Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator and renowned startup accelerator, shares his insights on founding success and the power of spotting extreme winners in the tech landscape. He discusses his early hustle at 14 and turning down a lucrative offer from Peter Thiel. Garry emphasizes the importance of capital-as-a-service and offers crucial advice for AI founders. He also reflects on lessons learned from Paul Graham, underlining the unique sauce that keeps YC ahead of its Silicon Valley counterparts.

Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator and a leading figure in the startup ecosystem, shares invaluable insights on writing's role in entrepreneurial success. He explores the significance of authenticity in storytelling and how vulnerability can deepen connections. Tan reflects on his journey of self-discovery through writing and emphasizes the importance of clear documentation for effective communication. He also discusses the power of online platforms in democratizing creative expression, reshaping narratives, and enhancing individual voices in the digital age.

In this episode we’re talking to Garry Tan, the president & CEO of Y Combinator. We go full circle with Garry as we chat about his path from turning down a job with Peter Thiel, to founding a YC-backed company in 2008, then starting his own multi-billion dollar fund in 2011, and finally returning to run Y Combinator in 2023. Garry knows about programming, design, running startups, and investing in them, so there are lessons and stories for everyone in this episode.

Garry Tan, President and CEO of YCombinator, shares valuable startup advice on cofounder dynamics, paying attention to competition, healing adverse childhood experiences, users lying until they pay, and the importance of founder culture in startups. He also talks about why SF is the best place for product-market fit and the hosts discuss their takeaways.

Garry Tan, President and CEO of Y Combinator, shares unconventional advice for founders. He discusses believing in yourself, managing teams and resolving conflict, addressing mental health, the startup process, the power of human connection, and balancing academics with entrepreneurship.