Ask HN: What percentage of Y Combinator apps are successful/profitable?

40 pointsssing15y ago20 comments

I see lots of YC apps covered by TC, featured by few other popular media and wondering what percentage of the app make it big.

20 comments

17 comments · 7 top-level

jbail15y ago· 5 in thread

I'd like to narrow the question down to which companies are profitable.

Successful and "make it big" are subjective. Profitable isn't. You either are or you aren't.

I don't work there or know anyone at the company personally, but I'll start the list with one that I remember reading was profitable pretty much right out of the gate: GazeHawk

zaidf15y ago

I don't think YC cares a lot about which companies are profitable. YC ideally wants homeruns. And homerun companies are rarely profitable because they are too busy growing. Take YouTube, Facebook etc. They all sacrificed profitability for growth. I bet there are YC companies in a similar position.

wheaties15y ago

That's not true. Sitting in the Boston meetup recently they spoke directly to people who wanted a BIG exit and those who wanted a lifestyle company. They will fund either. Only VCs need the homeruns constantly to earn their risk/reward profile returns.

2 more replies

jbail15y ago

You're probably right. Most VCs want a liquidity event. I don't see why YC would be different --- except that they are more like a seed stage incubator than a traditional VC firm. Either way, they want a return, I'd think.

To me, startups that actually make profit are much more interesting primarily because so many just want to create some buzz then sell out.

iampims15y ago

I also wonder how many of TC featured startups are profitable, not only YC startups.

What about the big ones Does delicious.com make money? Or is it a loss-leader for Yahoo. Upcoming.org, do they make a dime on this app?

Flickr has pro accounts at $25 a year. But is it enough to be profitable?

And don't get me started on whether Twitter is profitable…

illdave15y ago

I would love to know whether Flickr is profitable. It's obviously an awesome service, but I imagine the running costs must be pretty high.

1 more reply

jordanmessina15y ago· 2 in thread

There was a really nice google spreadsheet on HN once that showed all the startups in more than just YC. If I remember correctly, it's purpose was to show which startups in each incubator were dead/still active/got acquired. You could go off of that list and actually do it for more than just YC. I've been looking for the OP but I can't seem to find it.

jimminy15y ago

Here is a link to the spreadsheet, https://spreadsheets0.google.com/ccc?key=t_toYuVyy6fci0MAiIa... Also the original analysis post, http://blog.jedchristiansen.com/2009/09/21/copying-y-combina...

taykahhong15y ago

I believe this is what you're referring to?

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkkhSN3vaY4jdF90b1l...

xenophanes15y ago· 2 in thread

There's no way to know yet. Most YC companies haven't had their fate determined yet.

benologist15y ago

For success you're right. Profitability is a bit more black and white even if they haven't reached their full potential yet.

rhizome15y ago

"Self-sustaining" might be a better metric.

vessenes15y ago· 1 in thread

I like your question! Most YC Companies have been named and written about -- why don't you do the research and write it up for us?

ssingOP15y ago

You are right but I thought of checking if this information is already available.

aresant15y ago

This question comes up a lot.

PG says "We don't know ourselves yet, because it takes so long for startups to exit. But we have a decent idea how many are successful at the next stage after YC-- the number who are either able to raise more after YC, or don't need to because they're profitable (or in very rare cases acquired). I think for the winter 2010 batch the percentage was in the low to mid 80s."

VIA - http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1694832

PG previously said "According to our data, 98/145 or 67.6% of companies we funded in s2009 or before are funded and/or profitable and/or acquired."

VIA - http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1185345

More resources:

Current list of HN startups and spin-offs?

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1825396

What percentage of YC startups make it and what percentage fail?

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1276356

Spreadsheet listing all YC-Startups, exits etc:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkkhSN3vaY4jdF90b1l...

percept15y ago

There used to be a good list on Wikipedia but it's been "deletionated" over the past few years.

pitdesi15y ago

Here are a list of different incubator companies and acquisition price... doesn't answer your question, but may help. https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkkhSN3vaY4jdF90b1l...

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

20 comments

17 comments · 7 top-level

jbail15y ago· 5 in thread

I'd like to narrow the question down to which companies are profitable.

Successful and "make it big" are subjective. Profitable isn't. You either are or you aren't.

I don't work there or know anyone at the company personally, but I'll start the list with one that I remember reading was profitable pretty much right out of the gate: GazeHawk

zaidf15y ago

wheaties15y ago

2 more replies

jbail15y ago

To me, startups that actually make profit are much more interesting primarily because so many just want to create some buzz then sell out.

iampims15y ago

I also wonder how many of TC featured startups are profitable, not only YC startups.

What about the big ones Does delicious.com make money? Or is it a loss-leader for Yahoo. Upcoming.org, do they make a dime on this app?

Flickr has pro accounts at $25 a year. But is it enough to be profitable?

And don't get me started on whether Twitter is profitable…

illdave15y ago

I would love to know whether Flickr is profitable. It's obviously an awesome service, but I imagine the running costs must be pretty high.

1 more reply

jordanmessina15y ago· 2 in thread

jimminy15y ago

Here is a link to the spreadsheet, https://spreadsheets0.google.com/ccc?key=t_toYuVyy6fci0MAiIa... Also the original analysis post, http://blog.jedchristiansen.com/2009/09/21/copying-y-combina...

taykahhong15y ago

I believe this is what you're referring to?

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkkhSN3vaY4jdF90b1l...

xenophanes15y ago· 2 in thread

There's no way to know yet. Most YC companies haven't had their fate determined yet.

benologist15y ago

For success you're right. Profitability is a bit more black and white even if they haven't reached their full potential yet.

rhizome15y ago

"Self-sustaining" might be a better metric.

vessenes15y ago· 1 in thread

I like your question! Most YC Companies have been named and written about -- why don't you do the research and write it up for us?

ssingOP15y ago

You are right but I thought of checking if this information is already available.

aresant15y ago

This question comes up a lot.

VIA - http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1694832

PG previously said "According to our data, 98/145 or 67.6% of companies we funded in s2009 or before are funded and/or profitable and/or acquired."

VIA - http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1185345

More resources:

Current list of HN startups and spin-offs?

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1825396

What percentage of YC startups make it and what percentage fail?

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1276356

Spreadsheet listing all YC-Startups, exits etc:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkkhSN3vaY4jdF90b1l...

percept15y ago

There used to be a good list on Wikipedia but it's been "deletionated" over the past few years.

pitdesi15y ago

Here are a list of different incubator companies and acquisition price... doesn't answer your question, but may help. https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AkkhSN3vaY4jdF90b1l...

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse