20 hours ago
- Y Combinator has funded 564 startups; total valuation of those with valuations is about $11.7 billion, with top 10 accounting for $8.6 billion.
- Batch size was reduced from 84 to 53 to fix an n² algorithm scaling issue, now resolved with new sharding techniques.
- Two major forces driving change: startups are becoming cheaper to start, and starting a startup is becoming a more normal career path.
- Founders will increasingly have the upper hand over investors, leading to less dilution and more control for founders, but potentially more good startups for investors.
- The number of big hits (traditionally 15 per year) could increase significantly as more talented founders start companies, possibly reaching 50 or 100.
- Top venture capital firms will benefit from more high-quality startups, while weaker firms may pay higher prices for leftovers.
- Angel investors have new opportunities: quick decisions (e.g., $100k within 24 hours) can attract the best deals, and founders value speed over prolonged negotiations.
- Idea clashes may become more common as the number of startups grows, increasing competition.
- Series A rounds are problematic: VCs often force companies to take more money than needed to maintain a large ownership percentage, creating tension with founders.
- There is an opportunity for VCs to break ranks by offering series A rounds based on the company's needs and letting the equity percentage vary with market conditions.
- Founders' complaints (e.g., slow investors, excessive dilution) signal unmet demand; investors should do what founders want.