> Though we've traditionally focused on helping very early-stage companies, our successful companies have asked for help on topics like scaling operations, managing hypergrowth, building out management teams, etc.
This makes a lot of sense given the blog post a few days ago from `sama [0] — the evolution of YC from incubator to "meta-company" or network facilitator could only be helped by having more late-stage expertise on hand, so nodes don't drop out of the network.
This takes the concept of a "value added" investor to a whole new level! There's a reason so many start-ups, even those that don't need the investment want into YC.
Makes a lot of sense. YC is evolving into what I'd call, for lack of a pithier phrase, a company-development firm. It's no longer just about kickstarting your company; it's about ensuring your company's ongoing success.
A more hands-on, operational focus helps YC's portfolio companies. It also protects YC's investments when they reach their adolescent stages, where a lot of startups can ordinarily run into trouble.
Business Development Companies are actually a thing [0]. They're consulting firms that take equity. So... yeah. You're pretty much right on.
That said, YC is a fantastic way for a young company to identify what's really important and to be reminded weekly (if not daily) to ignore everything else.
P.S. Good luck to all those interviewing for the upcoming batch.
Other incubators/accelerators have focused on companies at different stages, but none that I know of are expanding, as YC is doing, from beginning to middle (to end?). This makes sense from YCs perspective because anything with network effects increases with more people/cos. Additionally to borrow a phrase from a16z, YC is becoming a full-stack or bundled company: Go to YC to get your start, your growth, and perhaps in the future, your IPO, who knows.
There's definitely a trend, at least among newer VC firms, towards full-service support. Operational guidance, marketing, knowledge bases, best practices, etc. These firms are attempting to differentiate themselves by offering value-added services, and not just capital.
I wouldn't necessarily put YC in the same bucket, given that it's been successful on its own terms for years now. This move feels more like an "vertical" expansion through the lifecycle of existing investments, and less like a "horizontal" expansion into whole new services and models.
:D My name is also Ali, I opened the page and saw it says: "Welcome, Ali" I thought huh, they must have added a new feature that greets you or something!
It's always nice to see another Iranian around here. For example, only an Iranian would understand what I mean when I say "I'm not an Ali, but I like Ali's"
This is one step towards Altman's YC, which has only been pushing the envelope further and further on what an incubator is. Interested too see how this pans out :)
Exciting times for YC and Alumni. I've always been much more excited in businesses "After the Startup Curve", although "scaling operations [and] managing hypergrowth" is an incredible specialty when compared to just moving the needle from the first million to the first fifty million.
Amazing reading that how we consider these people a success because they sold their companies but for many of them almost everything they built has been decommissioned. Would we still revere Brunell if his bridges were taken down after 3 years?
This makes a lot of sense given the blog post a few days ago from `sama [0] — the evolution of YC from incubator to "meta-company" or network facilitator could only be helped by having more late-stage expertise on hand, so nodes don't drop out of the network.
[0] http://blog.samaltman.com/why-silicon-valley-works