Ah, fuck. Now I have to do a compare and contrast to the YC model docs.

[EDIT] Here it is: http://www.sachinagarwal.com/quick-compare-and-contrast-of

[EDIT 2]: Here's the HN thread on my submission of my analysis of the YC documents back when: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=283469

What differences did you find?

Different feel, same instrument is all.

Again, these aren't the documents that YC and TS use for their admitted companies; these are the docs for the round after that. These are actually more useful than the internal YC/TS documents, since you can use these documents for your discussions with angel investors outside of a YC/TS program.

Again, I prefer the Techstars documents because they're more similar to standard Series A/B/C VC documents that I saw in my prior life as a lowly VC Analyst (still bitter I didn't negotiate the Associate title). But thanks to both Y Combinator and Techstars for releasing this stuff. They're both much, much better than the model NVCA documents for a potential angel round. You can't go wrong with either.

What is left for TechStars to copy from Y Combinator? The only thing I can think of is Paul and Jessica's baby, and the logistics behind that are scary.

More early stage venture firms is a good things. Copying good things, like open legal docs, is a good thing. The only thing I've heard I didn't like was setting deadlines to exclude YC, and I haven't heard definitive specifics on that.

== setting deadlines to exclude YC ==

How they can achieve that having only one session per year - summer, and YC has two?

Hypothetically, you need to respond for their summer session before you hear about YC's

Well, ask around and you'll hear some other things.

I've met a couple of techstars companies in the last year and haven't heard any negatives yet - are you being intentionally vague to cover up for a friend or can you get more specific with your complaints?

I would love to hear more, if there are actual complaints. We have been very open.

Matt, anything we can address? We have been hearing a very constant and vague 2 year record of your thoughts (appreciated).

The biggest complaint is that they interview and accept companies before YC and like YC, require an immediate decision. So if you get accepted into Techstars you have to tell them yes or no before your YC interivew.

I see.

The date for the TechStars program is set by the summer session for the local universities. The rental market revolves around this, and our program is set up to make it easy to find a sublet/ not conflict with the University scheduling etc (and not to block candidates from applying or attending any other program).

Also, we don't require an immediate decision. We encourage our teams to check in with their friends and families to make sure it is a great fit.

I've had experience of beign rejected by both, and have got better feelings with TechStar :) Well, the ideas were different too, so it triggered different reactions.

But overall, techstars do good job offering more opportunities for the startups.

Consider this asking around. Has anyone written anything I can read online?

Well I can't see who is theirs' Matt Maroon, but I don't know if the world can stand two of those! :D That would be too much genius in the world, of course!

By the way, I am so glad that they decided to choose the Silicon Valley instead of Boston..

Although I never been in the Silicon Valley, but if you open my heart, you will see it standing there... LOOOL

I am talking about Ycombinator, and NOT techstars!!