* Be young, about to finish college, or just finished college and working on your startup
* Go to a name-brand school like MIT
* Done some open source project that may or may not be popular
* Done something a bit impressive
* Be able to write very good english
* Be U.S based
* Have a co-founder from a similar background as yours, and who you've known for a while
* Do something that sounds simple
* Build a personal brand here on this site
* In the video, be comfortable and project intelligence
That will get you to interview, assuming there are not more impressive people. When you interview:
* Don't give off a loser vibe
* Have a determined jaw and a friendly personality
* Communicate clearly what you want to build
* Make what you want to build something that in some way is in one of the major areas where there is potential (like money management or so)
* Be sure your idea is something the partners can relate to (i.e, not building huts in africa)
Yes, no need to point out the exceptions, I'm well aware.
While your message is quite tongue-in-cheek, there is some truth to it and I wanted to follow-up on this comment.
From anecdotal experience, it seems that YC favors a team of technical founders. Whereas in a blog post today on VentureHacks, the authors recommend the tech/business pair.
So which is better? Two techies, or a slick biz plus a techie?
The other should be nerdish in a very geeky manner. If you have two linux freaks there, you'll have a company without vision. If you have two doe-eyed powerpoint pushers, you'll lack a product.
"The seller doesn't have to be a "salesman" or "business guy". He can be technical, but he must be able to wield the tools of influence. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs aren't salesmen, but they are sellers."
I'm just saying, because it's interview season and we already had at least 4 posts on the topic of how to get accepted... If everyone who read these posts got accepted, the YC building would have to add quite a few floors.
Good entrepreneurs are resilient, even in the face of early rejection.
http://dustincurtis.com/you_should_follow_me_on_twitter.html
I will be back, STRONGER THAN EVER!!!
