Listen "I Applied to Y Combinator 7 Times. Then I Shut the Company Down."
Episode Synopsis
In this podcast episode, three-time founder and startup advocate Jaclyn Siu discusses resilience, reinvention, and redefining failure with Daniel Ahmadizadeh, founder and CEO of Time.About Our Guest:Daniel Ahmadizadeh is an entrepreneur, educator, and seven-time Y Combinator applicant turned founder. Daniel’s journey spans teaching at Stanford and Columbia, consulting for early-stage founders, and navigating the emotional terrain of shutting down his YC-backed company.In this episode, we cover:Why Daniel applied to Y Combinator seven times — and what happened when he finally got inHow shutting down a company impacted his identity and mental healthReframing entrepreneurship as problem-solving rather than personal validation“Start With One” — a powerful framework for founders feeling lost or stuckTeaching the next generation of builders how to grow confidence and take meaningful first stepsWhat Daniel is doing differently this time aroundListen now to explore the realities of entrepreneurship—where setbacks become stepping stones, and honest stories lead to powerful comebacks.About Round Two:Round Two, hosted by Jaclyn Siu, is dedicated to rewriting the narrative around startup setbacks, resilience, and reinvention. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and join the conversation online.Looking for guidance during your own entrepreneurial transition?Discover Starcycle. We support founders in closing chapters and opening new ones—with empathy and clarity.
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