Michael Seibel

Michael Seibel

Creator
0 followers

YC Managing Director; practical founder advice and accelerator insights.

Know Their Motivation, Predict Their Behavior
SocialApr 7, 2026

Know Their Motivation, Predict Their Behavior

People are hard to understand when you don’t know what motivates them. Once you learn what motivates a person - you can fairly accurately predict their behaviors.

By Michael Seibel
Investors Overlook Series B Failures; Founders Need Reality
SocialMar 30, 2026

Investors Overlook Series B Failures; Founders Need Reality

Too many investors focus on the "successes" of their Series B companies when advising early stage companies. They don't understand how many of their Series B companies will die. Too few investors have spent time with long term...

By Michael Seibel
Digital Echo Chambers Let Politicians Rewrite History
SocialMar 20, 2026

Digital Echo Chambers Let Politicians Rewrite History

It's never been easier to invent your own version of history. Say something online enough, have a big enough audience, and for a lot of people your version of the facts becomes the truth. Our politicians must be...

By Michael Seibel
Energy Needs Direction, Not Just Effort, to Succeed
SocialMar 19, 2026

Energy Needs Direction, Not Just Effort, to Succeed

When youthful energy directs itself toward productive paths it’s amazing what can be achieved. When directed toward the wrong paths it’s amazing how tons of hard work and enthusiasm can produce nothing of value. Trying hard and having a...

By Michael Seibel
SF Drug Crisis Stymied by Laws Banning Proven Solutions
SocialMar 13, 2026

SF Drug Crisis Stymied by Laws Banning Proven Solutions

Research SF’s drug crisis is like trying to fight a fire and finding out a bunch of laws passed that make using water to fight fires illegal. Then having to research non-water based solutions to large scale fires.

By Michael Seibel
AI Can Boost Your Knowledge—Use It Like Others
SocialMar 10, 2026

AI Can Boost Your Knowledge—Use It Like Others

Note to normal folks who aren’t regularly using AI. When someone seems unusually well informed or has a particularly helpful suggestion, they might be using AI! And you can use it too :)

By Michael Seibel
Fintech Overkill: Fraud Controls Lock Users Out
SocialMar 9, 2026

Fintech Overkill: Fraud Controls Lock Users Out

Wow three fintech/banking FUs in 7 days. Overactive fraud controls at @billcom @Chase and now @AmericanExpress. Apparently I need to upload a photo of my nanny’s SSN card to add her to my credit card. Is this 2026?

By Michael Seibel
Chase’s In‑person LLC Account Setup Fails, Email Works Elsewhere
SocialMar 6, 2026

Chase’s In‑person LLC Account Setup Fails, Email Works Elsewhere

@Chase tried to open a bank account for an LLC in person and it didn’t work. We couldn’t get through the NAIC chooser after almost an hour with your employee. Went to a different bank where we set...

By Michael Seibel
DIY AI Assistant: Challenging Yet Surprisingly Fun
SocialFeb 24, 2026

DIY AI Assistant: Challenging Yet Surprisingly Fun

Building my own AI personal assistant is hard but more fun than I could have imagined :)

By Michael Seibel
Found AI Research Tool Offering Pay‑Per‑Use, Structured Reports
SocialFeb 21, 2026

Found AI Research Tool Offering Pay‑Per‑Use, Structured Reports

I always wanted an AI deep research product with the following characteristics: 1. I set the price and it runs for as long as I'm willing to pay 2. Ability to produce reports or structured data 3. Great data validation...

By Michael Seibel
Disrupting Incumbents Is Harder than Hype Suggests
SocialFeb 14, 2026

Disrupting Incumbents Is Harder than Hype Suggests

There is an instinct among early stage investors to talk their book like all the big tech incumbents are about to be slayed by an army of $1m ARR startups. Founders, you are smart enough to know this isn’t...

By Michael Seibel
Avoid Copycats: Dare to Think Differently for Startup Survival
SocialFeb 9, 2026

Avoid Copycats: Dare to Think Differently for Startup Survival

When the typical outcome for a post seed, post series A, and post series B startup is death. Perhaps the best strategy is to be careful how much you copy the startups around you. Are you brave enough...

By Michael Seibel