YC, and VC in general, is just one path to build a product. There are others. I don't apply to YC with any of my ideas not because of any lack of quality to the idea or its potential scale, but simply because I'm an old, slow, peaceful type of person... and not the slightest match for the startup culture. That doesn't invalidate my ideas in any way - it just changes my approach.
Sounds like you want a different approach as well. I'd say don't fret over YC/VC, and instead go forth to bootstrap and enjoy a more sustainable pace to life. Don't "go big or go home" -- instead "go small and stay home."
> Sounds like you want a different approach as well.
Sure. That's exactly what I want and have been trying since 2019 (part time) and have been "forced" to do full-time since July of last year [0]. I've been bootstrapping the whole time, but also have looked into the "smaller funds". So far:
- Applied to calm.fund - rejected.
- Applied for antler.co - rejected.
- TinySeed only considers applications if you have already $500 MRR.
> "go small and stay home."
But meanwhile I have bills to pay, two kids to feed, and countless rejections because my CV is screaming "not proven in a manager/executive role" while the market is overflowing with "purely technical" developers who are younger than me and able to ride out this shitty market.
and countless rejections because my CV is screaming "not proven in a manager/executive role" while the market is overflowing with "purely technical" developers who are younger than me and able to ride out this shitty market.
Those younger developers might have a better product than him, not just an easier life. Some of them actually might have a more difficult life depending on which country OP is from.
There is no jealousy. I'm just stating my limitations. I am in a point of my life where I can not give every ounce of my energy to work, like I could 10 years ago.
Also, I did not mention rejections by customers, did I? The customers I do get are actually quite happy.
> There is no jealousy. I'm just stating my limitations.
Your limitations and also a diagnose of what you think it is needed to be selected by VCs that you are lacking. It doesn't mean you are right. There are plenty of people in your exactly same situation going through YC, bootstrapping, succeeding or failing.
Sounds like you want a different approach as well. I'd say don't fret over YC/VC, and instead go forth to bootstrap and enjoy a more sustainable pace to life. Don't "go big or go home" -- instead "go small and stay home."