skysight-inc/HackerNews huggingface dataset:
Think about it this way. PG built news.YC in large part to get to know people before committing to working with them. News.YC has relevant articles that you can comment on. PG could have just as easily built a site that let you upload your profile pic and interests.

The thing is, uploading a profile pic and interests wouldn't let PG know how smart you are or what your personality is like. On news.YC, users are literally creating their own identities through their interaction with the site and with each other. Furthermore, PG designed the site so that users would interact in a way that would reveal the aspects of their character that are most salient to knowing whether or not they'll build a successful startup or go out and blow his money on hookers and beer.

news.YC is the solution to PG's identity problem. However, the problem of whether or not to fund a group is very similar to the problem of knowing whether or not to work with someone. PG's a smart guy. Think about which parts of his solution are relevant to your problem, and go from there.
I'm in Miami too. Not sure if I can go, though. When are you flying up?
Diving into INTERCAL - Part Isa - Introduction, Manners & 'Hello, World'
Actually I'm planning to add more stuff to help people meet communicate with one another. The new "about" field in the profile is a step toward that.

I don't want to just solve YC's problem; I want to make this site do what users need.
The 100% guaranteed easiest way to do Enterprise 2.0?
Ahh, that is a good direction for the site to go in I think.

My thinking is that YC's problem is mainly figuring out how likely people are to MSPW and how fun they will be to work with.

I am trying to think out how the co-founder problem differs from the YC problem, but I'm not sure which assumptions to use:

1) The productivity of the startup is mainly the sum of the traits of each individual. Plus, to a lesser extent, the synergies between them.

2) The productivity of the startup is mainly an emergent phenomenon that is difficult to predict from looking at either of the two co-founders alone. Plus, to a lessor extent, the traits of each individual. (For example, the output of someone working with Steve Jobs is different than their output in other circumstances.)

Whether it's more of case 1 or more of case 2 matters when figuring out in which direction to take the community, because in each case you are going to want a different systemic design to bring out the different salient factors. (Of course it could actually be case 1 for some startups and case 2 for other startups, which would make the problem even more difficult.)
What are the founders of SUN up to now?
Web 2.0 Media: Important Notice To Our Readers
Well, here's one:

lynx -source http://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=$USER_IN_QUESTION | grep '<span class="comhead">' | wc -l
I have no idea if this has already been brought up (considering I just skimmed over the responses in this discussion) but I'd like to see another tab on top that maybe is for questions that people are curious about. I see that people are posting in the news areas not links but a single question that they're looking for people to respond to and create debate. They're not necessarily news worthy contributions but important none the less in fueling conversations.
That's a surprisingly low number, actually. The first SFP had 227 applications[1] and I assume it's grown since then. Based on nothing at all, I'll guess that the average application has 2.35 founders, so that's 533 applicants. YC has been pretty explicit that they want applicants to participate here.

[1] http://web.archive.org/web/20050414040411/ycombinator.com/sfpannounce.html
I'll be there (From Cleveland, OH). Staying downtown with a rental car - left my cell number on the bluwiki site.
More important than being able to talk to each other is being able to see who's talking to one, I think.

a) Notification when someone replies directly to one's comment.

b) Some way to easily find new comments on a thread. Instead of marking comments read, let me click a page-level button to "reset new marks". Couple that with sorting the front-page by 'number of recent comments'. Especially in periods when the front-page changes infrequently it'll allow users to follow discussions after they've read the submission.

Let me find interesting users and filter them for potential co-founders.

c) Show me users whose submissions and comments I upmod most and who I talk to the most.

d) Provide tags for me to add on my profile: location, horizon to startup, areas of interest, etc. Allow others to set constraints and highlight for them users who match those constraints/tags.
YC & Techstars investment is more than just cash (Feld's thoughts)
While it might not be entirely true, it certainly gives you an attitude that affects your behavior for the better, especially at early stages. From my limited experience, talking about your ideas to both laypeople and technical people can only help you.

Talking to laypeople helps you solidify and lets you practice pitching what it is that you're doing. When you're working at a company, you don't have to explain yourself very much. But when you say you're doing a startup, I've found that most people will demand more of an explanation. However, most people don't have the patience in everyday settings to listen to more than 2 or 3 minutes of it. This helps you whittle out the core of what it is that you're trying to build. Call it a functional spec cleaning, if you want.

Talking about your ideas with technical people might give you insight into different areas you're not as familiar with. The more that I read, the more I realized everything is inter-related. But it's hard to have that kind of breadth in this day and age of specialization--there's just way too much to know. Talking to technical people will often times help you make connections and leads to other technical fields that will help you get a feel for where else you can dig or if you're digging in the right place.

That said, most people won't steal your ideas for the same reasons mentioned before by others. Doubts and eagerness to point out how it might not work. Lack of vision, breadth and depth to understand the problem and implications. Lack of technical ability. Lack of time. Lack of motivation.

And after reading and talking to people, it seems like ideas end up changing. It's only when you're a bit bigger that you'd have to worry about secrets.
The Economist starts to innovate (?)
I'm pretty sure I'm gonna stick with startup school on this one now. See you all there.
See, this is why wordpad generates more revenue than Word.
I would love to apply to YC for my upcoming startup http://www.onista.com but YC had made it clear so many times that they do not like either "Single Founder" Or "Moonlighters" and unfortunately or fortunately I am both.

Not sure why YC guys think that way (May be they want to play safe bets) but I am on very well course to release my application "Onista" for public use in Summer Timeframe.

Honestly I do not even need the funding (Amount) that YC offers, but what would be great to have is their brand-name with my startup.

May be YC should start some category like "YC Certified Startup". Funding is not major worry here. I got that.
It works, but only under the assumption that user liveness is constant or increasing over time. A liveness metric should differentiate strongly between a user who has commented 30 times in the past 4 days, and someone who commented 25 times in the first 4 days of news.yc. and 5 times since. Perhaps I'll hack something together.
Any ideas on how to create buzz before launching a startup. Need advice as I am about to launch http://www.onista.com in summer timeframe.
Advice for applying to Y combinator - by Justin Kan (Kiko co-founder)
Actually the idea is still nascent even though I wrote it down 10 years ago!
But here's another:
http://juwo-works.blogspot.com/2007/03/co-founder-match-making.html
I would say that a lot depends upon the type of product that you're building. For example, if it's a web-based social networking app, send your beta announcement mail to, say, 10 people or 50 people and track views and signups for 2-3 weeks. See what kind of network effect you get. Pick your initial invitees wisely. If you want users, then you want them to be the so-called influencers.

I also have this question. I am a little reticent, though, because I'm concerned about scalability. In my case, I am writing the front end in typical database-backed fashion, but the backend is several custom C++ components. So while I want users, I'm not sure how much I want them on day one. Everything I read says, "get users, figure out your weaknesses, and scale as needed." That's reassuring. Nevertheless, the unknowns that we face can still be daunting.

Larger companies and people who have been around the block will often use a PR firm or will simply file a press release themselves. It costs about $1000, from what I understand.

I think from the standpoint of your average bootstrapper, guerilla tactics are in order. I plan on using Google Analytics. I haven't tried it yet, but I plan to. It will, for example, show hits based on geographic location. You can use that to target local advertising in the markets where you're getting some initial traction. I don't think there is really a set approach. When you're a guerilla, anything is possible.
pls. delete this duplicate thread. What do you think of this idea that could be used to match cofounders?
creating buzz is not necessarily a good thing. the first product you launch will be bad because it hasn't had user input (nothing compares to real users using your site). it will become incrementally better as more people tell you how they actually want it to work.

taking the pre-launch buzz approach is high risk. take powerset for example - they have generated so much buzz that their product had better be a google killer from day one or they're in trouble.
that sounds cool. we've all been so wrapped up in investor day we've not organized anything for startup school by way of meetups. keep me posted on what you plan.
What do you think of this idea that could be used to match cofounders?
I don't think creating buzz prior to launch is that necessary for most startups. The question is more how to get a lot of people to the site after there's something to do there.
It's so hilarious the way they keep this stuff at arm's length. They can't say tag cloud without scare quotes (I'm with them there) and yet *they're making one*.
It's certainly true for my startup. I've been advertising my ideas for years, hoping someone else would do all the work, but in desperation I'm now building a company to produce the software I was hoping someone else would make.

Look at Google -- they tried to sell their algorithm so they could stay in school, but no one was interested, so they had to put up or shut up. If a bunch of people already thought your idea was a good idea, it'd effectively be a mature space.
Well Onista (http://www.onista.com) is a social marketplace where anybody can buy or sell anything and also socialize, create friends and never worry about paying any listing fees, commission, auctions. It would be very simple.

I was reading this article about "8 Simple Steps to Build Traffic For Your Internet Startup" @ http://www.scoreboard-media.com/internet-startup-traffic/ and was trying to understand, but some of the stuff I could not really follow.
Like "What is defensible traffic". Also it says "Build links". But then how to build links?
I do not mind spending money on having Press Release, but I do not know when is the right time to have one, and also who can assist me in writing a press-release. (My Written English sucks more than MC Hammer's accountant).

When you said, "end your beta announcement mail to, say, 10 people or 50 people". Should those be my friends and contacts or I can buy email list from somewhere. No Idea.
I already sent email to my friends and contacts and so far 29 ppl have signed up to see when I release the product.
Same thing happened to www.riya.com as well I guess.
I signed up for their Release, and was waiting for them to release. When they released, I noticed that it sucked. So I never used it again.
I'm halfway through Founders at Work and the conclusion I am getting is an overwhelming yes. The chapter on Hotmail is pretty illuminating -- nobody else they talked to thought web-based e-mail was remotely a good idea.
You are right. But in order to get the first users, don't you think people need to know that there is something called Onista that exists?
Seth Godin on why startups innovate better
Diving into INTERCAL - Still trying to write 'Hello, world'
ideas floating in air? true.
ideas implemented in a prototype? untrue
Just wondering... I can help implement it for YC.
-
Anil
ignore this duplicate thread - no way to delete???
Someone signed up using email address "you_craigslist_wannabe_will_fail@badly_publically...."
Funny... Very funny. Good that I'm not developing Onista anything like or even close to Cragslist. No connection.
please delete me! accidental submission, can't delete myself.
please delete me! dupe catching didn't work right. sorry!
Paul, what does "Strap on some plums" mean, and why is it the other half of succeeding in a startup?
Actually the idea is still nascent even though I wrote it down 10 years ago! But here's another: http://juwo-works.blogspot.com/2007/03/co-founder-match-making.html
I think it's more the vision than just the idea that matters. Superficially understanding an idea and really "getting it" is different. In the end you're protected from most people by their own lack of knowledge, skepticism, small thinking, etc.

The people who are smart enough to steal your idea, in a way that would be competitive, probably have their own ideas or would be willing to work together.
Yeah juwo, pretty suprising stuff huh? There's WAY more here:

http://www.romain-moisescot.com/steve/beingsteve/html/beingsteveFR.html

There's more to the website than this one page (biography, media gallery etc.), just click around.
Hey Readmore! I did it just for you mate! :P Hope it made a positive difference.
I really agree with that, zaidf. But one other thing that really got me was how I couldn't take my eyes away from him (video). Even when Steve isn't physically in front of you, he is still able to command your attention and make whatever story he tells believable. For better or worse, Steve truly is a prophet.
all about Steve (Jobs) - Being Steve
This is the most comprehensive source of information on Steve I've ever seen. There's more to the website than this one page (biography, media gallery etc.), just click around.

Enjoy!
I have to say that this concept is unfounded on many levels. Case and point being that the basis of a good partnership is a good friendship. If I meet someone on the Internet, my first thought is that they are not who they say they are.

There is no need for social networking to extend to the business concept on this level. If you can not find a founder in your town, in real life, then start a business yourself. Either that, or don't start one at all.

Jason Berlinsky
Not a bad idea at all, it's so simple it could actually work out. I just wonder how effective any form of online matchmaking is (for cofounders I mean, which is A LOT HARDER than normal dating!), because it is missing the human face-to-face element. I believe a large part (if not all) of finding a successful cofounder is the chemistry and deep social bonds formed over time, by working or hanging out with each other. Maybe this is because there is no precedence with how the current great founders did it, but hey, if matching up online helps out I'm for it!
If your idea is so obvious and easily understood that you have to worry about it being stolen, then you gotta wonder why someone hasn't already done it.

Also, talk is cheap. And ideas are just talk.
It is my understanding that the application process puts less initial weight on the demo than the application itself (based on the text preceding the application itself). However, Justin says that a good demo is the key to acceptance. Should a good application not come first, based on the wording of the application?

Jason Berlinsky
If he thinks it'll fail publically I'd take that as a compliment. If you last long enough to be in the public eye, you're well ahead of the curve.
Can you please post what it says mainly, if it has a main point. Its too big!
Almost everyone I meet(there are exceptions) is pessimistic of all my ideas. Which is lots of fun because you can tell they don't quite get the "whole thing" as you have in your mind no matter how well you explain to them.

Co-incidentally I wrote a post titled "Mere ideas have never been this useless" just earlier today. You can read it here: http://www.zaid360.com/?p=63

--Zaid
Breakeven point for ad-funded Internet site (interesting discussion thread)
Folks On Student Visas Leave Comment About Your Burning Start Up Urge!
I want to find out if we are the only ones, or if we have company. Basically myself and a couple of my friends are itching start up. We can't quiet sleep! We see the products out there, and we get a funny feeling, we feel we can do a LOT better. But we are International Grad Students, on student visas. We cannot drop out, even if we want to.( Visa becomes invalid, Currently there are no start up visas :)) Oh, if only Paul Graham were president!. I felt so jealous when octopart posted about his/her dropping out of grad school. We have come to the point, where we are trying to moonlight it. But as moon-lighters know, sometimes it is very hard. Are there more people like us? Leave a comment as to how you deal with it (tips!) Or just leave us a comment!
Nice, I was about to make the same site last week until I got buried in work..

One thing: should the search really include "Technical Weaknesses" as well?
Yeah, Same thought came to my mind as well. Thanks for supporting comment.
I've been on an H1-B visa for two years, and have been doing a startup on the side for a year. If there are no more delays, I'll get my Green Card in about three months.
I am betting that competition is so stiff at this point that you'd seriously hurt your chances by not having a slick demo.
A demo shows that you can at least get something done. Even if the idea isn't good, a good demo still has a lot of value.
Sorry, can't be president (born in England). But as far as I know there is no reason you can't start a company on a student visa. You can't be hired by someone else's company, but you don't have to be a US citizen or resident to own a company based in the US.
The Thinking Machine: Jeff Hawkins's new startup, Numenta
Some of the questions don't seem very productive ("Are you easy to get along with?" -- Who would set N?). Even if questions were tuned, it just seems fixed, categorical, and coldly unequivocal. A working relationship is anything but.
I believe the application is the more important part. But a demo can let the know that you've done more than dream. It would say that you have, at the very least, gone further than conceptualize and thought about implementation.
The lessons I've learnt during Y Combinator
Well, the demo is not everything. According to this article, you must also be able to change ideas and trains of thought. What good will a demo do if you are ultimately going to change your train of thought and move on to something else?
Steve Poland's (from TechCrunch) pitch document on "Vyous" startup idea
I was on a student visa and then said goodbye to school after 1 year (in ESL school) and 3 months (college). I would have continued school if I had the fund while I work on my startup. If you still want to be able to see your family and visit your home country, the best way is to moonlight it. It is very hard but you gotta do what you gotta do. ;)
Note to anyone who just skimmed it: Read all of it.

This part stuck with me:

"Level out the highs and lows. [...] For me this is the toughest part of startups because I find it emotionally draining but I also appreciate that right now I'd find it incredibly difficult to return to a 'normal' life. I'm hooked on this way of doing this now."

Thanks Harj.
Nicely done, Harj.
Autopsy of web apps: RegOnline, FeedBurner, Wufoo, and Blinksale (slides from SXSW -- 2MB zip)
Lots of insightful numbers to learn from. Anyone who's starting a web app should give this a look.
I graduated from school in the States this past December, and was in the same situation as you. I did some research and concluded two things:

1) Be very careful about staying in valid visa status. You don't want to leave the US then come back only to be told you can't enter.
2) Consult an immigration lawyer (I did). It's not impossible to work in the US on a startup full-time, but there are a few issues you should be aware of (said issues might delay you). Our american friends do definitely have it easier though, as they can drop out of school and not get kicked out of the country :)

The US does actually provide visas (look up E-2 visas) for people who want to set-up businesses in the States (only for citizens of certain countries). But it does seem that these visas stem from a somewhat antiquated view of what starting a company entails (some of the documents required for an E-2 application are incorporation papers, a detailed business plan, bank statements and other financial documents
showing where the investment funds are from and how much are involved, business lease, receipts and documentation of equipments, supplies, inventories, contracts and receipts, customer/client list, etc.)

Anyway, best of luck. Like I said, your best source of information is an immigration lawyer. Having said that, I'd also love to hear from other foreigners (real foreigners, not ones that are also American citizens :) who tried to start a startup in the States.
'... top-level node compares the shapes against a library of objects and selects the best match ...'

Sounds a bit like cyc (http://www.cyc.com/cyc/technology/whatiscyc) with this statement. What objects are stored? Who decides what goes in the library? Wonder if they intend to use 'human' seeding of data to improve the system?
*warning*... download is 2Mb zip file (but well worth the effort). Whoever compiled this did a great job.
They could start with customized feeds based on a section or topic of the magazine, (maybe a feed of the leaders each week) you'd think you would get something decent for $100/yr :P guess not.
I was giving the initial email idea as an example. I think it's an interesting way to launch a social networking site. It gives you an early way to measure the appeal of the site and the effectiveness of one of the social networking aspects.

I don't think I would bother with a press release, unless you're launching something huge and you have the capital to back it up (e.g., a scalable system and people ready to go). I was just putting that out there. It sort of goes against the web model, anyway.

Having people give email addresses is one approach, but that realy only serves to give you a way to make a targeted announcement. Good, but not great. Having the site up and running is the crucial step. By the 80-20 rule, the last 20% of the features takes 80% of the time. Getting a product out the door is hard.

Once it's up, people will judge it pretty quickly, I think. They will look at it, judge it cool and come back, or judge it harshly and never come back again. Sometimes you get a second chance. If the product can be rapidly improved and you can maintain some buzz, then those lost users may see a reference to it and give it another try.