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Y Combinator Cast

04/30/22

@ Y Combinator

Investors evaluate founders by comparing them to previous successful ones, and a rejection can occur if a founder doesn't match that pattern or ranks lower than others currently pitching.

Video

Investors Said No, Now What?

@ Y Combinator

Investors Said No, Now What?

04/30/22

Related Takeaways

Y Combinator Cast

04/30/22

@ Y Combinator

It's common for investors to change their minds about a founder after seeing significant progress, as initial rejections can be based on early impressions that may not reflect the founder's true potential.

Y Combinator Cast

04/30/22

@ Y Combinator

Investors often reject pitches because they don't see the founder as capable of leading a large organization, which is a significant concern during the investment process.

Y Combinator Cast

04/30/22

@ Y Combinator

It's crucial for founders to pitch to many investors to gather consistent feedback, as only then can they determine if the reasons for rejection are valid data points.

Brad Flora

04/30/22

@ Y Combinator

It's common for founders to hear the same reasons for rejection from multiple investors, which can indicate a broader issue that needs to be addressed rather than a specific flaw.

Brad Flora

04/30/22

@ Y Combinator

Founders often mistakenly believe that the reasons investors provide for rejection are the actual problems with their startup, rather than considering other potential issues.

Y Combinator Cast

12/26/16

@ Y Combinator

When pitching, founders need to demonstrate why their startup is the exception to the typical failure rate of startups.

Y Combinator Cast

12/17/21

@ Y Combinator

Smart founders recognize that investors have their own goals and incentives, and they should consider these when evaluating investment pitches instead of accepting them blindly.

Marc Andreessen

06/11/25

@ Uncapped with Jack Altman

The emotional stakes are high for founders when their investors back competitors, as it can undermine their credibility and the trust of their team.

Michael Seibel

05/07/22

@ Y Combinator

Investors often have different incentives than founders, which can lead to misalignment in priorities.