Tools

Explore

Videos Channels Figures

Atmrix

Tools

Explore

Videos Channels Figures

Atmrix

MS

Michael Seibel

01/27/22

@ Y Combinator

The 'Google-itis' phenomenon occurs when founders look at successful companies and assume they can replicate their success without understanding their initial simplicity.

Video

Simple Products That Became Big Companies – Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel

@ Y Combinator

Simple Products That Became Big Companies – Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel

01/27/22

Related Takeaways

Y Combinator Cast

07/01/23

@ Y Combinator

Many startups in the 2000s blindly emulated Google's office culture, believing that adopting open offices and free snacks would guarantee their success, without understanding the unique aspects that made Google great.

Y Combinator Cast

02/10/22

@ Y Combinator

Working at a big tech company like Google can instill a mindset focused on scalability, which may not be helpful in the early stages of a startup where doing things that don't scale is often necessary.

Y Combinator Cast

07/01/23

@ Y Combinator

Blindly copying successful companies without understanding their strategies leads to failure.

Y Combinator Cast

02/03/22

@ Y Combinator

Young founders often lack historical knowledge about previous companies in their field, leading them to mistakenly believe that if they haven't heard of a similar company, it hasn't existed.

Y Combinator Cast

07/01/23

@ Y Combinator

Copying successful companies without understanding their context often leads to failure, as seen with startups that blindly imitated WeWork and Zoom Pizza.

Y Combinator Cast

07/01/23

@ Y Combinator

There's a growing trend of founders copying companies that haven't succeeded yet, which is concerning for the startup ecosystem.

Dalton Caldwell

03/22/24

@ Y Combinator

When founders present their ideas in a way that mimics large companies, they may overlook the fundamental aspects of their startup, such as customer traction and product-market fit.

Y Combinator Cast

07/01/23

@ Y Combinator

Founders should prioritize understanding what users want and learn from successful companies, rather than just copying their surface-level traits.

Jessica Livingston

07/25/17

@ Y Combinator

The founders of most successful startups often don't realize early on how big they're going to get; they work on something they themselves want and hope that many others will want it too.