Office Hours with Sam Altman

TL;DR

Sam Altman advises B2B founders to expand their network rather than cold-outreach outside it, noting that most YC B2B companies get first customers from other YC companies via internal tools like Bookface. Young founders benefit from inexperience, stamina, and frugality, but should supplement with experienced people.

Key insights

• Expanding your network (e.g., by hosting dinners for other founders) is a more effective strategy than cold-outreaching outside it.
• YC’s internal community (Bookface, emails) is the primary source of first 20 customers for most YC B2B companies.
• Younger founders have advantages: fewer commitments, high stamina, ability to live frugally, and inexperience that prevents them from being discouraged by how hard a startup will be.