Whatever the founder cares about, whatever the founders think are the key goals, that's going to be what the whole company focusses on.

For most software startups, this translates to keep growing. For hardware startups, it translates to don't let your ship date slip.

In YC experience, 2 or 3 co-founders seems to be about perfect.

We've seen a lot of data at YC now, and the most successful companies and the ones where the investors do the best... end up giving a lot of stock out to employees- year after year after year.

I myself used to believe ideas didn't matter that much, but I'm very sure that's wrong now.

Wait to start a startup until you come up with an idea that you feel compelled to explore.

You also want people who are maniacally determined and that is slightly different than having a risk tolerant attitude.