Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

When I think about unique insight, what I think about is here's your opportunity to tell me something that I don't know.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

The first thing I learned is that campaigns are about money. I had this romantic idea that campaigns were about law and debates and so forth, which is just not true. It's about money.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

Minority founders often feel like they are on the outside looking in when it comes to Silicon Valley and tech startups in general.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

Everyone appreciates good food.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

Good founders can give me a picture of the future that I can believe. And the second that I believe your version of the future, you have leverage.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

One of the things that's so interesting when talking to minority founders specifically is that there is really a knowledge gap in understanding what the risk-reward profile is for doing a startup.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

It's fairly common knowledge that a startup can't execute on two products simultaneously.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

Increase your company's average talent with each hire - founders tend to be pretty smart but willing to take on risk. Employees should be a lot smarter and less risk averse.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

I usually fall asleep between 11 P.M. - 1 A.M., and I wake up between 6:30 A.M. - 8:00 A.M.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

If you can't hire someone smarter than you, do it yourself.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

Academically, I think things kicked off pretty late for me. I was kind of one of those kids who was in half honors, half regular. I was like a history/science kid, which was always weird. Around tenth grade or eleventh grade, everything started coming together.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

You've got to be a special type of guy to strap a camera to your head, especially if you're the first guy to do it.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

A lot of times when you're an investor, it's very easy to lean back and say, 'Well, people should come to me in Silicon Valley.' YC has the opposite opinion.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

People think they need to hire someone to do their PR, but 99 percent of PR in the early stages is stuff you can do yourself. It's just like business development - there's the warm-up intro, followup to build relationships, then add something of value.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

For me, iPad 2 and tablets in general are really exciting from a front-facing camera perspective, making those short video clips where you're talking about where you are or what you're interested in, and your face fills up the entire screen.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

Investors like to hear that you're in a multi-billion dollar market.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

Convince the investor that you guys are moving fast and that this isn't some long slog... you're thinking about it like a startup where you can move fast and make mistakes.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

I had a basic plan for my life. The plan was - 20s: make money; 30s: have family; and 40s: run for something and do politics. When I retired, I wanted to be a teacher.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

After reading the Elon Musk book and getting a Tesla - he is at the top of my list of inspiring founders.

Michael Seibel
Michael Seibel

One of the most fun and interesting things about YC is that we are kind of a startup ourselves. We are constantly changing and evolving what we do.