[aespinoza]

In my opinion this is just like the way record labels started creating bands out of thin air without any substance.

They gathered potential talented people, form the band write songs for them, decide their image, their sound, etc.

This doesn't mean that this model won't work, it just means that they are not really artists.

The same thing is happening here. How can you be called an entrepreneur if you can't even come up with an idea?

Entrepreneurship is not for everybody. But if you don't have an idea, then you really should not be looking to be an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs undertake something; "The French infinitive 'entreprendre' translates as 'to undertake' " (from Wikipedia).

If you have no ideas to undertake, then undertake other people's ideas by joining an existing company.

[jmathai]

Perhaps the best way to look at it is that YC is trying to hire good engineers to help with ideas they have themself (YC) or to join other YC teams which they find promising.

[freshhawk]

That's an interesting way to look at it, although at that point using the words "startup" and "entrepreneur" are more marketing than anything else.

I think what people object to about this "no idea" idea is the feeling that this is just more control being shifted from founders to the same small group of rich and powerful tech kingmakers.

I don't know how valid that objection is, I guess we'll have to see, but it's likely a good thing for the community to discuss (although I doubt that discussion will happen here all that much).

[cube13]

My objection to the idea is really contingent on what YC is trying to do:

1. Get groups without an idea or product to cultivate and implement their own ideas. I think this is their primary goal, but to be honest, I have absolutely no clue whether it will work. I would wager, however, that this idea would work, especially with a good group that can deal with the pressure well.

2. Match these kickass development groups with another YC pitched idea. This is less clear how it would work, because it turns YC into a consulting/temp agency. I'm also not sure what the groups would be working for. Would it be for pay through YC, or for equity in the new startup? This, I think, is the worry for a lot of people, because it would result(like freshhawk mentioned) control being shifted away from the founders.

[aespinoza]

That is a great idea, but I think YC is not going for that. Because everybody that is accepted at YC calls itself an entrepreneur. It is extremely misleading for people applying without an idea.

[ChuckMcM]

Although if you called your startup "The Monkees" they might have a basis for a lawsuit :-)

More seriously though, my experience is that smart, motivated people get stuff done. And putting them in a situation with a deadline is one way to entice them to get something done (its the way college works after all :-))

As with many things, starting can be quite hard and I see the experiment YC is running as a way of seeing if incenting these folks to start will produce good results. Regardless of the outcome its a good experiment to run as it can inform future estimates on the available folks for creating new companies.

[aespinoza]

I agree. But we have seen from experience, that people that have trouble finding something to undertake are better off working on other people's ideas. If they have what it takes to be an entrepreneur, they will find their idea while working on another.

This is why people working for Google, Facebook, and startups become really great entrepreneurs. They live the life, they learn the trade and then when they get an idea they have everything in the world to succeed.

But in turn, if you just came out of college, being an Entrepreneur sounds good, let's try it without any clue on what you are doing, then it is going to be a waste of your time.

But I have to agree. YC trying it does not mean is wrong or bad. It might work, but they have to understand these engineers will not be entrepreneurs, at least not in their first instance.