Jessica Livingston, co-founder of Y Combinator, shares insights on evaluating founders, the importance of social radar skills, and lessons from hosting her podcast. Topics include defensive founders as red flags, YC's batch model, and inspiring stories from unicorn startups like Airbnb.

Jessica Livingston, one of the original co-founders of Y Combinator, dives into the thrilling origins of YC. She illustrates how community events transformed startup culture, fostering networking and collaboration among founders. Jessica recalls the pioneering spirit of YC's first batch, emphasizing their excitement and camaraderie during weekly meetings. She reflects on the evolution of Y Combinator into a powerhouse, shaped by success stories like Dropbox and Airbnb. Plus, she shares how Startup School emerged to inspire entrepreneurship beyond funding constraints.

Entrepreneur and co-founder of Y Combinator, Jessica Livingston, discusses the qualities of successful founders, the distractions they face, traits that differentiate them, and the early days of Y Combinator. She also gives advice to aspiring female founders and encourages them to focus on their product and not be deterred by challenges.