> VCs asked me why I even did YC because I had a Stanford degree.
That's interesting. I expect that perception has changed now, but am curious.
> The YC application is actually a great leveler because applications are evaluated by other founders through a community where building things for people is prized over pure credentialism.
I think it is a very good leveler, but there is a lot of causation going on when you go to a place like Stanford (or Duke, where I went). If you went to a top engineering school, you have a lot more exposure to people that can build things. If I didn't meet folks who encouraged me to seriously get into programming and engineering my senior year, I wouldn't have taken the first steps down the road that led me to YC.
I think SUS is a great leveler, because it's giving folks anywhere and everywhere access to positive peer mentors who can do for them what my classmates did for me. Am very excited to see where that goes.
That's interesting. I expect that perception has changed now, but am curious.
> The YC application is actually a great leveler because applications are evaluated by other founders through a community where building things for people is prized over pure credentialism.
I think it is a very good leveler, but there is a lot of causation going on when you go to a place like Stanford (or Duke, where I went). If you went to a top engineering school, you have a lot more exposure to people that can build things. If I didn't meet folks who encouraged me to seriously get into programming and engineering my senior year, I wouldn't have taken the first steps down the road that led me to YC.
I think SUS is a great leveler, because it's giving folks anywhere and everywhere access to positive peer mentors who can do for them what my classmates did for me. Am very excited to see where that goes.