YC
Jessica Livingston Shares 9 Things She Learned From Founding YC
@ Y Combinator
07/11/18
Takeaways
JL
Jessica Livingston
07/11/18
@ Y Combinator
I co-founded Y Combinator, the first startup accelerator, which began with a hypothesis about what people wanted, and it turned out they did want it, leading us to fund over 1,800 startups valued at over a hundred billion dollars.
JL
Jessica Livingston
07/11/18
@ Y Combinator
Despite growing up without a mother, my childhood was happy, thanks to my father's sacrifices for my education and my grandmother's influence as a free-spirited role model.
JL
Jessica Livingston
07/11/18
@ Y Combinator
I was nicknamed the 'social radar' by my YC co-founders because I could sense when something was off or out of character, always trying to figure things out based on subtle social cues.
JL
Jessica Livingston
07/11/18
@ Y Combinator
I never liked being at the mercy of anyone else, which drove my desire to create my own path and not be told what to do by parents, teachers, or bosses.
JL
Jessica Livingston
07/11/18
@ Y Combinator
After graduating from college, I struggled to find my path, working various jobs until I met Paul Graham, which led to our partnership in founding Y Combinator.
JL
Jessica Livingston
07/11/18
@ Y Combinator
We decided to fund a large number of early-stage startups with small amounts of money, providing them with significant help, which was a departure from traditional VC practices.
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Jessica Livingston
07/11/18
@ Y Combinator
Investing in batches allowed us to create a supportive community for founders, making the startup journey less lonely and more efficient for us as investors.
JL
Jessica Livingston
07/11/18
@ Y Combinator
I focused on understanding the character and relationships of founders rather than just their technical abilities, which was crucial for our investment decisions.
JL
Jessica Livingston
07/11/18
@ Y Combinator
Successful startups often grow organically from the founders' lives, and many people have unique combinations of abilities and interests that can lead to startup success.
JL
Jessica Livingston
07/11/18
@ Y Combinator
It's important to find a co-founder with complementary skills but the same moral compass, as this balance was key to the success of Y Combinator.
JL
Jessica Livingston
07/11/18
@ Y Combinator
Don't let rejection hold you back; persistence is essential in the startup journey, as you'll face many rejections along the way.
JL
Jessica Livingston
07/11/18
@ Y Combinator
It's okay not to have gone to an elite college; what matters is how users judge your product, not your credentials.
JL
Jessica Livingston
07/11/18
@ Y Combinator
Be bold and willing to work on ideas that others might consider foolish, as this boldness is often necessary for startup founders.
JL
Jessica Livingston
07/11/18
@ Y Combinator
You can grow a new puzzle around your unique shape rather than trying to fit into an existing mold, which can lead to greater success.