The Student's Guide To Becoming A Successful Startup Founder

If you're a high school or college student with big dreams of starting your own company, this video is for you. Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel, two startup founders who started in the early 20s and are now top investors, sit down to share the hard-won advice they wish they had known back in high school.
Whether you're already running your own startup or just have an idea you can't stop thinking about, Caldwell and Seibel will discuss the skills you need to learn now and how to set yourself up for success after graduating school. Their stories will give you a glimpse of what's truly possible at the intersection of ambition and opportunity in in today's world. This is a masterclass in entrepreneurship for the next generation.

00:00 - Intro
01:12 - Delayed Gratification
02:23 - Learn to Code
04:17 - Learn Design
04:52 - Launch Products
06:49 - Make Friends
08:04 - School Sandbox
09:13 - Learn To Care
11:20 - Credential Game
13:35 - Fads That Stick
15:42 - Be Excited
17:50 - Be Honest
20:08 - Love The Long Games
23:46 - Live Your Dream

[ycombinator]

Students! What are you interested in building?

[reprovedcandy]

My first startup was a SaaS business. I had NO technical experience at all. I had $20K to invest and tried to hire devs for my MVP and saw that money circle the drain with nothing to show blazingly fast. I was 23 at the time and decided to take 2 years and learn everything I could possibly learn about full stack development. I can't even begin to express how valuable that experience has been. My second startup was recently acquired and I have another I'm about to start. The other day I realized all the things I'm working on for this 3rd startup are focused on the business itself, I barely have to think about the technical challenges anymore. So, to anyone thinking "Hmm should I learn to code?" - yes. Just, yes. Do it and thank yourself (/me?) later.

[arik_dev]

4:10 I learned to code when I was 27 and I'm a 32 year old dev and founder now. It's never too late.

[minc]

I love these guys. I wish I could adopt them as my uncles.

[KahlilAshanti]

'the way you get better at it is you suck at it first' -told my kids that this morning about their coding journey. so true! (for any skill)

[Whostanvir]

The life lessons Michael and Dalton provide are really helpful beside startup lessons. They are helping future founders to be better people too!!!

[ayoungdev]

It’s so funny I’ve been listening to this on repeat all day while working. Today we had a move-in scheduled, but a lot of things were still messed up in the house. As a project manager usually I hire this out to contractors but today I decided to put on the gloves and tackle some of the work myself. Long story short after 12 hours of working on this house, I got offered a job by the tenants parent.

Showing that you care can go a really long way.

[anamariaramirezgomez]

I really love this kind of videos because I got my bachelor's degree four years ago and I had the opportunity to upskill during the last year and got an amazing job and learned about my co-workers worldwide.

[adrianmanea]

Learning to code was honestly the best decision I've made since deciding to be born. Finding a co-founder with the coding skills can be frustrating. If they lack confidence and motivation, it can be difficult to maintain a steady company. I learned to code from YouTube and a React template I purchased for $69 haha.

[chapterme]

Chapters (Powered by ChapterMe) -
00:00 - Intro
00:14 - YC's Advice for High School Students
01:12 - Grinding - Delayed Gratification
02:23 - Upskilling - Learn to Code
04:17 - Learn to use Basic Design Software
04:52 - Launching Products
06:49 - Learn to Talk to People and Make Friends
08:04 - School is a Sandbox
09:13 - Empathy - How to Care About Your Users
11:20 - How to Play the Credential Game
13:35 - Fads and How to Catch Them
15:42 - How to Be Excited About Technology
17:50 - Being Honest to Yourself
20:08 - Learn to Love Long Games
23:46 - Wrap Up - Live Your Dream

[murthyharshith]

This is so for me. Starting out as a college fresher with YC advice. What can be better than this. Thanks a ton YC

[emanuelb.]

The Credential Game segment was super cryptic. They didn’t explain what they are talking about. Is it about having to be a previous founder to get investments? Coming from a renown school? Being a tech influencer? What credential game is being played that’s so important to understand? Help us understand it.

[masterz]

I am a high schooler with a dream, I am 16 now, I have been grinding for the past 5 years, just building products I love, now I have at last built up the confidence to apply to YC, to make my dream, a reality! Dalton and Michael, I am Wasim, I am from India, I am building Dozeal! and I am confident that we will meet soon!! See you then! 😃🤩

[dhruvraval]

Saw this video and clicked instantly!

As a college freshman interested in startups, hearing from the vets is an opportunity I’ll always take.

[lahcenechel]

Start working on my project soon. I have no teammate so I will do everything my self. I wish I could've asked for advice from dr Seidle.

[khaya_was_taken_]

Love you guys, wishing I had this content starting off, now I'm sharing it with my brother. His doing his first startup.

[devtea]

"The Startup game isn't going away. You've got time. Learn to build. Then ship. Take in feedback, adjust, and repeat."

[johnnyBrwn]

Thanks man, this is already adding so much value. Its depressing seeing a lack of optimism in AI.

[pratyushatri]

Spot on content. All the pointers and things that were covered made so much sense. Awesome video Dalton and Michael

[Zekicc]

The in person ones are much more enjoyable to watch - please keep this format!