Wow, at least 2 Canadians were accepted to this session of Y Combinator in Cambridge, MA. It looks like Y Combinator program is becoming the MBA program for entrepreneurs. Graduate from a degree program, work for a couple or 3 years, and then decide to start a company and get the unbridled focus offered by Paul Graham and the Y Combinator gang.
Michael Parkatti and Mike Marrone are writing about their experiences for the Globe and Mail in the Y Combinator diaries.
Michael provides some details about their backgrounds in the first post,
It’s been almost three years since I finished my post-graduate degree at the London School of Economics. In that time I’ve begun a career as a management consultant, worked for an Internet startup in Calgary (taking my finances to the breaking point), worked for a startup in Vancouver, committed to start a PhD program and now have started my own company.
Mike Marrone has a similar story. In the three years since finishing his Bachelor’s at Trent University, he’s worked at a small technology company in Ottawa, an Internet startup in Calgary, and Yahoo Inc. in Sunneyvale, California.
What a fantastic opportunity to get exposure to world-class Internet and software entrepreneurs. I had the pleasure of meeting Paul Graham at FooCamp07, and was just completely blown away by his personality, insight and engagement of entrepreneurs and designers.
My favourite part of the blog post is the description of what they are trying to do:
“we’re simply two guys trying to make something that people want”
Imagine that. Software that solves a problem. Makes peoples lives better. Changes the world. I’m curious at what was their Y Combinator submission. I’m curious to see what comes out at the end of the process. I’m curious if Michael and Mike decide to return to Canada after the Y Combinator experience. Whatever ends up happening, my hats off to these guys.
I can’t wait to see this story develop. I hope it turns out better than the 90 Days blog.