Startup School Advisor Track: Did you get in? What are you building?
Just received YC email that I'm in (only for getting advise, not $10k). Did you get in? Share what you are building.
I'm building Axonotes (www.axonotes.com) - all your learning material organized and ready for review.
PS - Don't forget to add any link / landing page, anything that gives interested people a better look of your product.
PPS - Not selected, YC error. Gonna leave this here for the views :)
EDIT: We're now accepting everyone who applied. We're looking forward to working with all of you over the next 10 weeks!
--
Hey, I'm one of the YC developers building Startup School. I just wanted to personally apologize to everyone who has been affected by our error. That was a terrible let-down and not up to the standard that we hold ourselves to at YC.
That said, looking at the feedback here makes me so proud of the Indie Hackers community. Compared to the feedback on Hacker News (or in our email inbox) most people here who didn't get accepted don't seem to be that phased – you're all just continuing to work as you were before. That's exactly the right attitude to have; you don't need YC's or anyone's permission to build something great.
We're also working on a way to try to make this better for everyone. Stay tuned for updates.
Thanks Kyle. We've got a great community here that knows how to stay resilient in the face of ups and downs.
Looking forward to Startup School!
Honestly, this was the best way to handle the error. I was one of those that wasn't phased by the miscommunication, but now I'm an even stronger supporter of YC, and I am twice as motivated to get these tasks completed. Thank you for your contribution to the decision!
Hey @corbt, just wanted to ask you if there's a program of the lectures and tell you that the form link to attend in person is not working.
Looking forward to start the program!
Kyle, thank you for letting everyone in.
Is there a way to check if the startup was actually selected or not prior to this error happened?
I'm not certain about how everything worked out, but my email chain was to first get an email saying 'sorry, you weren't selected', followed by an email saying 'whoops, last one was an error, you're in the advisor track!' I'm not certain if that meant I was included as part of the 'everyone' batch, or if that meant I was actually in the original selected group.
I don't think it is an error. I think it is an effective strategy ;)
It's not a bug, it's a feature :-)
We just got acepted with http://veed.io/ but I really dont understand what Advisor Track means? are there any resporces online explain this in detail?
Does that mean that thousands of startups will get an expert advisor? I am very curious about what that means for the program. Will groups move from 25 companies to 250 or something? Will you be able to maintain the quality of the service?
Thank you for coming here and shedding some light on the situation :)
I believe that YC is not expanding how many advisors they offer (still only for the 4,000 companies they originally accepted). They're inviting the rest to use their Startup School community tools (message boards, etc.), service discounts, and eligibility for the $10k grant.
Just got the email on the update! Good initiative and handling of the situation!
I just got accepted, then rejected due to some error in their system. Lol
Hey,
I'm one of the YC developers. This was a huge, terrible mistake on our part. We're doing our best to make up for it and find a way to make this right.
EDIT: We're accepting everyone now. Looking forward to working with you over the next 10 weeks!
Same here, pretty disappointing honestly, I talked about it with my would-be cofounders and everything.
So disappointing. Happened here as well.
This is exactly what happened to me too. What a fucking roller coaster of emotion. Thanks YC
This rollercoaster trolling shall be in the frontpage of hackernews :D
trollercoaster
I mean, HN isn't gonna like this for sure. Good bashing coming in a post somewhere I guess.
Oh man, that was effin' quick!
A few minutes after I posted the comment, they sent me this
Hello,
We are deeply sorry to have to send this email, but unfortunately an error occurred in the software that triggers acceptance emails. The acceptance email was sent to you even though we are unfortunately not able to include you in the Startup School Advisor Track.
Although you are not in the Advisor Track, you have, in fact, been accepted to audit Startup School and will have access to all of the content just as soon as it is made available.
Again, we regret having made this error and raised your expectations unnecessarily. We hope you continue working on your startup and that Startup School is a huge help.
You can sign into your profile at https://www.startupschool.org/go
Geoff and Adora / Y Combinator
What kind of sorcery is this? :D
facepalm
I'm so sorry about that. I'm one of the YC developers responsible, and we feel terrible about this – it should never have happened. We're trying to figure out how to make this right.
EDIT: We've made the decision to accept everyone. Looking forward to working with you over the next 10 weeks!
Thank you.
This was an awful message, I am just so sad
We got rejected, then accepted.
We are building https://recast.studio a chrome extension to convert blogs into videos.
Same here. First rejected, and after a few hours accepted in the Advisor track!
I'm building masterminds for founders -> www.linhub.co
So excited!
Vytality Health (Peakfoqus LLC) was one of the companies mistakenly rejected, but officially accepted, to Y Combinator’s YC Startup School (Advisory Track).
Vytality Health is on a mission to create a world where everyone, regardless of age, ability or resources is connected, well cared for, and living life to the full. We're building a co-caring social network to foster robust, authentic physical and emotional support of people’s vitality.
I'm really excited to meet you all. Accepted, or rejected-then-accepted, advisory, non-advisory -- we're gonna have an amazing fall at YC Startup School. YC - thanks for cleaning up what happened!
I was one of those 'not accepted' ones at first, to be told it was an error and I've been accepted a little later.
Funny thing is that I tried to make justifications and convince myself that maybe it's a good thing I wasn't accepted, leaving more time for me to focus on moving things forward, even if I'm more likely to make mistakes.
Anyway, really excited to be in the programme!
My website is bluedash.co, and today I'm launching the second phase of my idea: Learner Squads.
We just got accepted with https://veed.io. With ❤️ from London
Got in too in advisor track, building a hyper local micro blogging platform for Indian audience.
bit.ly/Vichaar
Only available in India
Just wanted to post the same :D
Yeah got in luckily (https://www.datagekko.com) on the advisor track.
Mostly in it for the community. Want to get to know more people in the segment and I think that's the most valuable takeaway from it.
Next in value is obviously the materials/mentorship/advice.
The 10k would be nice but I don't think that's much of a driver for the majority. Also if it kicks off don't think that would be huge boost anyways but would be nice to have some extra dough to spend on marketing :)
Other than that pretty much the same news as the rest. A group of cca 25 startups and will be in my group and news will follow shortly.
Congratulations. We have also been accepted for advisor track. Does it mean we are eligible for 10k?
I think they'll be selecting 100 companies out of those who complete the programme for the $10k.
Yeah, I discovered that. Previously it was 100 out of 4000 but now it is 100 out of 15000 .
I doubt 15000 companies will actually complete the programme, but sure, there'll be more companies now 😁
I think I got in with https://getgreenline.co but given email errors, I'm not totally sure, haha.
First email: rejection. Second email: accepted
Haha such a rollercoaster :D Got the update was accepted but not in the advisor track. Now it seems its a free for all minus the advisors :D
It'll be fun. I wonder how many will manage to "promote" to something like an advisor track from the regular flow.
Recently interviewed with resin.io. Is it something similar to it? Looks really interesting.
Thanks!
Not quite the same. We probably both target a similar audience though mine is a bit broader.
They offer more akin to device and firmware management while DataGekko focuses more on data collection and processing. I guess the two could go hand in hand eventually. I have plans to add some basic stuff in the segment but not to the extent these guys went to.
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I got accepted with Page Flows (https://pageflows.com) which is a library of user flow videos to inspire product managers and UX designers. Excited to get started!
I just got accepted for the advisor track as well for my project Episode Ninja. Super excited! Given that there are already three of us in this thread in the advisor track, I'm thinking that their statement about "25 companies" might have been a typo. 😆
There will be multiple advisors. If they are giving $10k to 100 projects, I think it is fair to have 400-500 projects selected, which comes out to 8-10 advisors. Might be wrong though.
25 companies per group, I assume there are many groups.
I think, mistake is due to boolean value. First they have sent acceptance mail for rejected applications(11,000). So now they are accpeting everyone (15,000). But they are giving advisor track only to 4000(actually selected) applicantions. I guess each 25 startups will have one advistor. It is nearly 120 advisors.
Congratulations!
I got rejected with Dependabot. 😢
Honestly, I'd rather have a real product being used by real people at $6k MRR.
Keep working on Axonotes and I'm sure you'll be there soon!
Gov.UK uses your tool. Damn
You have no reason be sad, man.
You are the lucky one. I got accepted and then unaccepted :)
We're testing pivot hypothesis: What if startup founders could meet each other in productive formats?
More details: https://www.startupschool.org/posts/14630
Got accepted to the advisor track with FormAPI: https://formapi.io
Excited to learn a lot and improve the product!
I think I'm a little late to the party. Can someone tell me what (Startup School) is?
Thanks
Got rejected, then accepted for the advisor track with iDIOPAGE
Guess I am late for the party. Accepted for the 'Advisory Track' with a social platform envisioning to help improve peoples' relationships.
This is our landing page.
https://8hoot.com
A new revamped version is coming up. https://8hoot.com/mamaGoto
We got in to the Advisor Track with Recapped.io
I'm not expecting too much, but it will be nice to have an advisor and ~24 other peer companies to keep ourselves accountable.
What a rollercoaster. Happy to be accepted, unhappy to see so many teams disinformed, glad to see how YC handled that in the end
cronhub.io got accepted into Startup School Advisor Track yesterday. Exciting! 🎉
We're a Melbourne based startup that got into the "Advisor Track".
We're live with our MVP of https://reputationaire.com - a blockchain solution for individuals to collect their ratings and reviews they've built at almost any website and use them to instantly prove they are skilled and trustworthy - over and over.
Organisations reliant on application/signup processes can request access to these verified impartial third party ratings which are faster, fairer and more reliable than reference, credit and background checks.
Our dream is a future where no user has to signup un-trusted, or even with their personal information, but instead can bring their anonymous but verified reputation with them from other websites they already use.
Congrats everyone! 👏
If any of you'll need help finishing the courses for a shot at the $10k, please ping. I'll anyway audit the course but I'd love to be a part of the community.
We got rejected then accepted. :) https://www.scrlapp.com
Got in - trying to build modern wealth management software for India. Any ideas who the mentors are this year?
Hi there,
Should we keep our initial idea when we applied, or can we change and work on another project?
Thanks.
Hey guys, I got accepted too after they fixed the error, look forward to the program!!!
I'm a Brazilian non-technical founder creating a new social social interaction between college students. Dorm Made is a marketplace where students can connect, eat healthy and on top of that - make some profit. 😎
With startup school I hope to gain the courage & know-how to actually launch the service and start this journey.
Check out my last pitch at Boston Uni: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd7oICB0rJQ&feature=youtu.be
Very grateful,
Franco Torres
We got rejected and then got acceptance email. leadmine.net
And now We are accepted again, all in the same day! haha
I got in with the Mokens project. Mokens are general purpose, user-designed cryptocollectibles that are intended to be integrated with other projects and websites. The first web app that uses mokens is here: https://mokens.io/
http://www.agency.zinterim.com, our on demand workforce booking platform was baited and switched. It would've been great..like really, really great but I seriously don't know where I would've found the time...
We've got a rejection email and then a couple of hours later a follow up email saying that there was an error and we were accepted! Super stoked about this opportunity. Not sure what to expect. If anyone is interested, we're here - https://skillmint.com
Got in with Dig3st.com...looking for lead editors and contributors to grow the team...E-mail me at info@dig3st.com if interested
Got accepted :) I'm building MySocialApp.io - Add social networking features to any app easily. I'm glad to be part of this session
Hmm 🤔 I also got rejected and then accepted. Huge oversight? Or sneaky marketing trick to get people to talk about the course? Lol
Does anyone know where to find info on the group sessions? Are they in person?
I got an email earlier that said "We're sorry to say that your startup was not selected for the upcoming Advisor track."
I was, of course, disappointed but figured I'd still "participate as a Visitor"
Just now got one saying "We are deeply sorry, but an error occurred in the software that triggers acceptance emails and you were actually supposed to receive the email below accepting you into the Startup School Advisor Track.
That was a shocker!
I had a partner who was going to work on marketing that bailed on me a week ago. No hard feelings, he was young and just started a new job.
I still need some partners to make this grow. If anyone here knows anyone who might be interested in teaming up with me I'm more than willing to talk with them.
I'm working on a suite of web apps for small and medium size businesses. The current site design is rough but the software is getting pretty close to being ready for daily use:
Home page: https://cherrypc.com
The apps: https://cherrypc.com/app/
Really awesome suite of software services you've got going on, and as for your partner who bailed on you for a job, I leave you with a quote from a book I read or movie I watched, I can't really remember where or the exact wording of the quote, hell maybe my subconscious mind even made it up, but here goes "most people want the easy route(life), but easy does not make titans", or something to that effect.
Thank you Smithmayowa. It's really encouraging to hear that.
I've been sitting in my basement office working on this for quite awhile but none of my family or friends are developers, or even "techie" at all, so I don't get much feedback from them. I have to admit there have been days when I've questioned rather or not I've been wasting my time so hearing that means a lot to me and, honestly, getting accepted to participate is truly a surprise.
I got accepted as well with https://funretro.io. First got a message saying I was not accepted, than one saying I was accepted to be advised.
Hi, I just got into the advisory group with the same email saying that there had been a computer glitch. Its for a device that assists caregivers with proactive prevention of wandering for cognitively impaired patients.
Same here with the message -- does that mean that everyone that applied got into the audit course?
Yes, we've accepted everyone to audit the course. We're looking to see what else we can do.
Hey Kyle, thank you for the note. And honestly, it’s ok, it happens, yc is awesome. I’m a techstars grad and have seen things go sideways so many times. You guys rock for enabling and empowering so many new entrepreneurs. Good luck!
Hi Irshad,
We are deeply sorry, but an error occurred in the software that triggers acceptance emails and you were actually supposed to receive the email below accepting you into the Startup School Advisor Track.
I am accepted YO.
Thank God I was accepted, was at first rejected but then i was later accepted.
I know right. happened to me as well.
Same here
Just got accepted ... and then received "We are deeply sorry to have to send this email, but unfortunately an error occurred ... blah blah". So yeah .. off to a great start ..
I'm one of the YC developers responsible for this issue. I'm so sorry – this is not the standard we hold ourselves to. We're going to try to make this right for everybody.
Same here
There was an error! They sent emails to the wrong people! Didn't end up getting in. A part of me is disappointed but it's mostly a sigh of relief. The timing really did not work out for me, so it'd have added a ton of stress.
yup...just found out that it was an error, turns out I wasn't accepted.
Heyyo @misterdz123 thought you should know everyone is accepted and has a chance at the 10k now. Wish you luck!
Yes I see that :) Very nice of them to do that
I just googled the startup school advisor then I saw this thread.
Seems like all of you guys have products already.
In my case, I just gave it a try without having a real product then they have sent me this email.
Thank you for applying to Startup School Online. Your application looked promising and we would like to invite you to the Advisor track!
As part of the Advisor track, you will be a member of a group of about 25 companies with an expert advisor with whom you will meet regularly during the course.
Not sure on how the approach would be for startups that will start from scratch.
I don't really have my product ready yet but it should be by the end of this week though. www.testimonly.com and yet i applied and was accepted.
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I got accepted into the advisor track. My company is called MindStory. It’s mission is to fundmanetllay improve mental healthcare referrals.
Don't forget link / landing page, anything that gives interested people a better look of your product.
i was accepted! I am building an Uber for girlfriends on demand. Haven't launched but new beta users (roughly 30/day) kicking in everyday
Any link?
invisiblegirlfriend.com/
Dudeee. Please don't do this 🙈🙏
I'm sure you have your reasons (happy to have a chat) and you've done your customer and market validation but please no.
I work with a mental health community and I promise you this doesn't end well. Unless ofc I'm missing something.
Sorry again, I don't mean to discourage your effort but do give it a thought in the other direction as well.
that is a really cool, and somewhat unbelievable project, you've got going on, I am very impressed by this.
I goty accepted with (https://buenapeople.com ) We schedule home delivery services in Colombia . I think they accepted many startups or projects , but probably the tasks are very hard and just the half will graduate. Anyway I think this is awesome, I read the FAQ and looks great not only for money, or lectures . We can meet and chat with another co-founders and partners of YC. Congrats to everyone!
Jesus , I got this message
We are deeply sorry to have to send this email, but unfortunately an error occurred in the software that triggers acceptance emails. The acceptance email was sent to you even though we are unfortunately not able to include you in the Startup School Advisor Track. Now I am sad again haha
Hey Mateo, I'm one of the YC developers responsible for Startup School. I'm so sorry – this mistake did not meet the standard that we hold ourselves to. I feel terrible about this, and we're trying to see what we can do to make this right.
Ok Kyle, thanks for be here and apologize
I guess it's a human error?
Last-minute revision?
You know what I mean.
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Same here
Can someone please explain what this advisor track is supposed to be? I applied with barely anything on my application and I really don't know what's going on now.
What are you building though?
It's a 10 week course which anyone can audit, but they are selecting some projects and advising them personally(should be minimal I guess with 25 projects assigned to one person). In addition if you complete the course you may get equity free $10k.
https://www.startupschool.org/about
so like how many companies are doing this then?
Not sure if they will release official numbers, but expect it to be well in a few hundreds, or even thousand.
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Can you check the link, not working for me.
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Landing page?