My experience with Y Combinator was incredibly intense, creating a sense of urgency that is crucial for startup success.

It's important to have conversations about the realities of startup failures, as they are part of the journey and can lead to valuable learning experiences for future endeavors.

Many successful applicants to Y Combinator were not first-time applicants; getting comfortable with taking risks and applying even when you think you might not succeed is crucial for growth. Persistence shows character and can lead to success, so don't be afraid to pursue opportunities even if the odds seem low.

At Y Combinator, we invest in founders at the idea stage, understanding that it may take over a decade to see if their concepts are viable, so short-term valuations are less critical.

I believe that perseverance is key in startups; you only fail if you stop trying, and it's important to learn from setbacks without letting them overwhelm you.

At Y Combinator, I was inspired by the ambitious mindset of other founders, which contrasted sharply with the skepticism we faced before. It motivated me to fully commit to making Watsi a reality.

Creating a culture that accepts failure and encourages risk-taking is crucial for fostering innovation in a startup environment.

After getting into Y Combinator, we made early-stage mistakes by hiring without proper culture fit vetting and dreaming too big without focusing on execution.

It's important to recognize that disagreements in a startup can feel life-or-death, but often they are not as critical as they seem in the moment.