepali-entrepreneur20246 ай бұрын
Interesting topic ❤ 😍
@KevinFungEngineer6 ай бұрын
My startup is Zerg phase gathering minerals. My strategy to dominate my market is to keep it simple and just build lots of hydralisks
@neugey6 ай бұрын
I'm lousy at investment and finance and don't enjoy it either. Addition by subtraction!
@nickbryantfyi6 ай бұрын
Guys you gotta micro your macro on startups
@SkySells6 ай бұрын
So what I’m hearing is I should make a reasoning fighting robot?
@shrek226 ай бұрын
They act like micro takes a few months. It’s a way of life. Think user authentication, database back ups, schemas, queries. These things can cause some to crawl in a corner. I’ve seen it. Authors are over here laughing about it like it’s just another thing.
@KovachLj6 ай бұрын
Investing to get exit, kills the product.
@noisycarlos6 ай бұрын
So you're saying i should start a trucking AI app, thanks! /s
@mohanish0076 ай бұрын
*Yess* love this
@dennishestersphr58155 ай бұрын
Sales cures all. If you have sales and don't need funding, then you will get it. Don't have sales, then you're not getting funding.l
@rowland59516 ай бұрын
11:01 Brett from figure AI in a nutshell.
@LumenCache6 ай бұрын
We sold $2m of the crappy prototype and survived a 10 year on-ramp needed to transform a $200bTAM. I dare you to pass on the $600k SAFE. I even use your form 😊.
@facundomrios5 ай бұрын
I can;t understand what say this guys, I don't understand their references
@larrychanhangpei92926 ай бұрын
To be honest I really hate the laughters as I want to hear it clearly word to word.
@jelanimasego86566 ай бұрын
How are employees gonna teach founders how to be founders
@AliEl6 ай бұрын
One minute founders need to understand investors next minute founders shouldn’t think like an investor. What is it then? 🙃
@nexovec6 ай бұрын
LOLOL How can you ask for money when you not only do not have a product but not even the idea. Like come on, how many afternoons does it take to think of 20 ideas and picking the best one? It's like these people are completely oblivious to the entire concept of the very business they are trying to build. I wonder how many successful founders like that are there, probably not very many.
@johnnovotny42866 ай бұрын
💯
@adampaslawski88596 ай бұрын
🎉
@CraigieHorace-g8r17 күн бұрын
Young Gary Davis John Johnson Donna
@facundomrios5 ай бұрын
No se entienden nada estos videos
@samedaycyborg6 ай бұрын
takeaway: play more starcraft.
@bluesque96876 ай бұрын
Why do you force yourself to laugh so much?
@UdhayaPrakash6 ай бұрын
It comes of as " I know everything. Look at these people who are funny know nothing"
@anson_kao6 ай бұрын
If you meet Michael Seibel in person or on a call, he ACTUALLY laughs like this all the time. He's not forcing it. He's just hilarious 🤣
@bluesque96876 ай бұрын
@@anson_kao Well, if I get to meet him I would have so much on my mind that his laughter though awkward would be least of my concerns! But i dont think i can laugh with him everytime he does! That would be silly or even mad!
@hoang-AI5 ай бұрын
It's pretty annoying and distracting to the conversation tbh
@dmystfy5 ай бұрын
Killjoy
@TheDjerq6 ай бұрын
Love your podcasts but dude stop laughing all the time.