If you don't need it yourself, and you're building something that someone else needs, realize you're at a big disadvantage.

One of the biggest advantages that start ups have is execution speed and you have to have this relentless operating rhythm.

You don't get to make their decisions but you do get to choose the decision makers.

A related advantage of mission oriented ideas, is that you yourself will be dedicated to them.

You need someone that behaves like James Bond more than you need someone that is an expert in some particular domain.

The startups that do well are the ones that are working all the time.

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.