Founders should believe the "no" and not the "why" when investors reject their startup, be wary of relying too heavily on investor feedback, and focus on making progress in their business to attract investors.

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  00:00

  Believe the "no" and not the "why" when investors reject your startup, as founders often lose confidence despite having expertise and market support.

  • YC group partners discuss what to do when an investor says no to investing in your startup and advise to believe the no, not the why.
  • Founders often lose confidence after investor rejections, despite being experts on their product and having market support, due to believing the investor's rejection email is the truth.
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  02:23

  Investors' reasons for rejecting startup ideas are not always valid due to their limited understanding of the industry.

  • Investors often have a passing understanding of startups and their reasons for rejecting an idea are not canon, as they almost always know much less than the founder.
  • TLDR: The reason for something is not always up for debate.
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  04:38

  Founders should be cautious about taking investor feedback too seriously as it may make them appear less attractive and reliant on the investor for product insights.
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  06:06

  Founders should not dismiss repetitive feedback from investors and should instead analyze it thoroughly to inform their decisions.

  • Investors may have a broader view of the market, but real user anecdotes can still inform them even if they say the market is too small.
  • Founders should assess and dig into feedback from investors, even if it's repetitive, rather than just believing it at face value.
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  08:11

  When founders are fundraising, it's important to ignore the first rejection and only consider consistent reasons for rejection after pitching to multiple investors.
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  09:39

  Investors seek passionate and organized founders with potential to build and lead successful startups, using pattern matching to evaluate their potential.

  • Investors look for individuals who are organized, fired up, and aspire to build and lead large organizations when investing in startups.
  • Investors use pattern matching to evaluate founders and prioritize those who resemble successful founders they have worked with in the past.
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  11:18

  Effective communication is crucial for success, as even with the right credentials, unclear or conflicting messages can cast doubt and hinder progress.
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  11:59

  Don't reject companies too quickly based on initial impressions, keep a list of those who rejected you as they may change their minds, focus on making progress in your business to attract investors.

  • Founders can change and improve their pitch over time, so it's important to not reject companies too quickly based on initial impressions.
  • Investors should keep a list of those who rejected them as they may change their minds if the company starts doing well, which is a unique aspect of Y Combinator.
  • Believe the no, not the why, and focus on making progress in your business to attract investors instead of trying to convince them with words.