Feeling demotivated and a bit lost after applying to YC, anyone?

[valeska]

For the last 8 months my after work hours, weekends and nights has been spent towards one goal.

creating a SaaS platform that solves a problem, from wireframes and scratches on paper to fully working platform almost production ready and apply for YC.

In order to go production i need to wire stripe for payments, and make sure i cover all edge cases when user onboards, not too much work, BUT!

I feel i am lost, after i applied to YC, i lost all my focus, i keep checking my email (although as a first time solo founder, with no users, i know my chances are very little) but still.

YC helped me focus, i created a demo, founders video even pitch deck, i prepared my landing pages, created dummy data for testing, everything, but now struggling to go back on track and finish my todos!, i keep searching for excuses, maybe it is now time to do some marketing? maybe i should apply to a punch of accelerators? oh it is time to test and check bugs!, totally lost my focus, anyone in the same boat?


Small update:
As part of the verification phase, I collected an email list of users ( few months ago) but I haven’t done anything with it yet ( was focusing on building the MVP)

 

[chambersja01]

@valeska S24 apps will be open soon enough. Use that same drive you had for W24 and you’ll find yourself right back on track.

 

[valeska]

@chambersja01 great advice! i will work on my numbers until then

 

[galiasapozhnikov]

@valeska Applying to YC or being accepted into YC shouldn't be your ultimate goal or marker of success. It's a stepping stone along a bigger, longer, harder journey.

You should 100% be talking to potential users, iterating the product, and getting to product market fit.

What are the top three things you can accomplish before Jan 1?

Also, read a comment where you said "barely got out of my room, dedicated every hour, for 8 months." My guy... that's a recipe for failure.

Make sure you're taking time away to rest, take care of your fitness, connect with friends, and have hobbies. This all or nothing mindset isn't actually helpful.

It's a series of sprints over a long marathon. Schedule your breaks while sprinting.

 

[valeska]

@galiasapozhnikov Amazingly said, this really helps, I appreciate it

 

[galiasapozhnikov]

@valeska Gotchu! Wishing you luck on the road ahead

 

[leannec]

@valeska I was a VC for 7+ years before going to entrepreneurship. You don’t need YC’s permission to build your company. My best exit wasn’t a YC company. I agree, they do a lot of great stuff and have great resources, but they shouldn’t be why build

 

[confusedmanxx]

@valeska I thought we call this feeling "burn out"

 

[valeska]

@confusedmanxx Maybe but temporarily

 

[nickydhas]

@valeska Why aren’t you busy finding customers for your product and making some revenue so you can apply to the next cohort much stronger? Sometimes reading these posts makes me feel people are building products to get into YC or get funding rather than building for their customers. Is that the issue here ?

 

[valeska]

@nickydhas I started this before even knowing what YC is, so no it is not only for applying yet with all honesty there is something appealing in getting backed by a giant like YC, with funding to sustain full time and great mentorship.
I am not quitting im just saying the momentum has slowed down and i am questioning why, is it happening to other founders

 

[wingnut0731]

@valeska I would recommend you to forget about your startup for a while (until you hear back from YC).
And start doing manual job. I’m quite serious about it. First of all, start walking. A lot. Like 15k steps a day. Go to a gym.
The best way is to go to work on a construction site (but you have a full time job so it’s quite complicated).
Doing some physically hard job will help your brain to relax. Try not to think about your startup at all (thoughts will come anyway, but try to get rid of them).
Eventually, you will feel better, some ideas will come up, and you’ll be ready to continue.
If you can’t find something to do (idk help someone to renovate their house) try just to walk.
And try not to think about startup until mid-November.

I’m doing the same when I feel like you do. Last time I went on a construction site to install heated floors in new buildings well, I can “afford” it, I have a company that brings me money so I can leave for a few weeks to do whatever I want/need. After that I came up with several literally brilliant ideas.

Just reload your brain.

 

[valeska]

@wingnut0731 Wow that’s sounds fun and exciting
I definitely should start doing some physical work it could be therapeutic for me as you mentioned and brings me back to a steadier state of mind
Thanks!! Good luck