Startup Business Models and Pricing | Startup School

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  • Опубліковано 12 тра 2024
  • YC Group Partner Aaron Epstein talks about different startup business models, how to monetize, and how to price your product. Pricing and monetization is one of the most common questions from founders, and this talk outlines 9 business models as well as highlighting business model lessons from the top YC companies.
    Business Model Guide: www.ycombinator.com/library/G...
    Apply to Y Combinator: yc.link/SUS-apply
    Work at a startup: yc.link/SUS-jobs
    Chapters (Powered by bit.ly/chapterme-yc) -
    00:00 - Introduction
    00:13 - Outline
    00:42 - 9 business models that build billion-dollar companies
    02:28 - Business model lessons from the top 100 YC companies
    09:42 - Overall lessons
    16:06 - 5 pricing insights from top YC companies
    29:15 - Story of Segment - How to charge for your product
    32:00 - Wrap-up - Key pricing insights
    #startup #tech #entrepreneur
  • Наука та технологія

КОМЕНТАРІ • 174

  • @ycombinator
    @ycombinator  Рік тому +34

    Read the business model guide here: www.ycombinator.com/library/Gh-business-model-guide
    Which of the nine models does your startup use?

    • @danielkim672
      @danielkim672 Рік тому

      How would you categorize LinkedIn? They seem to have a marketplace where each new user would be adding value and they have a SAAS model as well. They also do some advertising. I know you said a mature firm will evolve, but I remember even in the earliest days they had both the marketplace and SAAS model.

    • @danielkim672
      @danielkim672 Рік тому +1

      @flipgoo that model is just another way to take a cut from the seller. Whether you call it 'commission' or 'adding 5% on each item'. Same idea, it is a fee aka cost of using your platform.

  • @travesseniorchannel
    @travesseniorchannel Рік тому +84

    "Pricing is not permanent". I needed to be taught this.

  • @scrumtious1
    @scrumtious1 Рік тому +32

    Funny how for the only business model focused on hardware the short description is basically a negative/risk statement rather than an actual description.

    • @myshadow3074
      @myshadow3074 16 днів тому

      Remember that this statistic is Y combinators personal statistic. Their investment model is favorable for certain kinds of businesses which is why they see success in the types of businesses that work well according to their investment parameters. Not all kinds of startups are not a good fit for y combinator but that doesn't mean they don't/cant succeed. For example hardware businesses are not in their top 100 because they need so much capital. Easy examples are Nvidia or SpaceX. SpaceX needed 100 million plus capital to create a working product that now is almost monopolizing the market of orbital payload delivery.

  • @fokhrulislam2633
    @fokhrulislam2633 10 місяців тому +6

    I lost myself for all those 32:33 minutes. Thank you is not enough for such a presentation. Well done.

  • @JWilderSmith
    @JWilderSmith Рік тому +11

    I watch all of the y combinator channel videos and never comment, but for this one I have to make an exception. That was an extremely informative video and helped me a lot-- thank you!

  • @TommyBoy8771
    @TommyBoy8771 Рік тому +8

    33 minutes absolutely flew by! Brilliant speaker and insights, thank you!

  • @CharlesBohannan
    @CharlesBohannan Рік тому +57

    This is 100% spot on excellence: content, delivery, clarity, tone, and storytelling. Thank you 🎉

  • @mikejward
    @mikejward Рік тому +22

    Amazing you put this public. 🙏🏼I've done b2b pricing for a few startups. It's difficult. My feeling is the biggest thing you need are real customers to work on pricing with. Pricing ultimately is what the market will bear so you have to start doing deals to understand what the market will bear. All startups seem to come down to one basic principle - know your customer (and their problems) well. The hardest part is getting out and finding customers but ultimately it's the only thing that matters. Do it early and often (advice I'm giving myself!).

  • @hidden6051
    @hidden6051 Рік тому +13

    Now, that's what we call "Highly Valuable".
    Thanks for sharing!

  • @danielkim672
    @danielkim672 Рік тому +57

    The Y Combinator channel is one of the most valuable channels on youtube IMO and this video has been one of the best ones that I have seen not only on this channel but anywhere. Love this and thank you for sharing.

    • @DoctorSoulis
      @DoctorSoulis Рік тому +1

      Hello Daniel. Any other channels that you recommend?

    • @AdeJolaosho
      @AdeJolaosho 3 місяці тому

      Any other channels you recommend?

    • @danielkim672
      @danielkim672 3 місяці тому +1

      @@AdeJolaosho The Y Comb channel is great at the blocking and tackling of the startup world. One of the channel I enjoy is This Week in Startups. There is a lot there so you have to pick and choose what episodes to spend time on, but the interviews are usually pretty in depth and gives you a great idea on how tech leaders and investors think. In addition to the interviews, there are topics that you will learn various strategies and their pitch show is pretty interesting to see as well as they provide quick fire feedback to the startups.
      Outside of youtube, there are a lot of great blogs out there but IMO one of the best and most helpful is the blog by VC firm First Round Capital. Check that out and sign up for their mailer. Great stuff.

    • @MarcAndrewII
      @MarcAndrewII 3 місяці тому

      Definitely

  • @OliverSalva
    @OliverSalva Рік тому +2

    I really enjoyed this video! Everything was succinct, clear, and actionable! And it provided enough context for the usual advice that one receives.

  • @CryptoMar
    @CryptoMar Рік тому +2

    Exactly as we’ve been struggling with this issue, YC comes through. Thank you!!

  • @chapterme
    @chapterme Рік тому +73

    Chapters (Powered by ChapterMe) -
    00:00 - Introduction
    00:13 - Outline
    00:42 - 9 business models that build billion-dollar companies
    02:28 - Leaning from the top 100 YC companies
    04:19 - Marketplaces
    06:13 - Transactional businesses
    07:55 - SaaS companies
    08:30 - Advertising businesses
    09:42 - Overall lessons
    09:46 - What's not in the top 100
    11:24 - Recurring revenue consistently creates winners
    13:24 - Defensible moats
    15:36 - Recap - Best businesses
    16:06 - 5 pricing insights from top YC companies
    16:33 - 1. You should charge
    19:40 - 2. Pricing on value, not cost
    23:13 - 3. Most startups are undercharging
    26:41 - 4. Pricing isn't permanent
    28:19 - 5. Keep it simple
    29:15 - Story of Segment - How to charge for your product
    32:00 - Wrap-up - 5 key pricing insights

    • @arjoai
      @arjoai 4 місяці тому +1

      Your startup has a lot of potential

    • @chapterme
      @chapterme 4 місяці тому

      @@arjoaiThank you 😊

    • @MelaninMagik
      @MelaninMagik 4 місяці тому +1

      11:24

  • @coachankitpandey3793
    @coachankitpandey3793 11 місяців тому +2

    I was trying to figure out how to show my business model on my investor pitch deck. Your video comes like a savior for me. Law of attraction 😅

  • @AnthonyMunyi
    @AnthonyMunyi Рік тому +3

    This would easily qualify as having high value content. I needed this video so much!

  • @AnastasiaR-br6tl
    @AnastasiaR-br6tl Рік тому +2

    Thank you SO much!!! It is incredible, super relevant, concise, and comprehensive 💥

  • @JetSoftProHQ
    @JetSoftProHQ 10 місяців тому +1

    Very clear explanation! We believe that all employees of the company should be oriented in how the business works and develop their business acumen. We have already advised our team members to take a look!

  • @xavierabdulkarem5057
    @xavierabdulkarem5057 Рік тому +2

    This content is such valuable why most people watching something else as of today I can start my own startup

  • @ZaidKhanPathan
    @ZaidKhanPathan 7 місяців тому

    Some great valuable lessons, thanks YC team!

  • @theAKSpace
    @theAKSpace 9 місяців тому +1

    Man this was the most useful thing I ever heard about business and I heard it in the perfect time while im writing down my business model and plan

    • @theAKSpace
      @theAKSpace 9 місяців тому

      Wish me luck 🙏

  • @martinstine
    @martinstine Рік тому +3

    This one wowed me. Great. Lessons learned. Thanks YC. Thumbs up Aaron.

  • @soyeljefe8502
    @soyeljefe8502 9 місяців тому

    Great video. Incredibly insightful. Thanks!!

  • @TheMicahwitz
    @TheMicahwitz Рік тому +2

    fantastic content!!! I hope everyone understands how valuable this information is.

  • @michaelr9736
    @michaelr9736 3 місяці тому

    Fantastic advice. Thank you for putting so much thought into this video.

  • @keitumetsepule5192
    @keitumetsepule5192 10 місяців тому +1

    This was so valuable - thank you for sharing!

  • @titaniumplated7785
    @titaniumplated7785 Рік тому +3

    direct to points. very useful video. I wanted to do a video exactly like this

  • @Samlowkiapeng1888
    @Samlowkiapeng1888 Рік тому +1

    This is perfect. I will be rewatching this video along with the ones by thiel and graham

  • @gregtaylor9806
    @gregtaylor9806 Рік тому +1

    Incredibly good content. No-nonsense. Excellent presenter

  • @krumbo
    @krumbo Рік тому +2

    Thanks Y Combinator for sharing those valuable lessons

  • @daneseamus999
    @daneseamus999 Рік тому +1

    This was very informative and helpful. Thanks

  • @ronrozen2105
    @ronrozen2105 Рік тому +1

    Wow, that was an amazing piece of content, thanks!

  • @wayoutside
    @wayoutside Рік тому +4

    It's funny that basically great web design was one of Stripe's differentiators for years. There are a number of times I suggested/chose Stripe just because the docs were so nice. It did save a ton of dev time. Before modern payments APIs, to setup payments on your website you had to dial a number and it made internet noises for a while, then some guy answered and was like "hello?"

  • @MrSunshine669
    @MrSunshine669 Рік тому +1

    Really like your videos. Really wish you could condense them in to 10 minutes or send links to full articles. Your target market for these videos often doesn't have the time to watch 30+ minutes of UA-cam with everything else going on

  • @jazzybeat28
    @jazzybeat28 Рік тому

    Thank you for sharing this knowledge!

  • @matthewsimon8615
    @matthewsimon8615 2 місяці тому +2

    These business models primarily apply to high growth high investment companies aiming for Billions or 100 mills which makes perfect sense for Y-C but for other entrepreneurs who just want to have several 100k or millions businesses take this list and also learn other things about small/medium businesses. Your plumber or plumbing company makes great money with a simple: build trust, do good work, advertise , hire good employees and send an invoice.

  • @abdoulifeshare
    @abdoulifeshare Рік тому +2

    Thank you, very informative

  • @grantwhitbourne
    @grantwhitbourne Рік тому +2

    Incredible insights ❤❤❤🎉 thank you!

  • @theauroralightyr
    @theauroralightyr 10 місяців тому +2

    This video is priceless. Thank you so much.

  • @andy_chuks
    @andy_chuks Рік тому +1

    Awesome teaching. Very insightful.

  • @thegloryshining1471
    @thegloryshining1471 6 місяців тому

    extremly valuable , thank you man ❤

  • @leeoiou7295
    @leeoiou7295 Рік тому +2

    Excellent talk! more please!

  • @Baziz4576
    @Baziz4576 9 місяців тому

    amazing content well done

  • @christopherodo7807
    @christopherodo7807 Рік тому

    The best channel on UA-cam. Contents galore

  • @segunisrael1
    @segunisrael1 Рік тому +1

    Really enjoyed watching this...great insight.

  • @DrTune
    @DrTune Рік тому +2

    That is phenomenally useful. Thankyou.

  • @bodwewadmi1
    @bodwewadmi1 Рік тому

    Dude 🤓 thank you so much to this team

  • @mikeg3810
    @mikeg3810 Рік тому +2

    Wow, that’s a lot of good info! Maybe I don’t really don’t need to get an MBA after all. Just subscribe to this channel!

  • @_orangutan
    @_orangutan Рік тому +1

    Fantastic explanation!

  • @bluesque9687
    @bluesque9687 Рік тому

    Thank you! Very informative and very well presented... very grateful!
    However, at the same time very uninspiring... I know these are hard strategies but would I work with somebody just trying to get a biz model right..? Nah.. though these are critically important they are as inspiring as reptiles!

  • @nuthinking39
    @nuthinking39 Місяць тому

    This video is incredibly packed of essential information. Thanks for sharing! 🙏

    • @cryptoniku6723
      @cryptoniku6723 Місяць тому

      Still gets me thinking that a founder managed to talk to a client who was previously paying $120 a year and asked $120,000 for the same services?! 😂 And then finally settled for $18,000? What's going on?

    • @cryptoniku6723
      @cryptoniku6723 Місяць тому

      Good points nevertheless, but that Founder I want to meet.. 😂😂

    • @nuthinking39
      @nuthinking39 Місяць тому

      @@cryptoniku6723 enterprise customer. They were embarrased to pay $120, also they feared the startup was going to fail. Interesting founder indeed but for not realizing this eariler.

  • @zetsui0411
    @zetsui0411 6 місяців тому

    marketplace or transactional
    tldr 15:50
    20:00 cost pricing
    21:50 one of four things
    2230 complain but stilll pay
    23:00 price can't be your only moat
    24:00
    pricing implies values, and why
    26:10 well recognized logo, lock in

  • @prathikkarthikeyan6684
    @prathikkarthikeyan6684 7 місяців тому +1

    This video, like a lot of YC videos is pure gold for founders.

  • @soumen_das
    @soumen_das Рік тому +1

    Awesome info! Thanks.

  • @timebroua
    @timebroua Рік тому

    wow! its amazing and insightful, thanks!

  • @jinettew.3192
    @jinettew.3192 Рік тому

    Great work! Thank you

  • @juanbetancourt5106
    @juanbetancourt5106 3 місяці тому

    Thank you so much YC

  • @solomongugu6644
    @solomongugu6644 4 місяці тому

    Very enlightening. Thank you

  • @beatlift
    @beatlift Рік тому +1

    This is amazing!

  • @HighEndDigitalArchitect
    @HighEndDigitalArchitect Рік тому +3

    This video was great. Love the idea about pricing models and charging instead of going free. But I also feel that for some startups having a free / basic options with limited functionality is a good way attract new customers. If they need and love the product sooner or later they signup for premium account.

    • @danielkim672
      @danielkim672 Рік тому +1

      exactly. Near the end of the video i shown Gitlabs pricing and it shows the free option with the 2 other paid ones.

  • @foundergen3266
    @foundergen3266 Рік тому +1

    Wow really great value!

  • @VitorGomes_
    @VitorGomes_ 8 місяців тому

    This is by far the best video I watched from YC.

  • @JorgeMartinez-uf5dj
    @JorgeMartinez-uf5dj Рік тому +2

    hello! thank you very much. where is the business model guide link?

  • @manangarg1
    @manangarg1 9 місяців тому +1

    What type of business model does apple have according to the nine business models explained in the video?

  • @fooflateka
    @fooflateka Рік тому

    This is a very valuable vid

  • @vivensuwizeyimana3894
    @vivensuwizeyimana3894 Рік тому +1

    Great insights 🎉

  • @tvoyfilmpro
    @tvoyfilmpro Рік тому +1

    Very useful information and great thank you for that. At the same time video have horrible sound - speaker deafeningly loud at the first letter of sentence and then quiet to be heard in the end of the sentence. Maybe at least editor should google about how to use the sound compressor.

  • @PerceptiveAnarchist
    @PerceptiveAnarchist Рік тому +1

    Thanks for a great video

  • @slymastera
    @slymastera 5 місяців тому

    this was gold 🤝

  • @roopmahalriceadministrativ6129
    @roopmahalriceadministrativ6129 9 місяців тому +1

    What is the business model of Apple according to the nine business models?

  • @vfcustodio
    @vfcustodio 11 місяців тому

    Incredible content.

  • @shawnatwork
    @shawnatwork Рік тому +2

    How do the 9 business models apply to Healthcare Services companies? e.g. if it's a healthcare provider like Caron Health / Parsley / One Medical?

  • @hugoado
    @hugoado Рік тому +1

    Fantastic!!!

  • @arthurlins6835
    @arthurlins6835 Рік тому

    Amazing Video!

  • @jaigurudevkishorekumar
    @jaigurudevkishorekumar 10 місяців тому +1

    Great insights

  • @douglachman7330
    @douglachman7330 Рік тому +1

    These subtitles are so annoying especially the bad spelling at times. The content is brilliant and well done, THANK YOU.

  • @LuisRdzG10
    @LuisRdzG10 Рік тому +1

    Guys, I'm applying to YC for my startup this year. Wish me luck!!

  • @punkpendulums
    @punkpendulums 6 місяців тому

    11:45 recurring revenue 14:10 enterprise, churn is a lot lower 15:11 organic distribution

  • @Math_kru_earng
    @Math_kru_earng Рік тому +1

    thank you!

  • @mahdi5796
    @mahdi5796 Рік тому +1

    Very insightful. Please upload more about oricing techniques.

  • @lev4327
    @lev4327 Рік тому +1

    BRILLIANT

  • @aufaniyukzanali696
    @aufaniyukzanali696 Рік тому +1

    Thank you

  • @CroissantCreates
    @CroissantCreates Рік тому +1

    Would like to see the SaaS model updated to also consider the other ‘as-a-service’ models like TaaS: Transportation-as-a-Service (ours!)

    • @koshobai
      @koshobai Рік тому

      Isn't that just a service as a service?

    • @CroissantCreates
      @CroissantCreates Рік тому

      @@koshobai all services are as a service. But there is a wide variety of things that can be done as a service with different models and specificities and applications

    • @fabdan5745
      @fabdan5745 Рік тому

      If your TaaS works like Lyft, Uber or the likes (which I think it does), then it falls right into the marketplace category, given that it drivers + riders onto the same platform.

  • @joseheliojunior242
    @joseheliojunior242 Рік тому +1

    Awesome 👌

  • @owensigurdson8610
    @owensigurdson8610 Рік тому +1

    3:24 - I wonder if this is partially due to Y Combinator's preference for these types of companies?

  • @marktacchi159
    @marktacchi159 Рік тому +1

    Can you guys figure out the whole audio situation? Love the videos but the audio is really difficult to hear (says the old guy).

  • @inlander311
    @inlander311 Рік тому +1

    Gold !

  • @polygeek5287
    @polygeek5287 11 місяців тому

    Better described than my mba class

  • @sammsiska
    @sammsiska 9 місяців тому

    I didn't understand the part you were talking about lowering price in exchange for your first user, logo etc. What do you mean by that?

  • @alicemilcanciftarslan1583
    @alicemilcanciftarslan1583 10 місяців тому

    What about launching a product for a 2 weeks frío trial and then let customers know that it I am going to charge with either transaction fee or by subscription?
    Is this a good idea to approach on a small size mobile app product?
    More specifically a marketplace to bring supplier and consumer into the app itself

  • @mplumpixel-gourmetcakefact5675

    Can you guide food business comes in which category?

  • @pythonstartups536
    @pythonstartups536 9 місяців тому +1

    Considering that this is the half-year old video and Gitlab at that time has been charging $19 (screenshots in the video), but as we can see now on their website it is $29 for the same plan... they have watched this video too!

  • @crystaldesign7387
    @crystaldesign7387 10 місяців тому

    If i got this before, may be I can earn more money. Really nice video.

  • @givastry
    @givastry Рік тому +3

    Awesome

  • @MrMajani
    @MrMajani Рік тому +1

    Rather than Bio, I think it's more descriptive to call that business model Patent Royalties

  • @OfentseKekana
    @OfentseKekana Рік тому +1

    What is the difference between transactional and e-commerce companies?

  • @meogo7851
    @meogo7851 Місяць тому

    00:07 Key business model types for successful startups
    02:17 SAS, transactional, and marketplaces make up 67% of the top 100 YC companies.
    07:00 Transactional businesses are critical infrastructure for companies and have consistent revenue.
    09:20 Avoid using ads as primary business model unless a top 10 site on the internet.
    13:52 The best businesses have recurring revenue and defensible moats
    16:10 Use pricing as a tool to learn faster
    20:01 Avoid Cost Plus pricing and focus on capturing the perceived value of your product.
    21:53 Find your value proposition and ideal pricing strategy.
    25:39 Consider offering lower pricing in exchange for specific benefits
    27:31 Adding enough value into the product can support price increase and growth.
    31:22 Startups should charge for their product and pricing should be based on value, not cost.

  • @lfrobledanoesteban
    @lfrobledanoesteban 11 місяців тому +1

    This video is brilliant.
    However, there is usually something not considered, and it is not in this videos: pricing depends on the customer, not on the seller. So, there is no. specific price level where customers drop off. Some customers do at some level others do at some different one.
    So, we have to be sure our first customers do present our target market, don't we? :)

  • @alamskmustafin4544
    @alamskmustafin4544 Рік тому +1

    Great 👍

  • @azizahmed6406
    @azizahmed6406 Рік тому +1

    Let's say a company helps it's customers invest, now would this be a marketplace because they are providing investments options or a transactional business because they make their revenue as a percentage of the investments?

  • @lms702
    @lms702 Рік тому +1

    the high frequencies of the audio here is strangely abrasive