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PG

Paul Graham

03/19/17

@ Y Combinator

Mark Zuckerberg succeeded with Facebook not because he was an expert in startups, but because he understood his users very well.

Video

YC

Before the Startup with Paul Graham (How to Start a Startup 2014: Lecture 3)

@ Y Combinator

Before the Startup with Paul Graham (How to Start a Startup 2014: Lecture 3)

03/19/17

Related Takeaways

RC

Ron Conway

10/27/13

@ Y Combinator

When I first met Mark Zuckerberg, I was struck by his vision and confidence, predicting Facebook would have 300 million users, which it far exceeded.

DC

Dalton Caldwell

05/10/19

@ Y Combinator

Mark Zuckerberg exemplified this by constantly creating prototypes and sharing them with users, which contributed to the genesis of Facebook.

PG

Paul Graham

03/19/17

@ Y Combinator

What you need to succeed in a startup is not expertise in startups, but expertise in your own users.

RC

Ron Conway

10/27/13

@ Y Combinator

Successful entrepreneurs like Zuckerberg, Dorsey, and Silbermann focus on building great products and prioritize user satisfaction over external distractions.

MA

Marc Andreessen

01/26/25

@ Lex Fridman

Mark Zuckerberg has evolved into a more effective communicator, demonstrating a willingness to express his genuine beliefs publicly.

MZ

Mark Zuckerberg

08/17/16

@ Y Combinator

Facebook's success stemmed from our commitment to keep improving the platform based on user demand, which was different from my previous projects.

YC

Y Combinator Cast

05/30/25

@ Y Combinator

Founders need to understand their users deeply, as this knowledge is essential for creating effective software solutions.

PN

Pejman Nozad

03/09/18

@ Y Combinator

I made a significant mistake by not investing in Facebook when I had the chance, which taught me to recognize exceptional founders without overanalyzing.

JL

Jessica Livingston

02/24/15

@ Y Combinator

One key to startup success is not being overly driven by immediate financial gain; Mark Zuckerberg's decision to decline a billion-dollar acquisition offer from Yahoo exemplifies this principle.