Latest Interviews
Showing 1–4 of 4 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Y Combinator20 min
Y Combinator Is Back In Person
Dalton Caldwell, Michael Seibel
The Summer 2022 YC batch transitions to hybrid operations with a Sonoma kick-off retreat and San Francisco meetups while maintaining core remote components for its global cohort. This cycle features a revised standard deal delivering $500,000 in immediate capital, which has attracted a more technical, motivated applicant pool and enabled founders to raise seed rounds with reduced dilution. Additionally, a distinct geographic trend sees founders returning to major tech hubs like the Bay Area to leverage dense ecosystems, supported by YC's direct economic guidance that encourages data-driven decision-making over fear-based reactions.
- Y Combinator9 min
Synthetic Media: Virtual Influencers & Live Animation: Figments (S19) - YC Gaming Tech Talks 2020
YC-backed startup Figments, led by CEO Jay Rosenkranz, is building a virtual production platform that merges motion capture with live streaming to create fictional esports characters like Noralis competing in *Super Smash Brothers Ultimate*. The company successfully pivoted to a fully remote model during the pandemic, utilizing Unreal Engine and ARKit to drive viral growth and secure commercial partnerships with brands such as Reebok and Guayaquil Yerba Mate. As Figments expands its storytelling across Twitch and YouTube, it is actively recruiting talent to further develop its proprietary technology for digital product placement and character creation.
- Y Combinator29 min
Carolynn Levy - Modern Startup Funding
Early-stage financing has shifted from complex, costly Series A preferred stock rounds to streamlined convertible securities like Y Combinator's SAFE, which allow founders to raise capital rapidly without immediate legal counsel. While these instruments facilitate frequent small checks and faster closings, they introduce challenges such as tracking dilution until conversion and potential administrative burdens from party rounds with numerous angels. Ultimately, founders must balance the efficiency of modern templates against specific deal structures and regional investor preferences to avoid corner cases where funding fails to convert into equity.
- Y Combinator26 min
Geoff Ralston and Adora Cheung Discuss Startup School
Geoff Ralston, Adora Cheung, Craig, Jeff
Startup School is a 10-week Stanford-taught online program led by YC partners and executives Paul Graham, Sam Altman, and Michael Seibel, designed to lower barriers for early-stage founders globally. The course offers two participation tracks featuring live lectures, expert advice from volunteer founders, and access to exclusive partner deals, while incentivizing serious commitment through $10,000 equity-free grants awarded to 100 completing companies. Building on last year's success where 38 graduates entered the YC accelerator, the initiative aims to maximize global innovation by fostering accountability and providing capital to prevent promising startups from failing due to early funding gaps.