By playing, you agree to uListen's Terms and Privacy Policy and YouTube's Terms of Service.

Why Founders Shouldn't Think Like Investors

It’s easy to analyze your way out of taking the first step. It’s something we see a lot, particularly when founders try to choose what to build based on what they think VCs and investors will like. In this episode of Dalton & Michael, we’ll talk about the risks of “thinking like an investor”, how to know when you’re stuck in this mindset, and how to unlearn it. We’ll also cover a short list of things that we’ve found actually matter when starting a company — it’s simpler than a lot of people think. Apply to Y Combinator: https://yc.link/DandM-apply Work at a Startup: https://yc.link/DandM-jobs Chapters (Powered by https://bit.ly/chapterme-yc) - 00:00 - Coming Up 00:24 - How VCs Think 03:05 - What Matters 04:56 - What's Changed 06:41 - First Principles 08:41 - Fear 10:06 - Positive Feedback 11:18 - First Customers 12:56 - Scaling 14:19 - Macro Vs. Micro 15:54 - Unlearning 17:22 - Time With Users 20:36 - Superpowers 21:42 - No Exit Strategy

Michael SeibelhostDalton Caldwellhost

Mar 21, 202423mWatch on YouTube ↗

Summaries, chapters, transcripts, and FAQs on this page are made by uListen, not YouTube.

EPISODE INFO

Released: March 21, 2024
Duration: 23m
Channel: Y Combinator
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

It’s easy to analyze your way out of taking the first step. It’s something we see a lot, particularly when founders try to choose what to build based on what they think VCs and investors will like. In this episode of Dalton & Michael, we’ll talk about the risks of “thinking like an investor”, how to know when you’re stuck in this mindset, and how to unlearn it. We’ll also cover a short list of things that we’ve found actually matter when starting a company — it’s simpler than a lot of people think. Apply to Y Combinator: https://yc.link/DandM-apply Work at a Startup: https://yc.link/DandM-jobs Chapters (Powered by https://bit.ly/chapterme-yc) - 00:00 - Coming Up 00:24 - How VCs Think 03:05 - What Matters 04:56 - What's Changed 06:41 - First Principles 08:41 - Fear 10:06 - Positive Feedback 11:18 - First Customers 12:56 - Scaling 14:19 - Macro Vs. Micro 15:54 - Unlearning 17:22 - Time With Users 20:36 - Superpowers 21:42 - No Exit Strategy

SPEAKERS

Michael Seibel
host
Y Combinator group partner and longtime startup founder/CEO who co-hosts YC advice talks.
Dalton Caldwell
host
Y Combinator group partner and startup founder who co-hosts YC discussions and gives early-stage company advice.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Y Combinator, featuring Michael Seibel and Dalton Caldwell, Why Founders Shouldn't Think Like Investors explores why Early-Stage Founders Should Unlearn VC Thinking and Talk to Users Seibel and Caldwell say VC-style thinking, which also covers consultants, bankers and private equity, is valid in those jobs but poorly suited to a startup with no product or customers.

RELATED EPISODES