Uncapped with Jack Altman Uncapped #7 | Garry Tan from Y Combinator
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Apr 17, 2025 
Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator and a prominent figure in early-stage startups, discusses his journey from co-founding Posterous to leading one of the most influential startup accelerators. He shares insights on running YC like a founder and the evolving landscape of startups influenced by AI. Garry highlights the importance of empathy in successful leadership and the rise of compound startups. He also touches on the role of YC in hard tech and his engagement in local politics to address community challenges.
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Run YC Like a Founder
- Run YC like a founder by embracing zero-based accounting and pruning excesses regularly.
- Maintain cultural health by making tough calls on hiring, firing, and promoting.
Focus on Technical and Diverse Founders
- YC competes to fund super-technical founders but also aims to include underrepresented talent.
- Building a community of diverse and talented builders is key to YC's success and growth.
Get Honest Advice from Builders
- Partner with experienced builders to get personalized, honest advice that prevents common startup failures.
- Value feedback from those who've seen many founders fail to avoid predictable mistakes.