[larrys]

"it's practically certain that groups we rejected will go on to create successful startups. If you do, we'd appreciate it if you'd send us an email telling us about it;"

A little like writing to the girl/guy that rejected you with great news that you've landed in Hollywood. By the time you get there they will know it.

Anyway, by "successful" what do they mean anyway?

Someone else funded you? (go to crunchbase).

Or you've gone public?

Or you've sold the business?

Or you're on the front of the WSJ?

Isn't the info they are looking for in all the obvious places? Patronizing to suggest "tell us about your success" as if they can't go to the trouble to uncover it themselves somehow.

[earbitscom]

Do you know how many of the startups change dramatically or, at minimum, change names (or don't even have one yet)?

After reviewing 2000+ applications, do you really expect them, upon seeing a TechCrunch post 2 years later to remember that was one of their applicants?

You can trust that they really do mean they'd like to know about it, and if I know them, they'd actually go look up the application to see if there is any way they can avoid missing that opportunity in the future.

[larrys]

"that was one of their applicants"

The idea can change but people's names don't change.

"upon seeing a TechCrunch post 2 years later "

The definition of "success" in your mind?

[earbitscom]

The over 4k applications they see use HN usernames.

You're the one that said CrunchBase.

The idea that they're supposed to monitor for every startup founder they ever rejected to pop up a few years later is retarded.

[larrys]

"they're supposed to monitor for every startup founder they ever rejected to pop up a few years later is retarded."

If they are interested in the information they can get the information as it is out there. So they shouldn't put any effort in? Poor them. So many applicants. So much work to cross reference.

"The over 4k applications they see use HN usernames."

People don't use their real names on applications?

For each founder, please list: YC username; name; age

http://www.allhatter.com/archive/index.php/t-193.html