YC
Mark Zuckerberg at Startup School 2013
@ Y Combinator
10/26/13
Takeaways
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
I built a lot of stuff for myself throughout my childhood, including games and a music player, which laid the foundation for my later projects.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
In college, I wanted to create products that connected me with the community around me, which led to the realization that I needed to build software that others would use too.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
The first project I built in college was called CourseMatch, which helped students see what classes their peers were taking, but I lost it when my laptop fried.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
I realized that before Facebook, the internet had a lot of information but lacked a focus on real identity and connections between people.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
Facebook's success stemmed from its emphasis on real identity and the ability for users to share their content, which was missing from other platforms at the time.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
I didn't initially believe that we would be the ones to build a platform for the world; I thought larger companies would take that role.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
Determination is crucial when starting a company, as many things will go wrong, and the key is to learn quickly from mistakes and not give up; the biggest mistake is letting a mistake moralize you, as nothing is impossible if you keep pushing forward.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
I started Facebook at 19, knowing nothing about business, and didn't even realize I was starting a company.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
I learned to manage people through many mistakes; no one is naturally good at hiring.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
A good team makes better decisions as a whole than individuals would alone.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
I was influenced by Peter Thiel and Sean Parker, who shaped my strategic thinking.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
Peter Thiel taught me to focus on the one thing that actually matters as complexity grows.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
We built tools to enable people to connect easily, solving their problems and removing friction.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
Lockdown meant we didn't leave the house until we addressed strategic problems posed by competitors.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
I care too much about connecting everyone; it's essential for communities to channel their energy to do great things.
MZ
Mark Zuckerberg
10/26/13
@ Y Combinator
I believe in pouring resources into connecting people, even if it's not profitable in the short term.