Connection Accepted YC founder: “I train my employees to post on LinkedIn”
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Dec 9, 2025 Akhil Reddy, the Founder and CEO of Thera, a Y Combinator-backed startup, shares insights on building a next-gen payroll ecosystem. He reveals the power of LinkedIn, detailing how he converted DMs into a $2.5M investment. Akhil discusses his unique 'Employee Generated Content' strategy, emphasizing the importance of authentic posts over ghostwriting. He also explores the algorithms behind LinkedIn engagement and brainstorms innovative payroll features, advocating for founders to start posting consistently to build credibility.
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YC Acceptance Came After Traction
- Akhil applied to Y Combinator twice and got accepted the second time after showing tangible traction.
- He credits YC mainly for the credibility and network it provided, not secret knowledge.
Credibility Trumps Classroom Secrets
- Akhil compares YC to Harvard: the credential matters more than secret instruction.
- The main value was credibility to win customers and investors for a risky payroll product.
Start Posting Early And Often
- Start posting on LinkedIn early and make it a consistent habit to build credibility.
- Use building-in-public to stay top of mind for investors and prospective customers.