How Not to Fail →

Jessica Livingston · The Macro ·

Good talk by Jessica Livingston of Y-Combinator at the Female Founders Conference.

Part 1, an announcement from Jessica:

I want to start off today with some personal news. After working on Y Combinator for 11 years, I’m going on sabbatical for the next year. I want to focus on some projects and, to be honest, I’m a little tired. YC is one of my favorite things in the world, but it’s also all-consuming, and it’s hard to work on something all-consuming for 11 years without a break. I also want to spend more time with my sons. They’re 7 and 4 now, and I won’t be able to get these years back.

Part 2, her keys on how not to fail, including:

  1. Make something people want.
  2. Stay focused.
  3. Don’t worry about being a woman.
  4. Measure your growth.
  5. Know if you’re default alive.
  6. Keep expenses low.
  7. Fundraising gets harder.
  8. Unicorns