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Jessica Livingston

07/25/17

@ Y Combinator

Most of the really big startup ideas seemed dubious at first, and you need to be independent-minded and not care what others think to work on these initially unpromising ideas.

Video

Jessica Livingston - What's Different about "Unicorns"

@ Y Combinator

Jessica Livingston - What's Different about "Unicorns"

07/25/17

Related Takeaways

Jessica Livingston

07/11/18

@ Y Combinator

Be bold and willing to work on ideas that others might consider foolish, as this boldness is often necessary for startup founders.

Y Combinator Cast

01/20/22

@ Y Combinator

The founders of these successful startups had to be contrarian, often facing skepticism from experts and investors who thought their ideas were foolish.

Paul Buchheit

03/07/18

@ Y Combinator

For a startup to be successful, it often has to be something that larger companies would dismiss as unimportant or stupid, as they wouldn't overlook obvious opportunities.

Sam Altman

04/06/25

@ Varun Mayya

As an entrepreneur, it's crucial to pursue your unique ideas, even if they seem crazy or impractical to others, as they could lead to the next big innovation.

Jessica Livingston

07/25/17

@ Y Combinator

The most common path for really big startups involves founders working on ideas that seem unpromising at first but blossom into something significant, driven by their commitment and vision.

Paul Graham

03/19/17

@ Y Combinator

The best startup ideas often begin as side projects because they are outliers that your conscious mind might reject as viable business ideas.

Sam Altman

05/06/15

@ Platzi Team

The most successful startup ideas often sound counterintuitive or bad at first, like Airbnb or Dropbox, which faced skepticism but ultimately succeeded due to unique insights.

Blake Scholl

02/15/25

@ Y Combinator

Startups are inherently difficult, and every founder will face moments of self-doubt. It's better to work on something significant, even if it feels daunting.

Michael Seibel

11/29/18

@ Y Combinator

Many talented technical individuals hesitate to start a startup because they believe they lack a great idea, often thinking that every successful startup begins with an amazing concept.