The Immigrant Journey Behind A Silicon Valley Success Story
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- čas přidán 28. 05. 2024
- Today Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan sits down with one of the best founders of a generation, Tracy Young. She cofounded Plangrid which sold to Autodesk for $875M, and is back with her new startup called Tigereye. But since it’s AAPI heritage month, we’re talking about a different kind of origin story.
The daughter of Vietnamese refugees, Tracy Young's story will change how you think about what's possible. Despite facing immense hardships, Tracy persevered to build PlanGrid into one of Silicon Valley's biggest success stories. Her raw, honest advice is for anyone trying to overcome obstacles and achieve bold dreams.
Tracy's Predictable Growth newsletter: / 7018963257554046976
Apply to Y Combinator: yc.link/MainFunction-apply
Work at a Startup: yc.link/MainFunction-jobs
Chapters (Powered by bit.ly/chapterme-yc) -
00:00 - Immigrants - We get the job done
00:43 - Coming to America
02:48 - Strangers in a strange land
06:03 - Starting up
11:12 - Outro - Věda a technologie
What is your immigration story? How has it shaped your journey as a founder?
My parents fled Uzbekistan due to antisemitism. Living in NY as a 9 year old was both very stressful and exciting. I went to school without knowing any English. After about a year of watching cartoons and reading books I became somewhat conversational. I found my zen in exploring music and design apps on the computer. I started working as a graphic designer in high school and eventually started 2 companies, one of which reached 7 figures in revenue and I'm now on my 3rd (YC application pending 😅)
My journey as an immigrant is that everything was uncomfortable, fought for and earned.
My father grew up unstable on a farm, where sometimes they had to skip meals and walk 3 hours just to go to school. He worked really hard so our family had financial security. However, this came with significant psychological debt as it conflicted against everything I wanted to do in life which is expand my horizon and solve real world problems through entrepreneurship.
In school, teachers and professors looked down on me because I didn't start off strong in that environment, I constantly had to work harder and think more creatively than my peers to achieve what they could easily obtain on their first try. By graduation, I consistently finished at the top of my class in every school and landed my dream job in NY.
That was only half the battle, at home I constantly had to argue and upset my father because I didn't live the life he wanted. I could never "fit in", that dream job in NY I mentioned earlier? He forbade me to leave my hometown and I had to upset him to work there.
Like Tracy, this past year I overcame my personal barriers of starting a startup (lack of family support due to financial risk, being an asian CEO, etc.). Unlike other talented individuals who could get into YC, we've been rejected, twice actually. While the first rejection was heartbreaking, the application process and these videos were so helpful that today we received support from the government, and we have VCs inquiring. While it would be really cool to have YC's support because it's an organization I really resonate with and could use their expertise, this just might be another example of where I have to take the harder route of not having YC in order to achieve success once again.
If anyone has advice to make our journey easier, come see what we're doing to solve the housing crisis, I'd love to hear from you. We're first time founders so we're bound to make mistakes, the Contact Us CTA goes straight to my personal email :)
cachehomes. ca
@@BigWangLee what a great story you have. I read it all and I have to say you are one strong fighter..... Good luck with your journey in the housing industry.
A CZcams user from Nigeria named Emmanuel is rooting for you.
Lol did Garry post on the wrong CZcams channel
😂😂
I am just glad he uploaded at all. But yes the editing is not yc.
I thought same when I watched it 😂
The weakness, the trauma, the discrimination, that one goes through is your strength. This made my day... Gave me a hope to try a little bit more to make an impact with my solutions. Great inspiration.. Loved the thoughts ❤
Tracy is one of the most inspiring entrepreneurs that I look up to. I have been following her since her Plangrid journey and it motivated me to build my own vertical SaaS company. Now hearing about her family's immigrant story is pretty surreal given that my mom went through the exact same scenario as a Chinese Vietnamese refugee, except she ended up in France. Thank you for sharing this story! It's a great reminder that regardless of my YC application result for this batch, I just gotta have grit and keep going!
Hey Emilie, rooting for you💪
Do you by any chance have an opening for a product designer at your company?
I love the journey of Tracy and the significance of sharing stories like these to showcase the thriving lives of immigrants. As a first-generation immigrant myself, my parents immigrated to Brazil from South Korea after the war, while my spouse and I made the move to the USA. We are both working hard to make our company succeed, but we face numerous challenges, ranging from networking to our college background.
It's disheartening to hear that talking to VC's has been almost useless for me. However, I managed to secure an initial $30k check from an angel investor in Brazil and another $50k through a WeFunder campaign. Currently, my team at DOJO+ consists of three dedicated individuals, and we're building an innovative Martial Arts platform for schools, which celebrates our Asian heritage.
Sadly, I've noticed that many VC's hesitate to invest in first-generation immigrants, solo founders, or individuals outside of prestigious universities. This situation makes it challenging to find the support and funding needed to grow my business. I would love to connect with more people like myself and investors who understand and value the potential of immigrant entrepreneurs.
@@junojo 이미 엄청 훌륭하신데요? 우연히 댓글을 답니다만, 잘되실거에요! Yeah!
Truly an inspiring story. Tracy is an excellent communicator.
Thanks for providing her with the platform to share her story, Y!
One of the most inspiring story ive heard. Tracy's proven that hard work pays but the discipline shes gone through. I live in Kenya and my parents built me to a similar story. Mad love Tracy :)
Really appreciate for sharing your stories, Tracy. It's super inspiring and encouraging ❤ Thanks Garry for still taking time to make great interview like this and post in YC channel (I saw your watermarks and thought it was your channel 😂) . Keep up the good work, both Tracy and Garry 💪
I'm currently tied up in a 9-5 job, where the necessity of money binds me to the corporate world, supporting my family's needs. It's been a struggle, as I've found myself unable to spend as much time with them as I'd like. Lately, my leave requests have been consistently denied, which has ignited a burning desire within me to break free from these constraints.
Stumbling upon this CZcams clip has provided a powerful boost to my motivation. It's a reminder that I shouldn't give up on my dreams and that I can start my own side hustle and build it into something incredible. I'm committed to testing my ideas and pushing forward, no matter the challenges that come my way.
Thank you, Tracy. As always, you are inspiring! I'm a second generation American, born in Washington, DC. Grateful for the choices my grandparents made.
This story is touching. I love the come up.
Touching story Tracy. Most importantly, you made it. Thanks Garry and YC.
Thank you for sharing this!
This was real because you will experience heartbreak and trauma on your way to becoming a successful entrepreneur. I thank her for being transparent. So many interviews lack the depth she relayed.
Nice video. Thank you
Wow! This is such a great story about success
What a story, thanks for sharing.
What an awesome story. ♡
Tracy is so good at expressing her thoughts
thanks for sharing
Thanks, Gary, always good to hear the positive side from immigrants, hopefully an inspiration to others to do the same
I don't usually comment on videos but I actually smiled around minute 4:19 because I know for a fact that this is what I'm built for. It's funny because even while employed I just create difficult situations for myself which I have to go through in order to build things that are missing, learn and become better while doing it.
When you lived through so much pain, everything else seems so easy
Chapters (Powered by ChapterMe) -
00:00 - Immigrants - We get the job done
00:43 - Coming to America
02:48 - Strangers in a strange land
06:03 - Starting up
11:12 - Outro
Immigrants! We get the job done!! Waiting for the YCombinator interview! 🤞
i want to be able to speak this nice - clear, fluent, tone
Great and inspirarional story! But lets hear a story from a founder that was first generation migrating in the US, and not being and raised up in Silicon Valley
How do you sign up for Predictable Growth newsletter only see a podcast for her in Tigers Eye.
Garry you are awesome!
how to arrange equipment like laptop and accessories for developers if i am having tech startup, is that they bring their own or i have to provide it,
what are the securities i have to care about like by which my idea did not go out until its time is it done by NDA with developer?
The US should facilitate the visa for young people who wants to start a startup here.
It’s very difficult to do it, only if I have 40 years with more than 20 years of experience I could easily do it, there is no sense.
You're my idol.
Seriously Thanks Garry! Asian Representation.
Nice piece there. i need to connect with you
Hello
gary basically just switch youtube channel to upload his vid XD but this so noicee
Immigrants keep civilizations Freash...even the most sophisticated cities need immigrants for Freash ideas
how often founders keep a minority stake in their startup when they exit?
Good question... it's usually all of it
"Every single day sucks". If that's her experience, maybe she should've been doing something else with her life.
Key takeaway: Every single day day as a founder sucks
I hope Tracy remembers d country that took them in when their boat was sunk, n repay that country.
I’m on the fence, it’s jobs taken from the citizens but immigrants sure do work hard. In the uk the ease of get low paying jobs has long gone sadly and it’s right infront of our eyes we don’t need to read the news or look government stats we just need to apply for a grocery job or security work and get denied but then hear all the staff at the grocery speaking a different language and are a different race.
how is it jobs taken by immigrants if they’re starting their own businesses?
Hey I understand everything, but story of moving to the US in age of 1 doesn’t counts as an immigrant, Elon Musk’s story counts, he moved intentionally. I’m disappointed by the name of the video guys…
Btw me myself immigrated from Kyrgyzstan to European Union, I have right to say words above.
immigration means moving to another place/country permanently. Doesn't matter if you do it when you are 20 years old or 1 week old.
@@hasaniqbal233 it matters.
Getting through without complaining