Member-only story
AI is everywhere. It’s on your feed, in your inbox, and probably even in your toaster if you listen to some startups. The hype is wild, but what’s actually working? If you’re tired of the fluff and want to see which AI startups are actually getting traction, this one’s for you.
Let’s dive into the Y Combinator-backed AI companies — the ones that made it past the circus and got funded. We’ll sort out which ideas are thriving, which sectors are a hot mess, and where you should be looking for your next big move.
Paul Graham’s Wisdom — Why Should You Care?
Paul Graham, the brains behind Y Combinator, has three golden rules for choosing what to work on:
- Aptitude: You need to be good at it.
- Passion: You have to love it enough to survive the inevitable faceplants.
- Potential: It better have some serious upside.
These aren’t just platitudes. If you’ve ever tried starting anything — whether a side hustle or a startup — you know how crucial it is to enjoy the grind, not just the Instagram post about it. So let’s apply this to AI. What AI project has this magic formula?