Hi, I'm Garry Tan —I'm President & CEO of Y Combinator. I'm a designer, engineer, and investor in early stage startups. Previously Founder & Managing Partner of Initialized Capital, an early stage venture capital fund that was earliest in Coinbase and Instacart. Before that, I was a a partner at Y Combinator. Invested in and directly worked with over 700 companies the earliest possible stage, often just an idea. I cofounded Posterous and helped build it to a world-class website used by millions. (Acquired by Twitter) I also helped build the engineering team for Palantir Technology's quant finance analysis platform, and designed the current Palantir logo and wordmark. I love building things. Forbes Midas List 2019 through 2022 🚀
Most founders are playing a rigged game where the house always wins. While the world tracks your net worth and social clout, the real danger is losing your mission to hedonism or neuroticism. Learn why you must rewrite your internal scoreboard before your own success destroys you.
The difference between a legacy-defining exit and a missed opportunity often comes down to a single decision on equity or a bold stand for credit. While most see AI as a threat, the real risk is raising a generation that doesn't know how to build with it. Learn why the next $10 million breakthrough starts with radical resilience and an unwavering ethical compass.
Most founders are actually suffocating their own potential by prioritizing job security over high-upside risks. True luck isn't a random lightning strike; it's a cognitive habit of spotting opportunities that others walk right past. By reframing every missed moonshot as rocket fuel for the next venture, you can stop waiting for a lucky break and start manufacturing your own.
Most founders fail because they prioritize speed over the compounding power of craft. By adopting the relentless obsession of a sushi master, you can turn minor daily fixes into a market-dominating moat that competitors can't replicate. Success isn't about the big launch; it's about the thousand invisible tweaks that make your product indispensable.
Desperation leaks through your pitch like a toxic gas, signaling risk rather than potential. When you chase investors or talent too hard, you confirm you lack the leverage to succeed alone. True market disruption happens when you stop seeking saviors and start building something so undeniable that the world seeks you.