YC & A16Z Founders Summit: Exclusive Event for Startup Leaders

New Summit Aims to Empower Early-Stage Founders with PR and Social Media Skills

A new event, organized by former employees of Y Combinator and Andreessen Horowitz, is set to take place on August 9th. This gathering is designed as an exclusive workshop for early-stage startup founders.

Focus on Self-Sufficiency in PR and Social Media

The To Do List Summit will be limited to 80 founders. Participants will be instructed on effective strategies for engaging with the press and managing their own social media presence. The cost to attend is $600.

The organizers aim to provide practical knowledge, enabling startups to handle these crucial functions internally.

Event Emerges After Y Combinator Layoffs

The team organizing the summit was impacted by layoffs at Y Combinator, occurring both in 2023 and in a smaller round the previous year. These reductions in staff were unexpected, given the consistent popularity of YC events.

Y Combinator’s events have historically played a significant role in establishing San Francisco as a central location for the growing AI startup ecosystem. OpenAI, a company closely associated with YC and led by former YC president Sam Altman, is also based in San Francisco.

Addressing the High Cost of PR and Social Media Agencies

One of the driving forces behind this summit is concern over the substantial fees charged by PR and social media agencies. Organizers believe many early-stage startups are unnecessarily spending tens of thousands of dollars on these services.

Founders are increasingly feeling pressure to replicate the viral success seen by companies like Cluely.

The Power of a Single Viral Post

A single, well-timed social media post can dramatically alter a startup’s trajectory. Consider the example of Rork, a coding app startup that was facing financial difficulties.

A viral tweet propelled them to raise $2.8 million and secure a place in a16z’s Speedrun program. Similarly, Theseus, a defense tech startup, gained a contract with the U.S. Special Forces, $4.3 million in funding, and acceptance into Y Combinator, all stemming from a single post on X (formerly Twitter).

Expanding Access Beyond Y Combinator

The organizers believe their expertise can benefit not only Y Combinator founders but also those outside the program. They intend to offer this valuable training at an affordable price, without requiring founders to relinquish equity.