The Launch Pad

Inside Y Combinator, Silicon Valley's Most Exclusive School for Startups

By: Randall Stross

Narrated by: René Ruiz

Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Twice a year in the heart of Silicon Valley, a small investment firm called Y Combinator selects an elite group of young entrepreneurs from around the world for three months of intense work and instruction. Their brand-new two- or three-person start-ups are given a seemingly impossible challenge: to turn a raw idea into a viable business, fast.

Each YC session culminates in a demo day, when investors and venture capitalists flock to hear pitches from the new graduates. Any one of them might turn out to be the next Dropbox (class of 2007, now valued at $5 billion) or Airbnb (2009, $1.3 billion).

Randall Stross is the first journalist to have fly-on-the-wall access to Y Combinator. He tells the full story of how Paul Graham started this ultra exclusive institution, how it chooses among hundreds of aspiring Mark Zuckerbergs, and how it teaches them to go from concept to profitability in record time.

©2012 Randall Stross (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Y Combinator is a national treasure, a Silicon Valley seed fund that is mass-producing new startups. Randall Stross’s behind-the-scenes look at YC offers a rare glimpse into what it really takes to conceive an idea and get it to market as quickly as possible. The Launch Pad is a must-read for anyone interested in the realities of modern entrepreneurship." (Eric Ries, author of the New York Times best seller The Lean Startup)

"The Launch Pad is an intimate look at the white-hot center of the new Silicon Valley startup ecosystem. Stross’s account of the best new entrepreneurs and the exciting companies they’re building at startup schools is a great read for founders and would-be founders alike." (Marc Andreessen, cofounder, Andreessen Horowitz)

Not a how to, but a great lessons learned

I bought this book thinking it would be a sort of how to for those considering the idea of starting a start up. What I found was the perfect lessons learned from the greatest launch pad I've heard of. It's a bit too sales pitches but a great read nonetheless.

Start-up Myths and Legends

So you want to be a part of a tech start-up? This book is not meant to dissuade but it might end up doing just that. By taking the listener through a typical 3-month yCombibator batch the author can genuinely make you vicariously feel the dizzying highs after your team gets selected and the absolute misery of the trough after you "graduate ". Great ride!

Must-read for any aspiring VC

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would higly recommend this book to anyone seriously interested in startups from both investor and founder point of view.

What did you like best about this story?

This book has tons of great examples of founder and investors at works, sleeves up, hands down with nitty-gritty details regarding daily job of running and investing in startups. Very motivational for someone looking to get a glimpse into the world of Silicon Valley.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was particularly moved by the examples shown regarding the motivation needed to ABC: always be closing, as pictured with the example of Vidyard trying to setup a cooperation and/or a meeting with AirBNB to try to replace their existing video-hosting partner as pictured below with a fragment of the book itself:

When Michael Litt looks at Airbnb’s Web site, which makes use of videos, he sees a natural home for Vidyard’s services. Airbnb’s AirTV section has videos of the more unusual lodging listings or colorful Airbnb hosts— its nickname is “the ‘Cribs’ of Airbnb.” Vidyard’s software is not finished, but Litt goes after Airbnb, sending an e-mail to the cofounders, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia. It is the very first week of the summer session. Always Be Closing.

The subject heading of Litt’s first e-mail message is “AirTV— Current YC company looking for some quick insight!” He opens, “Hey Guys, Sorry to bother. We’re building a platform for video serving (encoding, analytics, customization included) and would love some insight into what you guys are doing with AirTV.” He says Vidyard could add analytic reports to the videos that they are already serving or “we can serve and take the entire piece off of your shoulders.” He closes with a mention that both Vidyard and Airbnb have shared parentage. “Thanks and let me know— we’re very glad to be YC!”

His message is forwarded to Venetia Pristavec, the manager in charge of Airbnb’s videos. Airbnb presently is using the video service of Vid Network, a startup that does the video hosting and analytics that Vidyard plans to offer. But Pristavec says that Airbnb is looking for a new video provider. Unfortunately for Vidyard, Airbnb has narrowed the field of replacement candidates to a pair of big names in video hosting, Ooyala and Brightcove. Clearly, Airbnb has decided to move away from relying on a startup and instead shift to a much larger company as its video supplier.

Litt is not daunted. He asks Pristavec if she has time for a chat. “It just so happens we’re in a bid for another initiative with Ooyala and Brightcove,” he says, suggesting implicitly that Vidyard is able to hold its own while battling with the big boys. He asks Pristavec only for information, for her “perspective” on the reasons for switching from Airbnb’s current video host. “I promise I won’t try to sell to you. I’m not a salesman— we’re just looking for feedback from potential users,” he says.

Meanwhile, Paul Graham dashes off a note to Pristavec and to Airbnb’s cofounders, testifying to the Vidyard team’s work ethic and asking that they be given an opportunity to make their pitch before a final decision is reached. Litt follows with an impassioned follow-up e-mail addressed directly to Gebbia. “This is an awesome opportunity that we are willing to work our asses off for,” he writes. “It goes without saying that your brand would hold some amazing clout for us and the timing is perfect
for both parties.”

Litt dispatches more e-mails but it is all for naught. Airbnb does not budge from its original plan and Vidyard does not get the chance to make its pitch to land the contract. Litt does not pause. “Sorry to be a pain,” he writes Airbnb again, confessing that “we’re really putting on the hustle.” He proposes that Vidyard produce some videos for Airbnb. This offer will not lead to a commission either. But to Litt, there is never a definitive no, there is only to-be-continued.

I really liked this book

Very interesting book for entrepenour, from begginning to end, it gives the a real vision of what is like to be in an accelerator program. This. book is a must to read for all entrepeneurs interested in be part of one.

awesome

Very informative and we'll spoken. It gives amazing information to people considering their own start-ups.

Inspiring, enlightening and highly entertaining

If you're interested in software or start-up tech, this is an incredible read. The book is packed with invaluable insights, interesting problems to contemplate, and inspiring stories.

It is very well written, with a smooth flow of events through one summer session at YC. I honestly can't recall a single boring moment through the entire book. I wish there was a book for every YC session.

Nice Window on the Start Up Ecosystem

If you could sum up The Launch Pad in three words, what would they be?

Anecdotal But Motivating

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Launch Pad?

I learned of a couple of start ups I hadn't heard of before that prompted me to research them further.

Any additional comments?

I listen on 1.5x speed and it was great. The narrators voice lent itself to the increased speed and I didn't get bored with the content. It moved along at a great pace for me. I would recommend this book to younger audiences - high school or college - as it will open up their thoughts to bigger things but also realize the perfect 'idea' isn't always the most important element to success. Leadership, vision and learning to pivot are common themes to the YC world.

great story

Really fun to listen to all the stories of people in the program. it's amazing how many famous companies started in YCombinator

must read for the start up hackers

gripping insights on YC incubation process. I found it very engaging full of inside information.

Now my favorite book

This book is awesome and has me really excited to pursue startup opportunities, and I'll also look to read anything I can get my hands on about Paul graham or Y combinator