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Have you ever noticed that the qualities we sometimes see as weaknesses can actually be our secret strengths? Think about the quiet, shy colleagues who excel at listening or those who seem a bit lazy but always find the most efficient way to get things done. Even self-doubtwhich studies show 70% of professionals experience at some point in their careerscan lead us to make more thoughtful decisions and spark creative breakthroughs. These qualities, sometimes perceived as weaknesses, can be the traits that shape effective leaders. As the leader of a bootstrapped company for nearly two decades, Ive faced my fair share of uncertainty. Between economic turbulence and the rise of AI, the past few years have introduced no shortage of unpredictability. But Ive learned that self-doubt, like any trait, can be transformed into a strengthif viewed in the right light. The surprising benefits of self-doubt If you Google self-doubt and leadership, youll find an endless scroll of articles doling out advice on how to overcome or extinguish self-doubt. One researcher, however, found that the relationship between self-doubt and job performance is more nuanced than you might think. Wharton researcher Basima Tewfik peeled back the next layer of the onion on the accepted wisdom that imposter syndrome is categorically bad. She found that imposter thoughts can actually serve as motivation to perform better on the job, especially in terms of interpersonal skills. In her research involving physicians-in-training, for example, Tewfik discovered that doctors with imposter thoughts were able to diagnose patients and develop treatment plans on par with their confident doctor counterparts. But the self-doubters scored even higher on interpersonal interactionsin other words, they had better bedside manner, engaging in active listening, leaning forward, and providing more thorough explanations. Possessing self-doubt can also result in more reasoned decisions. When Im unsure of a decision, for example, Ill research it exhaustively, until I can cast the die confidently. Being a bit insecure can make us more cautious, reflective, and thoroughadvantageous qualities for a leader. In short, some self-doubt can lead to positive workplace outcomes. Still, its undeniable that no one enjoys feeling like an imposter. Its not pleasant to view yourself as less than. Leverage self-doubt in the workplace When doubt creeps in, our instinct is often to silence it or prove it wrong. But self-doubt isnt always a weaknessit can be a powerful tool. Consider an author hesitating before sharing their work, questioning whether its good enough. Instead of dismissing the uncertainty, they use it to refine their writing, pushing their creativity further. That doubt didnt hold them backit sharpened their writing. And when they finally share their work, they do so with confidence. Thats why, when I catch myself questioning my own decisions, I resist the urge to stamp out the doubt immediately. First, I remind myself: uncertainty isnt bad. In fact, its the sign of an open, curious mind, always ready to learn something new. Then, I pause and examine where my doubts are coming from. If the uncertainty lingers, I look for ways to gain claritywhether through research, reflection, or consulting with colleagues. The problem is, were often too caught up in the daily grind to notice these moments of uncertainty. We move from task to task without stepping back to consider whether were even heading in the right direction. Thats why I believe in carving out moments for reflection in my daybecause even when self-doubt isnt actively nagging at you, proactive reflection helps you make better choices. Studies on metacognitionthe practice of thinking about your thinkingshow that regularly questioning our thought processes leads to sharper decision-making. For me, journaling at the beginning and end of each day is the most effective way to do this. By scheduling it into my calendar, I ensure I take time to process my thoughts, identify sources of doubt, and uncover whats causing them. This practice helps me return to my work with a clearer head, greater confidence, andultimatelystronger, more productive decision-making.
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In December, Y Combinators first-ever Fall batch got their own Demo Day. The Silicon Valley-based startup acceleratorwhich has produced big hits like Airbnb, Doordash, and Stripehad doubled the number of startup classes that could enter its program. The showing was mixed: 87% were AI companies, and few have yet to publicly disclose their seeds. Undoubtedly the most prestigious hub of Silicon Valleys startup culture, YCs outside critics have grown in their ranks. They have many sore spots to point to: increased batches, diminished seed rounds, more duplicate companies, less specialized training, and the list goes on. But, from the inside, its rare to hear a YC founder complain about their experience. The deal ($125,000 for 7% of the company, plus a $375,000 SAFE note, extensive mentorship, and physical office space) remains highly sought after. YCs acceptance rate is still a mere 1%. So, whats with the shift in energy? Its hard to tellbut the change has been immediate. From the entrepreneurs perspective, the core base of Y Combinator has diluted, says Arpita Agnihotri, an associate professor of management at the Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg. The excitement has definitely reduced. Its just so many companies’ Like a university, YC has its own specialized application process, where it chooses which startups to accept into its class (or batch). These batches are remarkably successful; where the average startup failure rate is around 90%, YCs is an estimated 18%. 5.5% of YC startups become unicorns; the summed value of YCs graduates is over $600 billion. In YCs early days, there were only two batches a year, and they remained small. In 2009, when Airbnb and Stripe went through, YCs two cohorts hosted a summed 42 companies. But then things got out of hand; the 2022 winter batch had 400 companies. New CEO Garry Tan took action to reduce batch sizes, though they remain relatively large. He also introduced two additional cohorts in the fall and spring, creating a more distributed schedule. But this reconfiguration comes with its own challenges: Two more classes of entrepreneurs for investors to consider, and two more Demo Days for them to attend. Masha Bucher, CEO of Day One Ventures, has invested in 35 companies out of YC within the past six years. Eight of those companies have been acquired. She slowed her investments during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she saw the quality of YCs choice in firms go down. But shes been happy under Garry Taneven if she wishes hed cut down the number of participating firms. I want batches to be smaller, because its a bit overwhelming, Bucher says. Its just so many companies and, as a result of it, you dedicate less time for every single opportunity. At one recent Demo Day, Bucher noticed that many more founders were surrounded by angel investors than venture capitalists, a sign that valuations have gotten too high for VC firms and left founders reliant on smaller-dollar investors. To Bucher, greater exclusivity could be the solution. While smaller (or fewer) cohorts would saddle YC with more risk, it could also coax back these VCs, proving that the high valuations are worth it. This change makes it easier for YC to support founders when theyre ready, instead of making them wait for the next application cycle, a YC spokesperson wrote in an email to Fast Company. The batch sizes are smaller nowabout half the size of the old cohorts. So even with more cohorts, the total number of startups we fund each year stays the same. Not everybody is hopeful of being the star AI startup Artisan sparked outrage in 2024 for its provocative San Francisco ads: Stop Hiring Humans. But, among the YC heads, Artisan is a golden child. Theyre one of the biggest raisers among the winter 2024 batch, having collected around $12 million in seed funding. The companys CEO, Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, was confident in his ability to court investors far before he joined YC, but credits the accelerator with bringing brand awareness. Artisans $12 million seed ranks them among the declining number of YC firms who aim for bigger seeds. Among its cohort, AI-powered legal software Leya was the only other firm to publicly break $10 million. Some others made it around $5 million; more landed closer to $2 million or below. For many, it looks like the seed rounds of YC-stamped firms are in decline. A lot of people end up raising $2-3 million and sometimes that’s enough, but sometimes it’s not, says Amy Cheetham, a partner at Costanoa Ventures who estimates that 1015% of the companies that come across her desk are from YC. What I always tell people is to make sure that they’re really thoughtful about not under capitalizing their business coming out of [YC]. For those rare big raisers, its common to bring big investors on board before even applying for YC. Artisan collected $2.3 million in pre-seed funding. Lumen Orbit, a space datacenter startup that now boasts a staggering $11 million seed, amassed $2.4 million beforehand. Its CEO Philip Johnston says he thinks of the seed as a small Series A, and claims that the big raise was necessary because of the companys hardware focus. Taking on gobs of money out of YC may not be the best move for founders. At a minimum, it lessens the chances for future catastrophic down rounds. YC has also been a haven for little tech, the smaller, more technically oriented companies that are not looking to be the next Airbnb or Stripe. Saurabh Bhattacharya, a reader in digital marketing at Newcastle University Business School, notes the importance of these companies: Not everybody is hopeful of being the star startup. YC encourages founders to raise only the capital they need, a YC spokesperson wrote. With advancements in AI, startups are increasingly able to achieve more significant milestones with less funding. This approach not only enables rapid progress but also minimizes founder dilution, allowing them to retain more control of their companies. Multiple horses in the same race’ When Demo Day arrives, a founders success often hinges on their companys individuality. But as YC continues to accept similar startupssome of which directly overlapstanding out has become increasingly difficult. Concerns about company duplication flared up in fall 2024 when an AI code-editing scandal shook the accelerator. New YC inductee Pear AI, which promised to create VSCode for The New Age of AI, came under fire for altering the open-source license of Continueanother YC-backed startup. Many saw it as a blatant case of copying. (Pear AI did not respond to an interview request.) Even when direct imitation isnt an issue, many startups find themselves with ner-identical counterparts within the accelerator. Using the AlphaLens tool, Léopold Gasteen analyzed 4,938 YC startups and identified numerous look-alikes. [YC] conducts a whole bunch of concurrent experiments, Gasteen says. Whats clear to me is that they dont mind having multiple horses in the same race. Are founders uncomfortable with having a duplicate within YC? Fast Company reached out to several of them; only two were willing to speak on the record. Cossi Achille Arouko, founder of Africa-based Bujeti, doesnt mind sharing space with Middle East-based Alaan, which also runs a corporate expense management platform. Hes spent so much time [with the Alaan team] that we are all friends, he says. Similarly, Flock Safety and Abel Police were flagged as look-alikes for their AI-driven crime footage uploads, but Abel CEO Daniel Francis dismisses concerns. Theyre not a competing product, he says; if anything, Flock Safety has only helped his business. YC maintains that it prioritizes founders over ideas and sees competition as an unavoidable byproduct of innovation. But Artisan CEO Carmichael-Jack admits he only applied to YC because his company filled a niche within the accelerator. If I was doing an HR platform, dealing with [YC companies] Gusto and Rippling, I probably wouldnt do YC, he says. Because, are you really going to become the category leader over them? ‘A whole bunch of B2B SaaS businesses’ YC only has one guiding principle for companies: Make something people want. But, on the inside, the types of companies that succeed within the accelerators walls may be more unified. One of the criticisms of YC is that it’s turned into a whole bunch of B2B SaaS businesses sitting around selling their stuff to each other, says Ryan Wardell, the cofounder of StartupSauce, a digital community of SaaS entrepreneurs. How much help are you actually getting to move outside into the real world and sell to actual companies that are outside the YC ecosystem? Fast Company asked every YC founder interviewed for this piece whether there was a certain type of company that succeeds within the accelerator. Most demurred, citing a low fail rate or positive personal experiences. Lumen Orbits Johnson acknowledged the stereotype that YC was built for young B2B SaaS founders, but insisted that YCs advantages move in waves and trends. Artisans Carmichael-Jack, though, was unusually blunt. I wouldnt do Y Combinator if we were a consumer company, he says. The value that we got from YC was specifically from being a B2B company. ‘How much value does the actual accelerator program provide? When YC was founded in 2005, Silicon Valley was a smaller, more insular community. For tech founders, the accelerators mentorship provided a crucial entry pointoffering access to the right investors and influential networks. Twenty years later, the landscape has changed. Capital is more accessible, and any startup generating revenue can find a seat at the table. This shift raises a pressing question: Is YCs training still worth it? How much value does the actual accelerator program provide? Wardell asks. If Y Combinator just picked out the top 1.5% of startups and said, We think these ones are good, you should invest in them, and then they got out of the way, I think their success or failure rate would probably be identical to what it is now. While YC continues to thrive, the accelerator space has encountered some turbulence. Newchip, once an Austin-based competitor to YC, filed for bankruptcy in 2023. Meanwhile, Techstars closed its Boulder, Seattle, and Austin operations. Those hiccups have led some to speculate that accelerators might eventually drop or reduce their mentorship programs. YCs value, they argue, might lie primarily in its stamp of approval; guidance would take a secondary role. Agnihotri, the Penn State professor, sees the diminished training as a trade-off with the high number of companies. What startups gain from a wider network, they lose in mentorship. When you have large batch sizes, then you cannot have customized solutions to the problems that startups are facing, she says. Y Combinator, for its part, insists its 21 full-time and visiting partners can adequately mentor the founders they take on. Founders are getting just as much, if not more, support than ever, a YC representative wrote.
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When youre booking travel, scoring a ticket to a sporting event, or securing yourself a spot at some other sort of show, youre frequently faced with the impossible-seeming task of committing to a specific seaton the spot. It may seem simple. But, wellwhich is the best seat on the plane? Which areas of the arena will give you an unobscured view of the action? Is that concert seat going to be behind a speaker? And are the more expensive options really worth their cost? Today, Im sharing some excellent tools I rely on to pick the best seat at any kind of event or activity. In addition to helping me feel confident about the quality of my selection, they often help me save some cashsince I can book some of the least expensive seats with the knowledge that they’ll offer a good view and/or experience. Hang onto these now, and the next time youre faced with that daunting moment of needing to select a seat without first seeing it, youll have all the inside intel you need. Psst: If you love these types of tools as much as I do, check out my free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. You’ll be the first to find all sorts of simple tech treasures! Your new seat selecting superpowers Ive got two especially useful tools for you in this areaboth designed to help you find the right seat for different types of occasions. For selecting the best possible seat on an airplane, fire up SeatMaps. And, for choosing a seat at an event venuea sporting event, concert, or anything elsehead to A View From My Seat. Both couldn’t be much easier to use. First, on the air travel front, just open up the SeatMaps website in whatever browser you’re using on any device. Plug in the information about your flight and select your flight number. SeatMaps will then show you a color-coded grid with all the seats on that specific type of plane, and you can dig in deeper to any given option for all sorts of helpful infofor instance: What is the exact size and width of each seat? Which seats have more legroom? Which seats cant recline? Which seats are missing a window view? With that insight in hand, you can then figure out the right seat for you and decide if any extra fees are actually worthwhile. You’ll see seats like never before with SeatsMaps’ crowdsourced insights. ~ Next, when youre planning on attending an event, pull up the A View From My Seat websiteor, if you’d rather, grab the app for Android or iOS. Then, just use the service’s search feature to look up any performer, venue name, sports team, or even city to find the place you need. Select “Seating Chart” and click or tap any green area to see an actual photo taken from a nearby seat in that exact location. Average people going to shows submit these, complete with a short review of each option. Youll get an idea of the view and learn about any problems or obstructions you might encounter. Once you get used to selecting seats this way, you’ll never go back. ~ All that’s left is to make your choiceand now, you can do so with full confidence that you’re making a fully informed decision. SeatMaps is available only on the web. A View From My Seat will work on the web as well as via its native apps for Android and iOS. Both services are 100% free. You dont need any accounts, and neither service asks for any manner of personal info. Ready to unearth more off-the-beaten-path tech treasures? Check out my free Cool Tools newsletter for an instant introduction to an audio app thatll tune up your days in some delightful waysand another little-known tech gem in your inbox every Wednesday!
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