--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 2007, there weren't any other…" description: "\"In 2007, there weren't any other accelerators, at least that I was aware of. We were almost the prototypical Y Combinator founders: We were highly tech..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/329/patrick-collison-16144_almost_in-2007-there-weren-t-any-other-accelera_2559821.jpg" --- # In 2007, there weren't any other accelerators, at least… ![“In 2007, there weren't any other accelerators, at least that I was aware of. We were almost the prototypical Y Combinator founders: We were highly technical but had never done a startup before. We also didn't know anyone in the Valley - investors, other entrepreneurs, potential hires. YC seemed…” quote by Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/329/patrick-collison-16144_almost_in-2007-there-weren-t-any-other-accelera_2559821.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/329/patrick-collison-16144_almost_in-2007-there-weren-t-any-other-accelera_2559821.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/329/patrick-collison-16144_almost_in-2007-there-weren-t-any-other-accelera_2559821.jpg) > “In 2007, there weren't any other accelerators, at least that I was aware of. We were almost the prototypical Y Combinator founders: We were highly technical but had never done a startup before. We also didn't know anyone in the Valley - investors, other entrepreneurs, potential hires. YC seemed like a great way to bootstrap that network.” [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early founders felt isolated and lacked networks, so they turned to YC to gain connections and credibility. **In simple terms:** Founders used YC to build a network they didn’t have. Key Takeaway Leverage accelerator programs for rapid networking. Themes startup networking accelerators founder experience Mood optimistic determined Type advice reflective When to use this quote - seeking seed funding - first hiring - market entry - mentor outreach Key Concepts Community building social capital bootstrapping Questions to Reflect On - How can founders supplement accelerator networks with personal mentorship? - What risks arise from relying heavily on accelerator resources? A Different Perspective YC may not replace deep industry expertise or long‑term strategic planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Entrepreneurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurs/) [Founders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founders/) [Investors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investors/) ## Related quotes > [“The biggest machines, in those days, were already pushing the limits of what could be constructed on Arbre with reasonable amounts of money." "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-biggest-machines-in-those-days-were-already-pushing-the-limits-of/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [Quality and a great product matters, in startups, and in accelerators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/quality-and-a-great-product-matters-in-startups-and-in-accelerators/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [I always tend to assume there's an infinite amount of money out there." 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It's a great way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andie-macdowell/i-think-a-lot-of-times-people-who-jump-from-one-movie-to-another-don/) [Andie MacDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andie-macdowell/) > [You become great by going small thing in a great way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/you-become-great-by-going-small-thing-in-a-great-way/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Not to borrow the strength of another, nor to rely on one's own strength; to cut off past and future thoughts, and not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/not-to-borrow-the-strength-of-another-nor-to-rely-on-one-s-own/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Patrick Collison > [Silicon Valley does not breed great technology. Instead, the smartest people from around the world tend to move to Silicon Valley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/silicon-valley-does-not-breed-great-technology-instead-the-smartest/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [At most large companies, what is locally optimal for you is very frequently not what is globally optimal for the company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/at-most-large-companies-what-is-locally-optimal-for-you-is-very/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [I think in general technology always sort of makes some jobs less relevant, or perhaps, even obsolete, but I will say that the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/i-think-in-general-technology-always-sort-of-makes-some-jobs-less/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [I think that Stripe generally is comprised of the kind of people who believe in technology or are kind of optimistic about its effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/i-think-that-stripe-generally-is-comprised-of-the-kind-of-people-who/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [We don't always endorse what businesses sell through Stripe, but we do think it's critical that we and our peers don't act as gatekeepers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/we-don-t-always-endorse-what-businesses-sell-through-stripe-but-we-do/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [I started Stripe with my brother John Collison while we were in school together. 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If I had infinite time, I would watch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/it-s-not-that-i-don-t-enjoy-tv-if-i-had-infinite-time-i-would-watch-it/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [When you talk to people who are old, some wish they had enjoyed themselves more, but not many wish they had wasted more time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/when-you-talk-to-people-who-are-old-some-wish-they-had-enjoyed/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [I watch virtually no TV. All my screen time is computer time for me. 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And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Almost immediately, I remember right when Tikrit even fell, a few days after Baghdad fell, there was talks of insurgency, there was talks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farnaz-fassihi/almost-immediately-i-remember-right-when-tikrit-even-fell-a-few-days/) Farnaz Fassihi > [While it is often true that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, it seems like Yahoo's almost obsessive focus on Google is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-swisher/while-it-is-often-true-that-the-enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend-it/) [Kara Swisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-swisher/) > [I'd had episodes before, but I swept them under the carpet. This time, I couldn't do that because everyone knew. 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