Garry Tan on Founder

Don't look for a mentor. Find people and teams who you believe in, who can help you, and help them first. That's how I got into Y Combinator, and this is my story. Taking photos at Startup School 2008 would change my life. Full video: t.co

486 likes13 repliesPosted Nov 5, 2020

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Viral score

Based on absolute engagement — the platform doesn’t expose follower counts here, so large accounts score higher.

From likes, comments.

Why it worked

Opens by telling you what not to do — harder to scroll past than advice.
Contradicts something the audience already believes, which stops the scroll.
Follows a clear Hook → Context → Landing shape, so the reader always knows where they are.
Ends on a short line that is easy to quote and repeat.
The opening line stands alone, so it reads completely before the post is expanded.
Written from experience rather than as advice, which is harder to argue with.

The mechanics

Hook: Tells you what not to do
Structure: Hook → Context → Landing
Style: Conversational paragraphs at a steady pace.
Tone: personal, punchy
Mechanisms: Pattern interrupt
Written for: Founders and early-stage teams

Analysis by ViralLoop — not written by the original author.

Topics

Founder

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