You want an idea that not many other people are working on, and it's okay if it doesn't sound big at first. — Sam Altman Bigs Copy Share Image
If you have several ideas that all seem pretty good, work on the one that you think about, when you're not trying… — Sam Altman Good work Copy Share Image
The most common post YC failure case for the companies we fund, is they're incredibly focussed during YC on their company... and… — Sam Altman Advise Copy Share Image
Ideas by themselves are not worth anything, only executing well is what creates value. — Sam Altman Executing Copy Share Image
M&A negotiations feel really fun. This is one of the biggest killers of companies, is they entertain acquisition conversations. — Sam Altman Acquisition Copy Share Image
So it's worth some real up front time to think through the long term value and the defensibility of the business. — Sam Altman Business Copy Share Image
Why couldn't it have been done 2 years ago, and why will 2 years in the future be too late? — Sam Altman Done Copy Share Image
You need conviction in your own beliefs, and the willingness to ignore others naysaying. — Sam Altman Belief Copy Share Image
One of the great and terrible things about starting a start up is that you get no credit for trying. — Sam Altman Credit Copy Share Image
If you look at successful pivots, they almost always are a pivot into something that the founder wanted. Not a random made… — Sam Altman Entrepreneurship Copy Share Image
Before 20 or 25 employees, most companies are structured with everyone reporting to the founder. It's totally flat. — Sam Altman Company Copy Share Image
Facebook has this famous poster that says move fast and break things. But at the same time they manage to be obsessed… — Sam Altman Break Copy Share Image
Many of the best YC companies have had phenomenally small number of employees for their first year, sometimes none besides the founders. — Sam Altman Company Copy Share Image
Press releases are easier to write than code, and that is still easier than making a great product. — Sam Altman Code Copy Share Image
When lack of structure fails, it fails all at once. What works totally fine from 0-20 employees, is disastrous at 30. — Sam Altman Employee Copy Share Image
The way you get deals done and the way you get good terms, is to have a competitive situation. — Sam Altman Deals Copy Share Image
You need to have a culture where people have very high quality standards in everything the company does, but still move quickly. — Sam Altman Business Copy Share Image
AirBnB happened because Brian Chesky couldn't pay his rent, but did have some space. — Sam Altman Airbnb Copy Share Image
The idea should come first, the startup should come second. — Sam Altman Entrepreneurship Copy Share Image
In the beginning of a company, there is no management and this actually works really well. — Sam Altman Birth Copy Share Image
You never want to be in a place where an employee has vested 3 out of the 4 years of stock and… — Sam Altman Employee Copy Share Image
As you grow, it feels hopelessly corporate but it really is worth putting in place these compensation bands. — Sam Altman Band Copy Share Image
If someone is difficult to talk to, if someone cannot communicate clearly, it's a real problem in terms of their likelihood to… — Sam Altman Communicate Copy Share Image
