Good post.

The value of failing is not just the experience but the connections you make along the way. If you gain bad connections, you may have actually set yourself back a bit.

Thank you. I couldn't agree more when you say "If you gain bad connections, you may have actually set yourself back a bit."

Especially failing with a Web 2.0 startup, which is linked to factors of timing and luck that are often out of your control.

Yeah, definitely. I'm working for one right now and I can say I'm basically continuing with it because I want to see exactly how certain decisions will affect the outcome. I don't even care if it succeeds.

Good luck!

Monetary success is great but the experience, knowledge and people you meet on the way are far more valuable. I am working at the moment on my own startup, I'm only a month in but it's been an amazing experience already.

good post right up until the end where you wrote "If you enjoyed this post please go back to YC Hacker News and give it some karma." If it's a good post, you don't need to devalue it by getting people to vote for it.

Thank you, you are right about the WP plugin for YC HN. I've disabled it.