The video isn't to see the product up close, its to see the founders. YC isn't selecting for charisma. Most founders (myself included) who submitted videos fumbled over our words and are completely awkward on camera. We also had no product to show at the time. What YC is looking for is that you're passionate about your project/company and that will come through regardless.

They're also looking for you be willing to step outside your comfort zone. As a founder you'll constantly have to do things that don't come naturally to you -- talking to investors or customers, interviewing employees, and even firing employees. The fact that you're not willing to make a 1-min video of yourself is a negative signal that you won't be able to step up and do those hard tasks that make you uncomfortable. Being a founder takes more than just being able to build the best technology.

Thanks. I agree with just about everything you said. And another thanks for not being immediately dismissive and sharing your insights from going through the process.

I do think that there could be a middle ground, though. An explanation of the video requirements within arm's reach would be nice. I didn't see anything relevant on the FAQ when I looked.

did you check this out? https://www.ycombinator.com/video/

Nope - thanks! I'll check these out.

The reality is that in most cases in order to be successful you need to constantly talk to customers, both to sell and to get feedback. Having social anxiety is a pretty strong negative signal.

This isn't most cases and the kind of work doesn't really require talking to that many folk, really.

I understand what it shows as a signal. It's a shitty signal.

Not trying to sound too negative here, but it's a legitimate problem that needs to be addressed. The general heuristic these days is to follow charisma, which in my experience has led to mediocrity, disaster and only everything that comes between. It's the exact impression I got from YC after that process.

You're claiming that VCs select for charisma as a general heuristic today. You also claim that you're a special case, and that you're project doesn't require that you interact with many people.

Fine. But if you want VC money, give them some credit and assume that they can decide for themselves whether or not your lack of charisma will be a factor in your business. Presumably, some of them are good at their jobs and can correctly make that determination.

Furthermore, to refute your entire claim, there have been many articles suggesting that VCs actually exhibit a selection bias towards social awkwardness, since so many socially awkward people have been terribly successful recently. You're assuming that they're looking for highly charismatic salespeople (and maybe for some companies they are), but what facts support your claim?

The heuristics comment was more of a reflection of what I've seen outside of YC - at workplaces, gatherings, etc. It is what it is.

What makes you think it's a problem with social awkwardness. There's nothing awkward about it, unfortunately. I'm sure I'm not the only one dissuaded by the requirement to post a video. Phone call, skype, in-person, morse code would be better.

I'm not exactly saying that they're actively looking for charismatic people. I'm saying that requiring a video artificially creates a preventable bias towards those much more comfortable in front of a camera.

> What makes you think it's a problem with social awkwardness.

I'm using "social awkwardness" (perhaps incorrectly) as an antonym of charisma. If things are biased in favor of charismatic people, then presumably they're biased against uncharismatic people.

> I'm sure I'm not the only one dissuaded by the requirement to post a video. Phone call, skype, in-person, morse code would be better.

You're probably not the only one, but personally, a phone or Skype call causes me more social anxiety since I'm on the spot and have less control over the presentation. So, yes, a video biases towards people who are comfortable on camera, just as a phone call biases towards people who are comfortable on the phone.

You're thinking of the problem only from your own perspective. Can you imagine difference in logistics between watching 1,000 one-minute videos versus organizing 1,000 one-minute Skype calls?

>> The general heuristic these days is to follow charisma ... It's the exact impression I got from YC after that process.

> I'm not exactly saying that they're actively looking for charismatic people.

Ok.

Ugh, man. Ever hear of the principle of charity? I'm just offering my thoughts on why /I/ was thrown off by it with mild suggestions. The number of upvotes I got seems to indicate that others agree with me, so maybe, just maybe, there's something there.

It's a complicated problem that unfortunately has very little visibility. The only reason I post these thoughts is to hopefully help raise visibility on folk similar to me so that those who aren't similar can have a little extra understanding.

Another way to look at my posts is, "Let's be slightly more accommodating, less rigid and less nitpicky to the dissimilar." Because that's where a lot of hidden things lay..

I agree with you, but as a matter of perspective YC is about investing in businesses and 90% of business does not involve technical challenges, but rather selling, marketing, evangelizing, and managing people.

What would you think is a better proposition for investment?

1. Someone who can do all that, partnered (or to later hire) someone who does deep technical dives.

2. Someone who must necessarily hire sales, management, and PR in order to get to step #2 of any business plan: make money.

Even so their bar is low. They're not looking for generalist experts, merely people who are at least willing to participate in all parts of the trade---including making video proposals, and giving press conferences.

if you can't convey why your project is interesting or important why would anyone care? even here in text form you aren't doing a good job of selling it

I'm not trying to sell it here. I'm expressing my frustrations. Nothing more.

Honestly, that's part of the problem with your mindset. You had a perfectly good opportunity to try and sell the product here if for no other reason than to get people on your side. Like it or not, persuasion is a key skill because almost no venture can be done by one man.

You need to persuade people to invest.

You need to persuade people to work for you, good people especially, in the early stages when maybe you can't pay as much as other people or you can't promise a stable career path.

You need to persuade customers to buy your product, or if you don't sell it directly you have to convince store fronts, manufacturers, and the whole gamut that they're taking a justified risk on you.

And yes, when you go onto the Ycombinator forums to complain about their approval process you need to persuade readers that you have a point.

Having social anxiety, or a distinct lack of charisma will interfere with all of these.

I think it's a mindset problem on both ends. But - agreed that my mindset is shallow on the subject. Maybe from a lack of exposure or maybe from something else.

Really, all I'd like to see is some sort of other avenue through YC that doesn't necessarily require a video to be posted since that adds to a particular sort of bias.

but that's how reality works. you can't just hide in the basement and wait for success to come for you.

Bit extreme, don't you think? What gives you the impression I'm hiding in a basement waiting for success? There are other routes, you know.