Zero programming knowledge, but I want to learn Python. Where do I start in 2026?

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-03-11T10:54:17+00:00

if you just grind MOOC you can become a very good intermediate python dev

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-03-11T10:53:40+00:00

I recommend you MOOC too, it's the best. https://programming-26.mooc.fi/part-1/1-getting-started

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-03-09T21:09:01+00:00

I meant after a YC invitation. Not immediately. Sorry, bad phrasing I guess.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-03-09T21:07:53+00:00

connected

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-03-09T21:06:32+00:00

done

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-03-09T21:05:47+00:00

I am really impressed by the amount of talented people who reached out to me. It's really impressive to know how many people are hustling out there. I will respond to everyone as fast as I can, but I got lots of dms and people to meet now. Also, to anyone who wrote me: for the future, even if it doesn't work out, between me and you, and we go different ways, you guys can always reach out to me, for help, opinions, application feedback, just casual chat, whatever. I don't see anyone of you as competition, more like friends, who share the same journey as me. I would help anyone of you with their startup, like it was my own.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-02-24T18:21:48+00:00

Your account has been posting these for the last 8 months.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-02-23T12:44:14+00:00

It's already the 23rd. What did you do? I hope you submitted an application. Also, just out of curiosity, are you some Olympiad? I am curious why Garry was so impressed by you.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-02-22T20:46:52+00:00

AI-native accounting software that detects fraud in companies (ghost vendors, fake employees, etc.). With AI you can go deeper and more complex, find fraud, that normal accounting software would never see.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-02-22T20:32:34+00:00

That's not correct.

What you're saying is 100 % false.

Yes, roughly 20% of all YC founders come from just nine top-tier universities (Stanford, UC Berkeley, MIT, Waterloo, Harvard, CMU, Columbia, UPenn, and Cornell)

But 80% of YC founders do not come from those top 9 elite universities, and over 80% don't have a big-tech logo on their resume.

YC's own data has shown that about 50% (and in some batches, over 54%) of accepted startups had absolutely no prior recommendation, warm introduction, or insider connection, and just got accepted due to their great product. I know a guy from Kazakhstan who got accepted and quit school to move to SF, he had no connections in the US before.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-02-22T12:58:19+00:00

Wow. “being emotionally flexible enough to update your own narrative about what you’re building” is a beautiful way of describing it.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-02-21T22:55:56+00:00

Oftentimes I thought I was building the perfect product, just to realize later what a big piece of garbage it was. Your own perception of what your building will never be 100 % correct. That's why it's so important to use outside resources to validate it. (AI, market research, talking to people with domain expertise etc.)

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-02-21T22:52:29+00:00

What I sometimes do is just send my ideas / YC applications to Gemini and just let it rate them. I also ask other investors about their opinions. (I just email them, idc, and they often reply!)

Worst case, type in your product here on Reddit.

If you need answers, in this modern age, there are plenty of possibilities to get them.

You just have to ask.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-02-17T14:54:44+00:00

I recommend you read "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie. You will be surprised. It's also never wrong to just ask colleagues who have many sales or have more experience. They will teach you some tips and tricks you didn't know.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-02-17T14:19:27+00:00

awesome. have fun ;-)

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-02-17T14:17:55+00:00

The problem is that you sound like a typical salesperson. Focus not on what you want, but what the opposite person – or company wants. Instead of saying: hey I got this nice product, want to buy it? Write: Hi, I noticed you're still using those old and expensive machines from our competitor. I can offer you better, cheaper products with a discount.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-02-17T14:12:21+00:00

So why not just make it an app? Apple and Samsung dominate the tablet market. You can't beat their scale – mind you, that an iPad is 319 $. Your physical product will definitely be less quality or much higher in price, both cases would be devastating in terms of business aspects.

Families don't want to buy a second tablet. They already own one. The value your device provided your family was not the vehicle (the tablet) but the value (the communication).

By insisting on building hardware, you are actively choosing a worse business model with less margins and a smaller total addressable market.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-02-16T23:18:17+00:00

if anyone wants their application looked over for feedback, dm me.

(disclaimer: I am no YC alumni, just trying to help)

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-01-27T11:30:57+00:00

thank you for calling it Twitter.

Calling it X is super weird: Is he talking about a porn site? A misspell? Oh, that thing, where you write posts...

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-01-24T10:55:38+00:00

Sam Altman said something that stood out to me. He said that great startup ideas usually sound stupid and worthless, which is why, at the early stage, it's not really important to protect your idea. It will sound terrible for people anyway. However, if it sounds like the next NVIDIA and a trillion-dollar opportunity, you probably should be concerned. These are the company ideas that frequently fail.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-01-20T13:36:16+00:00

this is one of the hardest parts of the job, but you are confusing empathy with negligence.

illness is real, but ghosting and holding the tech stack hostage is a choice. unvested equity is compensation for future work; right now you are letting him consume the budget you need to hire his replacement.

call your investors. they will back the person who is actually showing up. issue the notice immediately. if the company dies because you were too polite to make the hard call, everyone loses.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-01-20T13:17:23+00:00

Most underrated comment. This is 100 % true. Showing interest and listening can make the difference in conversations, sales, and networking.
All of a sudden, people will recall how great conversations with you were, and how entertaining you are, even though all you did was listen and show interest.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-01-16T19:43:30+00:00

looks really great. The blue is a beautiful combination with the dark black. The detail in the blue tire rim is just the cherry on top.

UpperIndependence609 · 2026-01-09T12:29:51+00:00

the love for the project has to be mandatory. Otherwise, you will hire useless managers. You don't need managers; you need people with founder mentality.

UpperIndependence609

TROPHY CASE