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Y Combinator Cast

04/25/24

@ Y Combinator

The profile of startup founders is changing, with more emphasis on domain expertise in non-software industries, such as shipping, rather than just technical skills.

Video

Lightcone: Consumer is back, What’s getting funded now, The vibes immaculate

@ Y Combinator

Lightcone: Consumer is back, What’s getting funded now, The vibes immaculate

04/25/24

Related Takeaways

Garry Tan

05/21/25

@ Vanta

The ability to succeed in startups is increasingly determined by founders' understanding of customer needs rather than their technical skills.

Garry Tan

05/21/25

@ Vanta

It's becoming more common for founders to come from outside their industry and succeed, which has been rare in the past decade.

Jessica Livingston

07/25/17

@ Y Combinator

As a startup grows, the founder must transition from focusing solely on the product to also managing the company, which requires different skills.

Y Combinator Cast

05/18/24

@ Y Combinator

The startup landscape is evolving, and the barriers to entry are changing, allowing new founders to navigate challenges more effectively than before.

Jessica Livingston

06/27/24

@ Lenny's Podcast

Having deep domain expertise is crucial for founders, as it often leads to fewer pivots and a better understanding of the problems they are solving.

Reid Hoffman

04/18/17

@ Y Combinator

Founders come from diverse backgrounds and can excel in various areas, not just the traditional profiles of iconic founders.

Y Combinator Cast

04/25/24

@ Y Combinator

The current batch of startups is seeing a younger median age of founders, reflecting a shift in the types of opportunities being pursued.

Paul Graham

03/19/17

@ Y Combinator

The key to success in startups is domain expertise, which comes from genuine interest rather than ulterior motives.

Amanda Tyler

05/30/25

@ a16z crypto

My advice to founders is to build your profile as a domain expert rather than as a brand shiller, which can come off as cringe-worthy.