We talk to a team they've gotten new things done, that's the best predictor we have that a company will be successful.

When it comes to starting startups, in many ways, it's easier to start a hard startup than an easy startup.

A small communication breakdown is enough for everyone to be working on slightly different things. And then you loose focus.

Someday, you need to build a business that's difficult to replicate. This is an important part of a good idea.

It's difficult to get large groups of people, to the extreme levels of focus and productivity that you need, for a startup to be successful.

A board member of mine used to say sales fix everything in a startup, and that is really true.

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.