Y Combinator Startup Podcast

Harry Zhang, co-founder of Lob, a company transforming physical mail through APIs, joins Kevin Hale, a Y Combinator partner, to dive deep into the startup world. They discuss Lob's unique origins and early challenges, from securing their first big customer to navigating pricing strategies. The duo also tackles the competitive landscape for tech talent, exploring how to attract top engineers. Insights on equity compensation and lessons learned from early sales experiences round out a conversation rich with practical advice for aspiring founders.

Max Rhodes, co-founder and CEO of Faire, discusses his journey from Square to revolutionizing wholesale with Faire, a platform connecting retailers with unique merchandise. He shares insights on adapting to the changing landscape for small businesses and the importance of product-market fit. Max delves into leadership challenges, the power of early hires, and strategic fundraising tips. Anu Hariharan adds her perspective as a YC partner, providing valuable advice on building strong teams and navigating the chaotic startup environment.

Austen Allred, CEO and co-founder of Lambda School, discusses the innovative education model that offers coding courses with payment only after securing a job. He dives into the accessibility of tech education, advocating for practical learning over traditional degrees. Austen also addresses the importance of networking and the challenges of fundraising, sharing personal anecdotes from his entrepreneurial journey. He reflects on the nuances of remote work and the evolving landscape of education, emphasizing inclusivity for underrepresented candidates.

In this discussion, Amy Buechler, an executive coach for startup founders, and Michael Seibel, CEO of Y Combinator, explore the vital role of coaching in entrepreneurship. They dive into co-founder dynamics, especially around roles and responsibilities, using insights from Michael's experience at Justin.tv and Twitch. The duo also tackles the intricacies of equity distribution, addressing potential resentment, and emphasizes the importance of open communication in conflict resolution. Their candid exchanges reveal how navigating tough conversations can lead to stronger team dynamics and overall success.

Marques Brownlee, known as MKBHD, is a tech-savvy YouTuber with over 8 million subscribers, famous for his insightful product reviews and interviews. He discusses the secrets behind his channel's success, the subjective nature of tech features, and the latest trends in smartphones and electric vehicles. Marques reveals his creative evolution and how he adapts to maintain relevance in the fast-paced tech world. He also shares personal experiences with storytelling and the challenges of content creation, emphasizing authenticity and connection with viewers.

Adora Cheung, a Partner at Y Combinator, shares her wealth of knowledge on podcasting, focusing on metrics and the art of engaging interviews. She discusses the evolution of podcasting gear and the importance of selecting compelling topics. Cheung and Craig Cannon delve into challenges like hearing one's own voice and navigating audience engagement. They also explore the future of the podcasting landscape, the balance between innovation and complacency in tech jobs, and when to take the leap into entrepreneurship.

Domonique Fines, Director of Events at Y Combinator, shares her journey from aspiring lawyer to tech event planner. She discusses the pivotal moment that led her to choose passion over expectation, emphasizing the importance of understanding target audiences in event planning. Dom also highlights outreach initiatives aimed at increasing tech access for underrepresented groups and reflects on the significance of self-care to avoid burnout. With inspiring insights, she encourages listeners to pursue their goals and embrace their unique career paths.

Meet Mike Knoop, co-founder of Zapier, an automation powerhouse, and Kevin Hale, co-founder of Wufoo and a Visiting Partner at Y Combinator. They discuss the evolution of remote work, sharing insights on building effective remote teams and fostering creativity. Learn about Zapier's growth strategy, how to navigate challenges in communication without an office, and the importance of customer feedback. Plus, they dive into the significance of using OKRs to enhance collaboration and keep morale high in a remote setting.

Karn Saroya is the CEO and cofounder of Cover, which was in the YC Winter 2016 batch.Cover is a nationally licensed insurance brokerage. You can use their app to take a picture of property you want to insure and they’ll connect you with their insurance partners so that you can get the best price and coverage.You can find Karn on Twitter at @karnsaroya.The YC podcast is hosted by Craig Cannon.***Topics00:36 - Karn’s intro01:01 - Using computer vision to identify and catalogue property2:28 - How Karn ended up starting Cover3:48 - Being a maker vs. an advisor5:58 - Stylekick, Karn’s previous startup9:28 - Joining Shopify10:08 - How the idea for Cover happened11:58 - The capital-light way to start an insurance business16:28 - Underwriting17:58 - Lead generation20:18 - Product development21:28 - Buying Cover.com for $750k24:53 - Being engaged to a cofounder28:43 - Managing two offices and cultures30:58 - Being an international founder in YC31:58 - Advice to people in the current batch of YC

Caterina Fake hosts the podcast Should This Exist? which is about how technology is impacting our humanity. It launches today on iTunes. She also cofounded Flickr, Hunch, and Findery and is an investor at Yes VC.Kat Manalac is a partner at YC.You can find Caterina on Twitter at @Caterina and Kat at @KatManalac.The YC podcast is hosted by Craig Cannon.***Topics00:32 - Caterina's new podcast, Should This Exist?2:32 - Is there a process for considering if something should exist?4:02 - Who should be part of these conversations?5:17 - Wait But Why and the Human Colossus7:22 - Episode 1 of Should This Exist?10:17 - Having conversations before things exist11:42 - How might employees think about their role in whether or not something should exist?14:32 - Caterina reflecting on her creations and if they should exist19:02 - Considering whether things should exist as investors23:32 - Cofounder charter - What you will and won't do26:03 - Questioning the VC model27:22 - Working on Wall St, feeling herself change, and quitting31:22 - Caterina as a student34:02 - Peculiarity and entrepreneurship35:22 - "Don't fight to win prizes that aren't worth winning"38:32 - What was once fringe is now mainstream40:52 - Kat looking up to Lea Salonga42:42 - Evgeny asks - How did she get her first 100 paying users?49:27 - How does she advise founders to find investors?54:47 - What questions should founders ask themselves while making something?