YC
How To Change The World? Get The Small Things Right – Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel
@ Y Combinator
02/03/22
Takeaways
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
Many founders build products based on their vision of how the world should be, rather than addressing actual customer needs.
MS
Michael Seibel
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
It's challenging to force people to want what you're selling; most people lack organic sales experience and can't be easily convinced to change their minds.
MS
Michael Seibel
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
Founders often overlook the reasons why certain systems, like car dealerships, exist, failing to recognize the underlying incentives at play.
MS
Michael Seibel
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
Even if engineers are better at evaluating other engineers, the existence of recruiters suggests there are efficiencies in the hiring process that are not immediately apparent.
MS
Michael Seibel
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
Hiring managers often express frustration with the recruitment process, yet they must navigate the existing system rather than trying to eliminate it entirely.
MS
Michael Seibel
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
To create impactful change, you must understand the subtle motivations of all key parties involved in the ecosystem.
MS
Michael Seibel
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
Ride-sharing required a deep understanding of all parties involved; simply stating that cars are inefficient isn't enough to make the idea work.
MS
Michael Seibel
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
You need to grasp the small motivations of everyone involved in a system to design effective solutions, rather than assuming a new idea will automatically succeed.
MS
Michael Seibel
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
Changing the world is like uprooting a tall tree; understanding the roots gives one founder a significant advantage over another who lacks that knowledge.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
The more research you do in your space before writing any code, the better your startup will perform.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
It's free and takes little time to research past companies that have failed in your area, yet many founders neglect to do this basic research before pursuing their ideas.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
Young founders often lack historical knowledge about previous companies in their field, leading them to mistakenly believe that if they haven't heard of a similar company, it hasn't existed.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
Asking friends for advice is often less effective than conducting your own research, especially for young founders who may share similar limited experiences.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
Founders may avoid researching their ideas because they fear that learning about past failures will dampen their enthusiasm for their own projects.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
During the dot-com bubble, many ideas were tried and failed, so it's crucial to investigate whether your startup idea has been attempted before and learn from those experiences.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
The platforms may change, but the fundamental human problems remain the same, so understanding past attempts to solve these problems is essential for success.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
It's important to conduct your own research rather than relying solely on expert opinions, as experts can be biased based on their limited experiences.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
When seeking advice from experts, gather a variety of perspectives to form a well-rounded understanding of your startup's potential challenges and opportunities.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
Investors who know less about your space can sometimes be more optimistic than those with more experience, as they may see the problem as simpler than it is.
YC
Y Combinator Cast
02/03/22
@ Y Combinator
Assuming that expertise equals optimism can be misleading; often, those with more knowledge about a field may have a more cautious outlook on new ventures.