What are the different ways to participate in Startup School?

There are two paths: you can audit the course to access lectures and materials, or you can apply for the advisor track. The advisor track offers more in-depth engagement, including weekly meetings with advisors, access to exclusive deals, and eligibility for a $10,000 grant.

Who are some of the speakers and advisors for Startup School?

This year's course features prominent figures from Y Combinator, including Paul Graham, Jessica Livingston, Sam Altman (President), and Michael Seibel (CEO). Many YC partners and founders also volunteer as advisors.

What kind of support or incentives are offered to participants?

Participants in the advisor track can receive exclusive deals on services like cloud credits from AWS and DigitalOcean, and incorporation from Stripe Atlas. Additionally, 100 companies can qualify for a $10,000 equity-free grant upon successful completion of the course.

What is the curriculum structure of Startup School?

The 10-week course covers fundamental startup concepts, from initial ideas and product development ('make something people want') to user growth, hiring, fundraising, and even the psychological aspects of entrepreneurship. It also includes a lecture specifically on applying to YC.

How do the weekly advisor meetings work?

In these online group sessions, founders discuss their progress, obstacles, and goals from the past week. Advisors facilitate conversations, drawing on their experience and the collective knowledge of other founders in the group to help solve problems.

When does Startup School begin, and how can I apply?

Applications are currently open and will be accepted for two weeks. The course begins the week of August 27th and runs through the end of October. Thousands of companies are already applying, so it's encouraged to submit your application soon.

Key Moments

Geoff Ralston and Adora Cheung Discuss Startup School

Y Combinator

Science & Technology5 min read26 min video

Aug 7, 2018|5,321 views|83|11

YC Y Combinator Geoff Ralston Adora Cheung Podcast Interview Startup School

Save to Pod

Key Moments

TL;DR

Y Combinator's Startup School offers a free 10-week online course with mentorship and grants.

Key Insights

Startup School is a free, 10-week online course by Y Combinator aimed at reducing barriers to starting a business globally.

Two tracks are available: auditing lectures and notes, or applying for the full program with an advisor, group meetings, and community forum access.

The full program offers exclusive deals and a chance to receive one of 100 equity-free $10,000 grants for promising early-stage companies.

The curriculum covers fundamental startup concepts, product development, growth strategies, fundraising, and application to Y Combinator.

Weekly advisor meetings focus on tactical, problem-solving discussions facilitated by experienced YC founders who volunteer their time.

Successful completion requires attending 9 out of 10 advisor group meetings and consuming 9 out of 10 lectures, incentivizing engagement and completion.

OVERVIEW AND EVOLUTION OF STARTUP SCHOOL

Startup School has evolved from an online course titled 'How to Start a Startup' to a comprehensive 10-week online program designed to reach and support startups worldwide. The primary goal is to maximize global innovation and value creation by lowering the barriers to entry for aspiring entrepreneurs. This year's iteration aims to provide access to knowledge, community, and mentorship, especially for those outside traditional startup hubs like Silicon Valley.

COURSE STRUCTURE AND PARTICIPATION TRACKS

The program offers two distinct tracks for participants. The auditing option provides access to live streams, lectures, and notes, making the course content widely accessible. For more dedicated founders, especially those working full-time on their ventures, there's an application-based track. This full participation includes access to assigned advisors, weekly group meetings, a dedicated community forum, exclusive deals from partners like Stripe Atlas and AWS, and eligibility for the $10,000 grant.

THE GRANT PROGRAM AND TARGET AUDIENCE

A significant new initiative this year is the offering of 100 equity-free $10,000 grants. These grants are awarded to promising early-stage companies based on their progress during the course and feedback from advisors. The program is primarily targeted at early-stage founders who have an idea and are ready to commit to it full-time, or those already working on an idea with minimal to any number of users. The aim is to provide crucial capital to help these startups succeed and thrive.

CURRICULUM AND KEY TOPICS COVERED

The 10-week curriculum follows a logical arc, starting with the fundamental 'why' and 'how' of starting a startup. It delves into developing a product that 'people want,' a core YC principle, and finding product-market fit. Subsequent weeks focus on user acquisition and growth strategies, company operations, hiring, and fundraising, including understanding cap tables. A dedicated lecture assists founders with the Y Combinator application process, emphasizing that the course's primary benefit is making a startup stronger, not just facilitating YC admission.

THE ROLE OF ADVISORS AND COMMUNITY MENTORSHIP

A cornerstone of Startup School is the mentorship provided through weekly group meetings with advisors. These advisors, predominantly experienced YC founders who volunteer their time, facilitate discussions focused on tactical, problem-solving aspects. They help founders identify obstacles, share insights from their own experiences, and foster a supportive community. While the coursework offers theoretical knowledge, these sessions provide practical, tailored advice, making the experience deeply valuable and unique.

SUCCESS METRICS AND PROGRAM COMPLETION INCENTIVES

Y Combinator aims to combat the high churn rates typical of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Last year, 56% of participants finished the course, and the goal is to exceed this percentage this year. To incentivize completion and engagement, participants must attend at least nine out of ten weekly advisor group meetings and consume at least nine out of ten lectures to qualify for the $10,000 grant and the final presentation day. This structure provides a crucial forcing function for founders to focus and grow their startups.

EXPERT SPEAKERS AND YC NETWORK INVOLVEMENT

The program features insights from prominent figures within the Y Combinator ecosystem. This year's speakers include YC partners and successful YC founders, with notable participation from Paul Graham and Jessica Livingston. Sam Altman (President) and Michael Seibel (CEO) of Y Combinator will also deliver talks. The extensive involvement of the YC network, particularly the volunteer advisors, is highlighted as a key differentiator that makes Startup School exceptionally powerful and effective.

PARTNERSHIPS AND EXCLUSIVE DEALS FOR PARTICIPANTS

Beyond the educational content and mentorship, participants in the full program gain access to exclusive deals with various service providers. These partnerships aim to reduce operational costs for early-stage startups. Benefits include cloud credits from major providers like Amazon Web Services and DigitalOcean, as well as services for company incorporation and banking, such as Stripe Atlas. These deals provide tangible value, supporting startups as they build and scale.

LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THE COURSE

While Startup School is an online course accessible globally, there will be a live, in-person component at the original YC offices in Mountain View, California, for selected local participants. However, the emphasis is on accessibility and equity, and it is not recommended for individuals to travel long distances to attend. The primary delivery method remains online, ensuring that founders worldwide can engage with the lectures and community resources regardless of their geographical location.

APPLICATIONS AND COURSE START DATE

Applications for Startup School are open and have experienced a strong response, with thousands of companies already applying. Prospective participants are encouraged to submit their applications promptly due to high demand. The 10-week course is scheduled to begin the week of August 27th. The application period and the course timeline are strategically aligned with Y Combinator's Winter 2019 batch application and interview period, offering a potential pathway for participants to apply to the core YC program.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Software & Apps

●Companies

●Organizations

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Startup School: Key Takeaways

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Apply for the advisor track if you are a full-time founder.

Engage with your advisor and fellow founders weekly.

Attend at least 9 out of 10 weekly advisor meetings to qualify for the grant.

Focus on making something people want, as per YC's motto.

Consider YC's Startup School as a means to improve your startup, not just for fundraising.

Utilize the available online resources and library.

Leverage the community and mentorship for guidance and support.

Avoid This

Do not expect advisors to tell you exactly what to do; they facilitate discussion.

Do not consider traveling for the in-person component if it detracts from your startup focus.

Do not miss more than one advisor meeting if you aim to qualify for the $10,000 grant.

Do not underestimate the psychological and emotional challenges of starting a startup.

Common Questions

Startup School is an open online course designed to lower the barriers to starting a business, providing access to knowledge, community, and mentorship. It's primarily targeted at early-stage founders with an idea or those already working on one, aiming to help them build and grow their startups.

Topics

Technology & Innovation Business & Entrepreneurship Product-market Fit Online Courses Venture Capital Startup Funding Early Stage Startups YC Application Founder Mentorship

Mentioned in this video

People

Jessica Livingston

Co-founder of Y Combinator, who will be participating and sharing wisdom in the Startup School course.

Paul Graham

Co-founder of Y Combinator, who will be participating and sharing wisdom in the Startup School course.

Steven Pham

A key individual at YC who significantly contributed to organizing Startup School, managing advisors, and ensuring its smooth operation.

Michael Seibel

CEO of Y Combinator, who will be giving a talk as part of the Startup School.

Sam Altman

President of Y Combinator, who taught the initial 'How to Start a Startup' course and is a featured speaker for the current Startup School.

Companies

Stripe Atlas

A service that helps companies incorporate and create bank accounts, offering exclusive deals to Startup School participants.

Connection IP

A patent law firm that iterated on its product during Startup School and was a success story from a previous cohort.

Y Combinator

A startup accelerator that runs Startup School, offering mentorship, resources, and a pathway to their core program.

DigitalOcean

A cloud provider offering exclusive deals (cloud credits) to companies participating in Startup School.

Software & Apps

Clerke

A company that works with Stripe Atlas for incorporation services, offering deals to Startup School participants.

Startup School

An open online course aimed at reducing barriers to starting a startup, offering lectures, community forums, and mentorship.

AWS