YC
When to Launch Your Startup and When to Wait
@ Y Combinator
03/16/22
Takeaways
MS
Michael Seibel
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
Understanding what 'fast' means in the context of startups is essential; it often involves a level of discomfort and a willingness to experiment with imperfect solutions.
MS
Michael Seibel
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
To move fast, founders must recognize the difference between the pace of a startup and that of a large company, as startup speed requires a willingness to be uncomfortable and take risks.
MS
Michael Seibel
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
The initial versions of successful startups like Instacart and Brex were often very basic and 'hacked together', demonstrating that a polished product isn't always necessary at launch.
BF
Brad Flora
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
Founders often lie to themselves, thinking they are the exception to the advice about launching quickly, which can hinder their progress.
BF
Brad Flora
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
Many founders believe they need to present a perfect product at launch, which can lead to delays in getting it in front of users.
BF
Brad Flora
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
The fear of a negative reaction can paralyze founders, causing them to focus on an idealized version of their launch rather than the reality of getting their product out there.
MS
Michael Seibel
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
Founders often envision their product launch as a grand event, similar to an Oscar ceremony, where they expect to be celebrated and recognized.
MS
Michael Seibel
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
The reality is that most people won't care about your launch; often, no one is there to witness it, and you may need to show your product multiple times before it gains traction.
MS
Michael Seibel
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
It's crucial for founders to understand that launching is not a one-time event; it's an ongoing process where the goal is to generate excitement and feedback from users.
BF
Brad Flora
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
Founders fear that their product will be perceived as ugly or dysfunctional, and they worry about competitors and investors discovering their product before it's ready.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
Founders often mistakenly believe they are launching when they are only creating a waitlist, which doesn't equate to actual user engagement.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
A waitlist is not a true launch; it doesn't provide real product feedback since users aren't actually using the product yet.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
When Magic launched, they did so just two days after coming up with the idea, using a simple website that invited users to text them for any service.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
There are exceptions to the rule of launching quickly, as seen with Rippling, which took nearly two years to officially launch but has since thrived.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
The founder of Rippling had prior experience and deep product insight from his previous startup, which justified the longer development time before launch.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
It's rare for founders to have the same level of experience and insight as successful founders like Parker Conrad, which can lead to unrealistic expectations about product development timelines.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
Founders often know only a small part of the overall story, which can lead to misguided decisions about when to launch their products.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
I encourage founders to review the early days of successful companies like GitHub to understand that initial products were simpler and launched with lower stakes.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
If you're an early-stage founder without prior experience, you should prioritize launching quickly and learning from real user feedback rather than waiting to perfect your product.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
03/16/22
@ Y Combinator
Every day you choose not to launch is a decision to move at a slower pace; consider launching faster to seize opportunities.