All Segments
Celebrating 20 Years of Y Combinator
4 segments available
Two decades, thousands of founders, hundreds of thousands of jobs and $800B in value created — and one mission that hasn’t changed: helping founders make something people want. Thank you Paul Graham, Jessica Livingston, Trevor Blackwell, and Robert Morris!
Segments Timeline
The Birth of Y Combinator
In this segment, the founders of Y Combinator, including Paul Graham, discuss their initial vision for the organization. They believed the investment world was broken and aimed to create a better way to encourage startups. The idea was to start a project that would inspire others to innovate, leading to the creation of Y Combinator as a platform for fostering new companies.
"Paul and I had this idea. We really felt that the investment world was broken and we thought there could be something better. It was not supposed to grow into this big thing. This is one of the things..."
Learning Through Batch Funding
The founders reflect on their early experiences with Y Combinator, particularly the decision to fund multiple startups at once. They quickly realized that batch funding was a powerful approach, allowing them to learn and adapt rapidly in the startup ecosystem. This innovative method became a cornerstone of Y Combinator's success.
"world. It was just going to be Paul and me. Then we sort of lured in his old co-founders, Robert Morris and Trevor Blackwell, and we said, "Gosh, none of us know anything about angel investing. Well, ..."
A Lasting Legacy
In this segment, the founders express their desire for Y Combinator to be remembered not just as a startup incubator but as a lasting institution. They envision it as a transformative force that changes lives and contributes positively to the world, akin to a university that could endure for centuries.
"[Music] powerful. I am just as enthusiastic about Y Combinator as I was the day we got started, if not more so. We're doing so many exciting things now. It actually seems like a good idea. How do you ..."
Insights from Startup School
The segment highlights the impact of Y Combinator's Startup School on participants. The founders share how the program opened their eyes to the broader startup landscape and the necessary steps to succeed. This reflects Y Combinator's commitment to education and support for aspiring entrepreneurs.
"a little bit of a better place. [Music] [Music] [Applause] We learned so from startup school last time. Been wanting to do this for quite some time, but uh Y Combinator came along and really opened ou..."