{"id":1903,"date":"2014-08-16T16:40:08","date_gmt":"2014-08-16T20:40:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.renthop.com\/news\/?p=1903"},"modified":"2014-08-16T16:41:09","modified_gmt":"2014-08-16T20:41:09","slug":"demo-day-why-hundreds-of-y-combinator-alums-keep-coming-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/demo-day-why-hundreds-of-y-combinator-alums-keep-coming-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Demo Day: Why hundreds of Y Combinator alums keep coming back"},"content":{"rendered":"

Twice a year, Y Combinator holds Demo Day to officially debut and graduate a batch of startups presenting to investors and the press. An event called Alum Demo Day takes place the night before. It’s the last chance for the startups to practice and rehearse their presentations to a field of YC alums [1].<\/p>\n

19th YC Demo Day<\/h2>\n

Next Tuesday is the 19th YC Demo Day. Mine was the 9th, in the summer of 2009 (usually called S’09). Back then 26 companies presented for about six minutes and YC partners encouraged us all to include live demos of our product if possible (apparently the audience pays much more attention if there is some chance of the demo going awry).<\/p>\n

In more modern times, over 80 companies deliver Demo Day speeches lasting only two to three minutes, each deck running off a shared computer with screenshots, graphs, and occasionally videos and physical stage props (robots on a Segway or Back To The Future like hover boards).<\/p>\n

Even more drastic than the format, the audience at Alum Demo Day now spans representatives from nine years of founders (and I definitely see 05 through 08 alumni in addition to my fellow S’09 batch mates). \u00a0Some alums have long sold their startups and become angel investors. \u00a0Others graduated only six months prior. \u00a0In any event, a nearly standing-room-only audience of founders fills the auditorium each session, and I’m perplexed by a simple question: What keeps everyone coming back?<\/p>\n

Obviously, first and foremost, we are here to help our fellow YC founders. All of us received tremendous amounts of aid from the YC community, and we love to give back whenever we can. \u00a0Still, with literally hundreds of founders in attendance, are there other benefits for attending Demo Day?\u00a0 Here are my guesses, mostly my own reasons for going, and I’d love to hear from other alums and compile some results:<\/p>\n

1.) \u00a0Mini-Reunion with Other YC Alums<\/h2>\n

It’s always great to see my batch mates but we’re often very busy running our startups! Twice a year is a great frequency to hold a reunion and Alum Demo Day becomes a great catalyst and rally point.<\/p>\n

2.) \u00a0Scout the Latest Wave of Ideas<\/h2>\n

We know many YC companies pivot mid-program and others iterate and refine niche ideas into grand visions. In any case, many of the startups spent time scouting out the latest and most promising pitches. I consider the evening a tour of the newest ideas swirling around Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n

3.) \u00a0Early Look for Angel Investing<\/h2>\n

Quite a few alums make occasional angel investments. In all of my (very few) angel deals, I only invest a tiny amount in companies that happen to interest me. I probably wouldn’t have even made it into the round had I not introduced myself to the founders prior to the swarm of professionals on Demo Day.<\/p>\n

Learn more:<\/p>\n