NCombinator

[jgmmo]

I love the website, and specifically the changing backgrounds. Felt like a one-on-one presentation more than a website.

[bprater]

I agree, it's cool. The only drawback I noticed is that my browser seemed labored in scrolling. Anybody know why?

[miles_matthias]

I totally agree. Big props with making it work nicely on mobile Safari too.

[snowwrestler]

Sometimes I think I am too cynical. My first reaction is that it's an overly clever and self-consciously hip site, with a blatant rip-off name...just a few more people trying to ride a bubble before it pops.

But I am probably just too cynical. Why step on positive energy? Go get 'em.

[railsjedi]

Agreed on the name. What bubble are we riding? We're trying to bring something that works (a small but passionate community of startups) to a larger audience.

It also takes no equity and benefits no one except the participants.

Cheer up man! Enjoy the good times while they last :)

[yurylifshits]

I run similar program in Russia for the last 6 months, called "The Accelerator" http://zonaspace.ru/accelerator/

Yes, it definitely works for our members. Membership is public though. The most useful part is solving startup problems case by case. Also, the whole thing is built around a few key coordinators and their "office hours".

We have 30+ projects. Some are Russia-focused, others are international. Two most interesting ones are http://UploadCare.com (launched few months before YC's Chute) and Android app Drawing Cartoons https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.jecklandin....

[socceruci]

I do like how this post is bringing out some me toos. There are a lot of great ideas that are not coming out of the valley.

[jot]

Excellently articulated! I ran something like this in Brighton, UK in 2009: http://www.bootcycle.com

I'm thinking of running it again this summer.

Also related: http://thinkstrapped.com/

[ericax]

How did it go?

[j45]

I like the design.

I really like the idea, questions I'm walking away with:

Who is behind this?

Are they experienced in giving the advice from first hand success or talking the talk?

How can I get advice from someone who's already done this?

Is this trying to start a marketplace of sorts connecting people with no real bar of quality?

I signed up to find out more..

[veyron]

at times i wonder if people forget that "Y-Combinator" has a real meaning ...

Maybe I'm getting old, but I definitely don't remember an N-combinator.

[groovy2shoes]

There have been several N combinators, but none of them was quite as nifty as the more famous combinators (Y, U, S, K, and I are the ones that immediately come to my mind).

[railsjedi]

Yep, we know :). It's a "working title" (tongue in cheek)

[j2labs]

Did you forget about the ninja combinator?!

[heretohelp]

I liked the bird hierarchy of combinators, myself.

[lobotryas]

A bit dissapointed that all the live events and checkins are scheduled for San Francisco. (I read about the online thing, but that's not the same) Would be nice if we could alternate between San Jose and San Francisco, or at least meet somewhere on the Peninsula.

As others have mentioned: very cool and slick site pitch. That earned my signup alone.

[snewman]

I understand that to start something new you need to focus -- but, I'd also love to see Peninsula meetings. Maybe if there's enough interest it can happen.

[te_chris]

I'm involved in something similar, but slightly less formal here in New Zealand called The Distiller: http://thedistiller.org. We provide an office space and power/internet and run a fortnightly sprint program, but that's it. NZ's an interesting place to start a startup, it's hard to get good funding so you have to bootstrap. It makes things go slower (mostly because to eat one has to contract), which can be intensely frustrating, but it's just a reality here so we have to deal with it. We're really focused on creating a good community of startups, keeping people accountable for their progress to the group, but without any hierarchy etc etc.

It's working out pretty well thus far, and we've been learning a lot within the group about how to run something like this since it was founded (not by me, but I've been involved for a little while now).

[lifeisstillgood]

I signed up but ...

>> Totally agree. Thats why every week the teams that don't ship will get filtered out. At the end only the best will remain.

Ouch! That might take everyone out over 12 weeks. Some weeks, everything rolls over.

[railsjedi]

It's ok we won't be dicks about it :) it's just there to keep people motivated. Teams that are dysfunctional / aren't producing should know it and bow out voluntarily.

[mhartl]

This looks promising. There are two big questions I didn't see answered in the FAQ:

  (1) Who are you? 
  (2) What do you get out of the program?

P.S. The design of the site is awesome.

[nostromo]

Needs a news.ncombinator.com :)

[jerf]

yews.ncombinator.com, of course.

[Roritharr]

with news from the local community, sounds good!

[hansy]

Quick feedback on the website:

If your forms have placeholders, I can't see them.

When I type into the fields, I can't see my text.

I'm using the latest Firefox on a Macbook Pro.

[danneu]

Same. Firefox on Debian. Could only sign up (if it even worked) because I could access my browser's dropdown list of emails.

[fredguth]

me too.

[dmvaldman]

The timing of this is impeccable. I'm getting my PhD early this Summer and my plan for the following few months was to work on an array of small projects and deliver every week.

I'm at the perfect place in my life where I have both the time to work on whatever I want (for at least a few months) and the ability to.

[feralmoan]

Just some feedback on the schedule, a 4pm kick off isn't that great. I have a 9-5 paying for crazy self-funded startup adventures and I'm sure others do as well, can I suggest pushing it back a little for working types?

Great idea though and I'm definitely on board with this one. Beautiful site too btw! :)

[zeteo]

Someone needs to write better copy...

"Aren't you just a bunch of YC rejects?

No, not really. Most of our companies haven't even applied to YC."

[sequoia]

The ninja trope is a put off for me but it's common so I just ignored it, but then Japan's rising sun motif appears full-page, just to make clear we're talking about Asians... Can't we come up with some other cultural stereotype to exploit, like the American fat ass or something? :)

[jack-r-abbit]

I would love to see a job post for a company looking for "American fat asses" instead of Ninjas. LOL

[jermaink]

I like the idea somehow, especially when it channels those non-YC accepted groups and distracts them from writing "Why I will reapply", "YC here I come" or "YC application tips" article no. 1244

However, I think it would be better to choose a more unique name ;)

[dustingetz]

um, who are you? your site gives me no idea who you are and why you think you can pull this off. not trying to circle jerk for a summer. the selection criteria at YC is what makes it valuable.

edit: slightly less harsh tone

[sparknlaunch12]

I really like these initiatives. It creates a support network to help early startups get to market.

However there seems to be lots of these popping up and you start to question the longevity of these groups. I am sure these are started with good intentions however what are the motivations of the organizers?

Is it simply the buzz of being involved and sharing ideas/stories/support?

I am not trying to criticize the groups, but interested in the risks of getting involved in these events/communities?

Do you need to be cautious of anything? How do you select the right group or groups to join?

[girlvinyl]

There are lots of people who would like some of the benefit of the Ycombinator experience but aren't a good fit and don't even apply. For me, I have no interest in getting into the VC sharktank and the projects I work on are so far out there that a lot of people can't even comprehend their value. This might be a great alternative for those who are thinking way, way outside the box.