So, you’ve seen the post about Y Combinator’s 2025 focus: AI that replaces $100k/year job functions.
Cool, right?
But here’s the thing: if you’re thinking about building a startup in this space, you need to forget everything college taught you about how to succeed.
Why?
Because startups don’t come with a syllabus, a grading rubric, or a professor to hold your hand. They come with chaos, uncertainty, and a whole lot of “figure it out as you go.”
In college, you’re handed a list of readings, assignments, and exams. You follow the steps, you get the grade. But in startups, especially in AI, no one’s going to give you a step-by-step guide to building the next big thing.
YC might say, “Hey, we’re into AI that automates high-value jobs,” but that’s not a checklist—it’s a starting point. It’s up to you to figure out how to apply that insight to a real problem in a way no one else has thought of.
Let’s break it down:
1. No One’s Going to Tell You What to Build
YC’s RFS (Request for Startups) gives you themes—AI app stores, vertical AI agents, developer tools for AI.
But here’s the catch: those are just ideas. They’re not answers. You don’t get to say, “Okay, I’ll build an AI app store, and boom, I’m done.”
Nope. You have to figure out how to build it, who it’s for, and why it matters. College gives you the answers; startups force you to create them.
2. Feedback is Brutal (and Vague)
In college, you get a grade. You know exactly where you stand. In startups, feedback is messy. It’s customers saying, “I don’t get it,” investors saying, “Come back when you have traction,” and your own team saying, “Are we even building the right thing?”
You have to learn to sift through the noise, trust your instincts, and keep iterating until you find something that works.
3. You’re Not Here to Follow the Rules
In college, you’re rewarded for following instructions. In startups, you’re rewarded for breaking them.
YC’s RFS might point you in a direction, but the real magic happens when you take that idea and twist it into something no one else has thought of.
Maybe you’re building an AI app store, but instead of focusing on distribution, you’re solving privacy issues in a way no one else has. That’s where the gold is.
4. The Stakes Are Higher
In college, the worst that happens is you fail a class. In startups, the stakes are real. You’re not just building a project; you’re building a company.
You’re solving real problems for real people, and if you get it wrong, there’s no “extra credit” to save you. But if you get it right? You could change an entire industry.
5. You’re Building the Future
YC’s focus on AI replacing $100k/year jobs isn’t just a trend—it’s a glimpse into the future. And the coolest part? You get to be part of shaping it.
But here’s the thing: the future doesn’t come with a roadmap. You have to create it as you go. That’s the thrill of startups. It’s not about following a set of instructions; it’s about writing your own.
So, if you’re thinking about building a startup in 2025, especially in the AI space, remember this: it’s not college. There’s no syllabus, no right answers, and no guarantees.
But that’s what makes it exciting.
You’re not here to follow the rules—you’re here to break them, build something people actually want, and maybe, just maybe, change the world in the process.
Now go build that AI app store or vertical AI agent or whatever it is you’re dreaming up. Just don’t expect it to be easy—or to come with a grading rubric.
