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Ben Silbermann

11/09/16

@ Y Combinator

I preferred to recruit builders—people who wanted to be known for what they created rather than what they said, and who were curious about many things. I started as a cartoonist before becoming an engineer, which attracted many early team members who were outsiders to technology.

Video

Ben Silbermann at Startup School SV 2016

@ Y Combinator

Ben Silbermann at Startup School SV 2016

11/09/16

Related Takeaways

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Hiring is often inductive; I look for talented individuals I want to work with, valuing traits like hard work, integrity, creativity, and a genuine desire to build something great.

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When hiring, we look for ambitious individuals who are excited about our vision, even if they aren't lifelong users of our product. This allows us to bring in fresh perspectives that can help us improve and grow.

Jessica Livingston

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Y Combinator was unique from the beginning, attracting serious builders who often surprised speakers expecting to talk to inexperienced founders.

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Back then, those interested in tech were often non-conformists who loved computers, not motivated by financial gains but by a passion for technology.

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When Drew, the CEO, asked what I wanted to work on first, I chose recruiting, surprising myself since I had never done it before. I aimed to grow the company from 90 to 270 people in less than 7 months.