Sam Altman on Startups: Being Dismissed is a Moat, Crowded Markets Lack Big Outcomes
garrytan · x · 2026-07-30
During a Y Combinator Startup School talk, Sam Altman discussed entrepreneurship with Garry Tan, emphasizing that founders should be grateful when the world doesn't understand their vision, as this lack of understanding is a superpower.
Key advice from Altman includes:
- Being dismissed is a moat: If conventional wisdom says you're wrong, you likely have a real idea. It keeps big competitors away, giving you time to actually do research.
- Avoid the crowded path: Doing the same startup as everyone else might bring hype and easy money, but rarely leads to massive outcomes.
- You need almost nobody: Only about 50 people thought AGI was possible initially, and 45 of them worked at OpenAI. However, having absolutely zero believers is a warning sign.
Related event: Sam Altman: Non-Consensus is Key to Startup Success(2 posts)→
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