Sneha Sivakumar’s Post

🚀 We're thrilled to share that we've applied to join the esteemed ranks of Y Combinator's Summer24 (S24) batch. 💡 For those who might not be familiar, Y Combinator (YC) is not just any startup accelerator—it's a powerhouse that transforms fledgling startups into successful enterprises. You can hear from several of the startups that went through the YC experience last summer (S23) in the video below. With a ~1.5% acceptance rate, we know it’s not easy, but that’s exactly why it’s worth doing. We believe GrandConnect will add significantly to this summer’s S24 batch. Our team is ready to dive in! 🔗 GrandConnect's Aspiration: As part of GrandConnect, user insights and feedback have been instrumental in shaping our platform. Joining YC would amplify our ability to build something truly desired by people at scale, surrounded by like-minded innovators, investors, and an incredible support system. We are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to interview with YC and are optimistic for a positive outcome. Your continued support means the world to us, and we promise to keep you updated every step of the way. 👉Stay Connected: We value every bit of encouragement and insight from our community as we take this significant step! Watch how 50 founders share why they applied to Y Combinator: https://lnkd.in/gHfSJCMz #YCombinator #YC #GrandConnect #LegacyPreservation #CommunitySupport 

#YCApplications #StartupJourney #FeedbackMatters Hey everyone! 😊 It’s that exciting yet nerve-wracking time of year—Y Combinator's Winter '25 applications are just around the corner, with the deadline only 4 weeks away! 📅 As a former YC founder (W22), I vividly remember the rollercoaster of emotions leading up to my fifth application after several rejections. It can be tough to navigate the application process, especially when you feel unsure or stuck. That feeling of uncertainty can create a few common pain points: Overthinking: You might find yourself second-guessing your ideas, wondering if they’re good enough. Lack of Perspective: Sometimes, we’re too close to our projects to see the bigger picture, leading to missed opportunities. Fear of Rejection: The anxiety around not getting in again can make it feel daunting to put your application together. To tackle these issues, I want to help by offering a friendly, supportive space to clarify your ideas! I’m opening up 30 slots... Are You Ready to Boost Your YC Application Before the Deadline? Answers: https://lnkd.in/gEtbreCh

#YCApplications #StartupJourney #FeedbackMatters Hey everyone! 😊 It’s that exciting yet nerve-wracking time of year—Y Combinator's Winter '25 applications are just around the corner, with the deadline only 4 weeks away! 📅 As a former YC founder (W22), I vividly remember the rollercoaster of emotions leading up to my fifth application after several rejections. It can be tough to navigate the application process, especially when you feel unsure or stuck. That feeling of uncertainty can create a few common pain points: Overthinking: You might find yourself second-guessing your ideas, wondering if they’re good enough. Lack of Perspective: Sometimes, we’re too close to our projects to see the bigger picture, leading to missed opportunities. Fear of Rejection: The anxiety around not getting in again can make it feel daunting to put your application together. To tackle these issues, I want to help by offering a friendly, supportive space to clarify your ideas! I’m opening up 30 slots... Are You Ready to Boost Your YC Application Before the Deadline? Answers: https://lnkd.in/g85QQB_V

One key lesson we internalized through our Y Combinator journey was the constant emphasis on product-market fit. It drove home the importance of rapid iteration based on customer feedback. As YC (W18) alumni, we hope to accelerate your road to YC through personalized feedback on your applications from my co-founders Andrea Baronchelli, Joel Leong and I. Submit your applications today: https://lnkd.in/gAJxNMMa #FoundersXchange #AspireForStartups #ByEntrepreneursForEntrepreneurs #YCombinator

Founders! You have 5 more days to apply to Y Combinator. We've backed three YC companies from CEE already as SMOK Ventures (two before they got to YC) and I'm always happy to help review YC applications of CEE founders. Shoot me yours at [email protected] if you'd like a second opinion! Also, remember about recommendations! I'll post links to lists of Polish, Ukrainian and Baltic YC alumni. Harass them before applying--they are your best chance for going up in the mysterious YC filters. Finally, remember that YC is just a way to increase your chances as a founder, but rejection means nothing. Multiple billion dollar companies have been rejected. So build what the customers want regardless and if you manage to get in, great, if not, keep building! Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dKWeTFu9

Another Y Combinator Demo Day is behind us, and this one was the biggest to date! It’s also the first time I’ve followed the event from Europe since I moved to San Francisco in 2011 and started paying close attention to YC. After embracing my FOMO and spending nearly three weeks diving into the startups and trends in the current batch, I’ve noticed something interesting: European founders and VCs don’t engage with YC batch trends and standout companies in the same way their North American counterparts do—especially those in Silicon Valley. Instead, many European VCs tend to dismiss YC’s influence, often dismissing the “YC valuation premium”. European founders I nudge towards YC mostly seem oblivious to the power of YC network, Bookface access, and the pressure cooker experience. This might answer a question that’s been on my mind for years: why aren’t there more YC founders from non-English-speaking Europe, and especially from my homeland? As I’ve done since 2015, I took the opportunity to connect with any founders from the Adria region (ex-Yugoslavia) participating in this batch. It was a true pleasure to meet Mihail Eric from Storia.ai, our sole representative this time around, and I’m excited to see what he builds next. What do you think? Why aren’t more founders from mainland Europe in YC, and what can we do to change that? cc Mihail Eric Stefan Vukcevic Matija Šošić Martin Šošić J.P. Zivalich John Milinovich Zvonimir Sabljić Miha Mlakar Stefan Stokic Ranko R Sredojevic Ivan Kirigin

Good luck to all the Y Combinator startups presenting today and those who presented yesterday! You have an incredible journey ahead. One thing I’ve consistently observed while interacting with many YC founders is their laser focus on details, relentless perseverance, and ability to turn setbacks into growth opportunities. These traits set great founders apart, enabling them to navigate challenges and lead their teams to success. But there's a challenge I’ve seen founders repeatedly face—finding people who share that same level of dedication and who truly understand the mission of the company. That’s where Rocketeams comes in. We specialize in helping founders hire Silicon Valley-caliber software engineers at just a third of the cost, with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re a founder looking to build a world-class team, let’s chat. We’ll help you get the right crew for your ship and take your startup to the next level. 🚀

Most people: Scared to ask their mentors for too much, try not to take too much of their time, only ask top 5% of important questions. YC Founders: Throw any and all questions in private Slack channel and have Garry Tan give you a real answer in minutes. Seriously, of all the well-documented benefits of Y Combinator, having your Group Partner effectively on speed dial is one of the most underrated. You get access to the best to become the best. Garry happens to be our Group Partner, and has been invaluable in offering advice, a helping hand, or a second pair of eyes. As recently as last week, I posted a product launch on Linkedin/Twitter. 20 minutes later, Garry gave me feedback on it. I immediately made the change. When you’re starting a startup, you need every advantage you can get. This is a pretty wild advantage. TLDR: Apply for YC’s new spring batch (applications open!) PS: as you can see in the pic, I recently sat down with Garry for a brief interview. Stay tuned for when it drops!

Today is the deadline to apply to Y Combinator. Here's how it changed Henry Dornier and I's life: 2016: Met YC partners at campus office hours at Princeton. I told them we were going to launch the beta of Meetingbird in 5 months - they told us to email them if we shipped it in 15 days instead. Cancelled spring break plans, launched in 2 weeks, and our side project turned into a real company 2017: Got the S17 acceptance call from Gustaf Alströmer 🇺🇦, which is one of those founder memories you never forget. Flew from graduation to Mountain View for the craziest 3 months of our life, and raised our seed round thanks to demo day 2018-2023: Acquired by another YC company (Front) and spent 4 great years there 2024: Interviewed 10+ YC founders for idea validation, and 3 of our first 5 Alpharun customers were YC companies So yes, apply!

Thank you Y Combinator and Tom Blomfield for inviting us back to share our experience with the latest batch (go W25!) Here are some things that I've shared: 1. Make the Most Out of the YC Community: One of the most magical parts about YC was connecting with and learning from other founders in our batch. I loved hearing about how other founders decided to start their companies, how they closed their first customer contracts, and what unique insights they had about a given industry or problem. Offer to help your fellow batchmates where you can, and don't be shy about asking for help where you need it. 2. Don't compare your journey to others: It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the success of peers, but remember, we each have our unique paths. It honestly took me some time to recognize this, but it's so much important to focus on your steps than the pace of others. 3. Obsess over your customers/problem you are trying to solve: The next 3 months is going to be one of the most productive periods of your startup journey thus far. Use this time to dig deeply into the problem you are trying to solve. Focus on maximizing your learning curve by talking to as many customers as you can and testing different hypotheses you have about the market. And make sure the learning doesn't slow down after the batch is over. I'd love to hear from other YC alumni and founders—what are some of the most memorable lessons from your journey?