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Y Combinator Cast

02/17/22

@ Y Combinator

The lesson from startups is to focus on creating something people want first, even if it involves non-scalable methods. Once you have demand, you can then work on scaling solutions.

Video

Things That Don't Scale, The Software Edition – Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel

@ Y Combinator

Things That Don't Scale, The Software Edition – Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel

02/17/22

Related Takeaways

Gustaf Alströmer

12/30/22

@ Y Combinator

Successful startups often start with non-scalable methods to acquire their first customers before moving to scalable growth channels.

Y Combinator Cast

05/18/24

@ Y Combinator

You should focus on creating something that people want rather than just trying to start a startup; this mindset is crucial for success.

Y Combinator Cast

05/31/24

@ Y Combinator

The advice to do things that don't scale is counterintuitive but provides startups with a unique advantage over larger competitors by fostering deep customer understanding and rapid experimentation.

Gustaf Alströmer

12/30/22

@ Y Combinator

Doing things that don't scale is crucial for early-stage startups because it helps founders engage directly with customers and understand their needs.

Paul Graham

07/17/19

@ Y Combinator

Doing things that don't scale means engaging in handmade, artisanal efforts early on, even if you know you can't maintain them forever, because it helps you learn and grow your startup.

Y Combinator Cast

05/31/24

@ Y Combinator

The main goal of doing things that don't scale is to maximize learning. By engaging directly with customers, you can ensure that what you're building provides real value before scaling up.

Diana Hu

04/22/23

@ Y Combinator

The principle of doing things that don't scale is crucial; founders should focus on clever hacks to launch quickly instead of building complex systems.

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

I think the most impactful lesson from Y Combinator is to focus on making something people want.

Y Combinator Cast

05/31/24

@ Y Combinator

The main goal of doing things that don't scale is to maximize learning and delight early customers, even if it requires manual and one-off efforts.