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MP

Matthew Prince

10/15/14

@ Y Combinator

In our early hires, we didn't prioritize candidates with web infrastructure backgrounds, which led to unique solutions to technical challenges.

Video

YC

Michelle Zatlyn and Matthew Prince at Startup School SV 2014

@ Y Combinator

Michelle Zatlyn and Matthew Prince at Startup School SV 2014

10/15/14

Related Takeaways

JH

Julia Hartz

03/13/14

@ Y Combinator

In the early days, we focused on hiring the best talent to fill gaps in our skills, which helped us grow from three to over 300 employees in just a few years.

BS

Ben Silbermann

04/07/17

@ Y Combinator

In the early days, hiring must focus on candidates who can contribute immediately, rather than those who may take longer to ramp up.

KM

Kathryn Minshew

03/13/14

@ Y Combinator

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.

TL

The Logan Bartlett Show Cast

05/24/25

@ The Logan Bartlett Show

We prioritize hiring super talented individuals who fit our culture and are incredibly hardworking, regardless of their experience.

BS

Ben Silbermann

04/07/17

@ Y Combinator

In the early stages, we worked with our first ten hires for a week to assess their fit and capabilities before making a commitment.

VM

Varun Mohan

05/02/25

@ Y Combinator

When interviewing candidates, we assess their problem-solving skills and how they think about trade-offs, rather than just their ability to write code.

ac

a16z crypto Cast

05/30/25

@ a16z crypto

When hiring, consider the specific needs of your project and look for candidates who have relevant experience in that area, even if they aren't crypto-native.

EM

Eric Migicovsky

10/13/18

@ Y Combinator

When hiring, prioritize trust and reliability over specific domain knowledge, as this approach can expedite team building during critical growth phases.

VR

Vivek Ravisankar

03/30/18

@ Y Combinator

Startups prioritize problem-solving skills and contributions to open source over formal qualifications when hiring.