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Thomas

Should I apply to YC?

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I have worked on a product for 1 year with my co-founder, an email finder that can find the professional email of someone; I know it already exists. But we have created the first tool to verify catch-all emails without emailing or checking an existent database (which is forbidden by the GDPR). Our solution is fully scalable. I asked myself if YC could be a good fit for a product like ours. What do you think? Bootstrapped or funded? YC or not?

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Gaurav Parvadiya
It really depends on your future plans. Bootstrapped startups have the advantage of being self-reliant and having complete control over the direction of the company. They don't have to answer to external investors, which means they have more flexibility in terms of their business strategy and can make decisions based on their own vision and values. However, bootstrapping can be difficult, as it requires the founders to invest their own time and money, and may limit the speed at which the company can grow. Funded startups, on the other hand, have access to significant resources that can help accelerate their growth, including capital, expertise, and networks. This can enable them to scale quickly and compete more effectively in their market. However, external funding often comes with the expectation of high returns and can lead to a loss of control over the direction of the company. Additionally, the process of securing funding can be time-consuming and challenging, and may distract from other important tasks.
Arda Diker
Hi Thomas, I am a bootstrapped founder. Gaurav mentioned the important points. However, I d like to share my experience too. Bootstrapping is quite challenging if your product still needs substantial effort to develop or a big marketing budget. Distribution and outreach are crucial for your success. If you can handle those two elements, you can be successful as a bootstrapped founder. If you have any questions left, drop me a DM at https://twitter.com/easierwitharda
Dmitry
You definitely should. The main reason for applying to YC is not to get in; your chances are extremely slim, but it will help you a lot with the further explanation of your product and its pros and cons.
Dmitry
I just wrote a few notes from our YC application experience: https://www.producthunt.com/disc...
Pian Istien
If it isn't GDPR compaint it make sense to consider launching it in the US