Kevin Hale and Adora Cheung - Startup School 2019 by the Numbers | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Startup School shares statistics and insights from their 10-week program, including the impact on funding success, the importance of concise descriptions, the value of launching, and the correlation between talking to users and improved morale.

Key Insights

• 🌍 There were over 20,000 founders and 21,000 startups at the beginning of Startup School, which grew to over 40,000 founders and 30,000 startups by the end.
• 💰 Start School applicants had a higher chance of getting an interview with YC compared to non-start school applicants.
• 👥 YC accepts companies that are not perfect and encourages applicants to keep trying, even if they have been rejected before.
• 🚀 The average weeks to launch decreased from 7 weeks to 5 weeks, but the median weeks to launch is still 4, indicating some startups took longer than necessary.
• ✍️ Startups that described their company in 78 words or less had a higher chance of getting accepted.
• 💻 Talking to users and getting their feedback can greatly improve morale and happiness among founders.
• 🙌 The support and feedback given by founders in group sessions had a positive impact on morale.
• 💡 Startups that were full-time and making money exhibited higher morale compared to others.

Transcript

hello Berlin we've made it to week ten this is the last stop on the startup school tour we have something kind of special today so adore and I are doing a presentation together and it's all based on numbers from the last nine weeks of startup school she's going to sort of kick it off and what we're going to do is probably talk like hopefully twenty... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How has Startup School grown since its inception?

Startup School has experienced significant growth during its 10-week program, with over 40,000 founders and 30,000 startups participating and over 77,000 people subscribed to the content.

Q: How does participating in Startup School increase the chances of getting interviewed by YC?

From the past two batches, 9.7% of Startup School applicants that applied got an interview, compared to 9.1% of non-Startup School applicants. This means that Startup School participants had a higher chance of getting interviewed by YC.

Q: Can startups with no traction, revenue, or funding still be accepted into YC?

Yes, YC accepts startups even if they have no traction, revenue, or funding. In fact, 40 of the Startup School companies that were accepted into YC had no traction when they got in.

Q: How important is it to have a clear and concise description of your startup?

It is crucial to have a clear and concise description of your startup. Startups that were accepted into YC used an average of 78 words to describe what they do, while unsuccessful applicants often provided lengthy and confusing descriptions.

Q: How does talking to users impact morale?

Talking to users significantly improves morale among startups. Those who actively engaged with users throughout the 10-week program experienced increased levels of happiness and satisfaction in their work.

Q: Are co-founder teams more successful than solo founders?

Co-founder teams tend to have higher levels of morale and happiness compared to solo founders. The support and collaboration within a team can contribute to the longevity and success of a startup.

Startup School has witnessed substantial growth over the course of its 10-week program, with a significant increase in the number of participating founders and startups. The program has also proven to increase the chances of being interviewed by YC, with Startup School applicants having a higher success rate compared to non-applicants. YC accepts startups with no traction, revenue, or funding, emphasizing that imperfections are not discouraging. The key to success lies in crafting clear and concise descriptions, prioritizing the timely launch of products, and actively engaging with users. Finally, participating in Startup School and talking to users can greatly impact morale positively, particularly for co-founder teams.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Startup School has grown significantly, with over 40,000 founders and 30,000 startups participating in the program.

• Start School applicants have a higher chance of getting interviewed by YC compared to non-applicants.

• YC accepts startups with no traction, revenue, or funding, proving that they are not afraid of imperfections.

• The key to success lies in clear and concise descriptions, prioritizing launching, and actively engaging with users.

• Talking to users significantly improves morale, and co-founder teams and ethical startups tend to be happier.