Dalton & Michael

Based on the thousands of companies YC has funded over the years, the biggest common element between all successful startups is having technical talent on the founding team. But what do you do if you don't know how to code? You may think you can get by using no-code tools, part-time consultants, or dev shops to bring your startup idea to life. But that thinking is wrong.

In this episode of Dalton & Michael, we’ll discuss exactly why that is and why recruiting a technical co-founder is the single biggest way to create value as someone trying to start the next big thing.

If you’re an employee of a late stage company right now, how would you know when it’s time to move on vs. time to double down?

The stories are true: technical founders (and early technical employees!) often end up with the short end of the stick when starting a company.

In this episode of Dalton & Michael, we’ll discuss the questions and best practices that an aspiring technical founder should think about — whom to start a company with, and how to think about things like equity split and division of responsibilities. Know what you are worth and act accordingly!

Do famous founders give advice they didn't follow themselves? How seriously should you consider the advice of people like Elon Musk, Sam Altman and Peter Thiel? It’s hard not to give advice when you’re successful, but context matters. In this episode, Michael Seibel and Dalton Caldwell dig into why some advice givers might be tempted to say “Do as I say, not as I did” and how we try to avoid doing that within YC.

Demo day is right around the corner. What do VC firms think of Y Combinator? Dalton and Michael reveal what's really going on behind the scenes with firms like a16z, Sequoia, Founders Fund, and the hundreds of others that invest in YC companies.

The data reveals the truth - top investors have stakes in the biggest YC successes. Discover why Y Combinator is a secret weapon for VCs to find promising startups. This video will also teach you to recognize the hidden dynamics that fuel VC motivations so you can make informed decisions when fundraising for your startup.

Should you and your startup live in San Francisco? Y Combinator Partners, Michael Seibel and Dalton Caldwell, debate their different opinions on whether startups are more likely to succeed in the Golden City or elsewhere. Where do they find common ground?

How will the rise of AI impact startups and entrepreneurs? Join Michael Seibel and Dalton Caldwell for a discussion on the opportunities and challenges AI brings for founders.

Through the lens of history and other technological leaps, Michael and Dalton explore the difference between just cargo culting AI versus using it to solve real problems. Will AI usher in a new generation of startups or is this the beginning of the end? These are insights and predictions for startups in this new AI age.

When it comes to building a startup you’re never doing it entirely from scratch. Inspiration and ideas can come from a variety of places, including other successful startups. But there’s a thin line between borrowing smart ideas and copying them blindly - otherwise known as Cargo Culting. In this episode Dalton and Michael break down the problem with Cargo Culting and offer advice on the right way to draw inspiration from other successful companies.

The core secret to startup success isn't fundraising or growth hacking - it's solving your customer's biggest problems. But most founders are afraid to really understand those problems. What if that fear is holding your startup back?

In this video, YC Partners Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel share how companies like Google, Twitch, and Microsoft succeeded by first giving more value than they captured - and how you can too. Learn why your MVP might suck on purpose, how to change your customer outreach, and why you should understand exactly how your customers make money. Because when you solve the right problems, fundraising and scaling become the easy parts.

YC partners Michael Seibel and Dalton Caldwell discuss how spending real time with your users can unlock insights and growth.

Hear the stories of how Airbnb and Brex built billion-dollar companies by forging genuine connections with customers. Learn why having too much money and too many people can actually slow down learning. And discover how to accelerate insight into your product by making your users feel special.

Successful startups don’t just build technology – they solve human problems. The key is listening to the people who really matter: your customers.