We Asked YC Founders How They Made Their First Dollar...
Many people shared how they earned their first money, often through creative and sometimes unusual ways, both online and offline. Examples included fixing iPhone screens, selling school supplies online in Brazil, washing horse trailers, selling Pokemon cards, and trading virtual currency in FIFA. Other methods involved creating apps, teaching debate, reselling Supreme T-shirts, doing origami, building a database for high school students, selling unwanted household items, running an e-commerce store, jailbreaking iPhones, cold-calling for legal services, trading financial futures, and even being a scorekeeper for a basketball team. One person also mentioned working at a gourmet hot dog stand at 13.
Key Vocabulary
In the context of technology, this refers to systems or models that can process and understand information from multiple types of input, such as text, images, and audio, simultaneously.
Examples:
- The new AI assistant is multimodal, allowing users to interact with it through voice commands and visual cues.
- Developing a multimodal interface can significantly improve accessibility for diverse users.
- Researchers are exploring multimodal learning to create more intelligent and adaptable AI systems.
A storefront is a website or online platform that serves as a virtual shop, displaying products or services for sale to customers, similar to a physical retail store.
Examples:
- Her handcrafted jewelry business started as a small online storefront before expanding to brick-and-mortar locations.
- The company launched a new digital storefront to reach a wider international audience.
- Setting up an effective online storefront requires careful consideration of user experience and product presentation.
A bot, short for robot, is an automated software program designed to perform specific tasks, often repetitive ones, on the internet or within a system.
Examples:
- Many online retailers use a bot to manage customer service inquiries through chat.
- The website implemented a bot to filter out spam comments automatically.
- Some users employ a bot to quickly purchase limited-edition items online.
In this context, "ninja" is used informally to describe someone with exceptional skill, stealth, or quickness in a particular area, often implying a mastery of a specific craft or task.
Examples:
- He's a coding ninja, always finding elegant solutions to complex problems.
- The marketing team hired a social media ninja to boost their online presence.
- She became a negotiation ninja after years of closing difficult deals.
Gourmet refers to food of high quality, often prepared with skill and presented appealingly, or to an individual who appreciates such food.
Examples:
- The new restaurant specializes in gourmet burgers made with locally sourced ingredients.
- He enjoys cooking gourmet meals for his friends on special occasions.
- The food festival featured a wide selection of gourmet cheeses and artisanal breads.
To scrub means to clean something thoroughly by rubbing it hard, often with a brush or abrasive material.
Examples:
- She had to scrub the kitchen floor until it sparkled.
- The old boat needed a good scrub to remove years of grime.
- He spent the afternoon scrubbing the grill after the barbecue.
A shack is a roughly built hut or cabin, often small and simple, used for temporary or informal purposes.
Examples:
- They spent their vacation in a rustic fishing shack by the lake.
- The construction workers set up a temporary shack for their tools and supplies.
- He dreamed of building a small shack in the woods where he could write in peace.
In the context of electronic devices like iPhones, to jailbreak means to modify the operating system to remove restrictions imposed by the manufacturer, allowing for greater customization and the installation of unauthorized software.
Examples:
- Some users choose to jailbreak their phones to access apps not available in the official store.
- Jailbreaking a device can void its warranty and potentially expose it to security risks.
- The company warned against attempts to jailbreak its new gaming console.
Equestrian relates to horse riding or horses, often referring to activities, sports, or industries involving horses.
Examples:
- She has been involved in equestrian sports since she was a child, competing in show jumping.
- The estate boasts extensive equestrian facilities, including stables and an indoor riding arena.
- Many people in the region make their living through the equestrian industry, from breeding to training.
A scorekeeper is a person who records the score in a game or competition.
Examples:
- The scorekeeper diligently updated the scoreboard after each point was made.
- Being the scorekeeper requires attention to detail and a clear understanding of the rules.
- He volunteered to be the scorekeeper for his son's basketball team.
A quant is a quantitative analyst, typically a financial professional who uses mathematical and statistical methods to manage financial risks and identify investment opportunities.
Examples:
- The investment bank hired a new quant to develop sophisticated trading algorithms.
- She started her career as a quant, focusing on predictive modeling for market trends.
- Understanding complex financial derivatives is a key skill for a successful quant.
Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures.
Examples:
- He learned to create intricate origami cranes and dragons.
- The art class included a session on origami, teaching students various folding techniques.
- Her desk was adorned with colorful origami flowers and animals.
Entrepreneurship is the activity of setting up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.
Examples:
- His passion for technology led him to pursue entrepreneurship in the software development sector.
- The university offers courses designed to foster entrepreneurship among its students.
- She believes that entrepreneurship is essential for economic growth and innovation.
Shoveling refers to the act of moving material, such as snow, dirt, or food, with a shovel.
Examples:
- He spent the morning shoveling snow off the driveway after the heavy snowfall.
- The construction crew was busy shoveling gravel into the trench.
- She was shoveling hot dogs from the grill onto plates for the customers.
Underrepresented describes a group or category of people that is not present in proportion to its numbers in the general population, often indicating a lack of adequate presence or voice.
Examples:
- The program aims to support students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM fields.
- Women are often underrepresented in leadership positions within the tech industry.
- Efforts are being made to ensure that diverse perspectives are not underrepresented in media.
Analog refers to something that is not digital, typically involving physical or continuous signals rather than discrete digital data. In this context, it refers to a traditional, non-digital way of doing something.
Examples:
- Many photographers still prefer analog cameras for their unique aesthetic.
- The watch has an analog display with hands that move around a dial.
- Before digital calendars, people relied on analog planners to keep track of appointments.
Bucks is an informal term for dollars, referring to money.
Examples:
- He earned a few bucks by mowing his neighbor's lawn.
- That new car costs a lot of bucks, but it's worth it.
- She saved up enough bucks to buy a new computer.
Hypothetical refers to something based on a hypothesis or theory, not necessarily real or existing, often used for the purpose of argument or discussion.
Examples:
- Let's consider a hypothetical scenario where the project fails, and plan accordingly.
- The professor posed a hypothetical question to stimulate debate among the students.
- He presented a hypothetical solution to the problem, acknowledging it might not be practical.
Noble describes something having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals, or belonging to a hereditary class with high social or political status.
Examples:
- Helping others without expecting anything in return is a truly noble act.
- She dedicated her life to a noble cause, fighting for justice and equality.
- The king was known for his noble character and wise decisions.
Converting means to change the form, character, or function of something, or to cause someone to change their beliefs or behavior.
Examples:
- He is considering converting his old garage into a home office.
- The company specializes in converting raw materials into finished products.
- Converting a skeptical customer into a loyal client requires excellent service.