Y Combinator Startup Podcast

Y Combinator
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Y Combinator Startup Podcast

We help founders make something people want.

  1. How To Build The Future: Sam Altman

    2 DAYS AGO

    How To Build The Future: Sam Altman

    It’s fair to say that few people in tech are positioned to have a bigger impact on the future than Sam Altman. At OpenAI, Sam and his team have overseen monumental leaps forward in machine learning, generative AI, and most recently, LLMs that can reason at PhD levels. And this is just the beginning. In his latest essay Sam predicted that ASI (Artificial Super Intelligence) is just a few thousand days away. So how did we get to this point? In this episode of our rebooted series "How To Build The Future," YC President and CEO Garry Tan sits down with Sam to talk about the origins of OpenAI, what’s next for the company, and what advice he has for founders navigating this massive platform shift.

    47 min
  2. How Do Billion Dollar Startups Start? | Office Hours

    3 DAYS AGO

    How Do Billion Dollar Startups Start? | Office Hours

    The biggest companies in the world all had to start somewhere. In this episode of Office Hours, the Group Partners explore the humble origins of several top YC companies to try and identify common traits of the most successful founders. They’ll explore what it takes to keep your company alive in the early days, where to focus your energy and how to find product market fit that leads you to mega success.

    19 min
  3. Why Design Matters: Lessons from Stripe, Lyft and Airbnb | Design Review

    4 DAYS AGO

    Why Design Matters: Lessons from Stripe, Lyft and Airbnb | Design Review

    Stripe, Airbnb and Lyft are a few of the most successful companies of the past decade. And there are at least two things they all have in common - great design, and Katie Dill. Katie was Head of Experience Design at Airbnb, led the design team at Lyft and is now Head of Design at Stripe. We spoke with Katie about her design philosophy, what sets companies like Stripe apart, and how important it is to instill a culture of design in your startup from day one.

    34 min
  4. How To Find A Co-Founder with Harj Taggar | Startup School

    4 DAYS AGO

    How To Find A Co-Founder with Harj Taggar | Startup School

    Building a startup and trying to break into an established market is very difficult, especially if you’re trying to do it alone! That’s why it’s critical to find the right co-founder for the journey. In this episode of Startup School, YC Group Partner Harj Taggar explains why you need a co-founder, when to bring them on, where you can find one and how to maintain the relationship.

    21 min
  5. How To Convert Customers With Cold Emails with Aaron Epstein | Startup School

    4 DAYS AGO

    How To Convert Customers With Cold Emails with Aaron Epstein | Startup School

    Whether it's for sales, recruiting or making new connections, cold outreach is a necessary tool for helping build your startup. But as you probably know, most cold emails either are ignored or end up in the trash. So what can you do to make sure your emails break through the noise? In this episode of Startup School, YC Group Partner Aaron Epstein shares expert advice on how to write cold emails that have all the right ingredients to get noticed and convert new customers.

    33 min
  6. How To Improve Cohort Retention with David Lieb | Startup School

    4 DAYS AGO

    How To Improve Cohort Retention with David Lieb | Startup School

    At YC our motto is make something people want. But how do you actually know if you’ve accomplished that in the early days? One of the best ways to measure successful growth is a concept called cohort retention, which tracks the fraction of new users that come back time and time again to use your product. In this episode of Startup School, YC Group Partner David Lieb explains how to define cohorts, track active users and determine the appropriate time frame for measuring successful retention rates.

    29 min
  7. Co-Founder Equity Mistakes to Avoid with Michael Seibel | Startup School

    4 DAYS AGO

    Co-Founder Equity Mistakes to Avoid with Michael Seibel | Startup School

    In order to get your startup off the ground it's critical to keep your co-founders motivated. One of the best ways to do that is to figure out a fair co-founder equity split. In this episode of Startup School, YC Group Partner Michael Seibel explains the ins and outs of co-founder equity, why it's important to be generous with that equity, and how to avoid bad advice that can lead to co-founder breakups.

    20 min
  8. How Nothing Founder Carl Pei Built A Multi-Million Dollar Smartphone Brand In Just 2 Years | Main Function

    4 DAYS AGO

    How Nothing Founder Carl Pei Built A Multi-Million Dollar Smartphone Brand In Just 2 Years | Main Function

    After co-founding the successful Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus, Carl Pei felt the tech industry was missing the fun and wonder he remembered as a dedicated gadget fan growing up in Sweden. Pei decided to launch a new smartphone brand, this time with an increased focus on thoughtful user interface and stylish yet practical designs. In only two years, the brand known as "Nothing" has gained a cult following and gone to $600 million in annualized revenue. On this episode of The Main Function, Pei reflects on the highs and lows that have come with the journey of pursuing excellence in hard tech.

    21 min
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