[英文 怎麼說] Y Combinator

Y Combinator - 投資也扶持

這篇文章介紹一家創投公司 Y Combinator。這家公司除了投資新創公司(start-up)，還舉辦訓練營，提供創業家需要的科技資源、產業和政府人脈引介、甚至是其他淺在投資者聯繫管道。著名的公司如 Air b&b和Dropbox都曾經受到Y Combinator的幫助。內文介紹Y Combinator的經營模式和近況，也提及新創公司建立的辛苦和困難。

文章有兩個點覺得滿有趣的。一個是文中提到Y Combinator的創辦人準備交棒淡出領導地位，有人認為這對公司來說是很大傷害，就像Steve Jobs離開蘋果，恐怕造成公司失去優勢。領導人或創辦人真的這麼無可以取代嗎? 真是這樣，那公司的永續經營該怎麼做?百年企業歷經許多領導人，經營的關鍵又是什麼? 這是個很有趣的問題。

另一點就是Y Combinator的訓練營到底有什麼魔力，讓這麼多瀕臨倒閉的公司重新崛起。在這裡就引用文章裡，參加過訓練營的學員說的話作為這篇文章的經典句吧!

"You have to have the tenacity to keep going.   
Ideas are a dime a dozen.
You have to be able to work day in and day out.
It is not for the lighthearted "

(tenacity: 堅持、毅力、恆心)
(a dime a dozen: 隨處可見、到處可見)
(day in and day out: 每一天)
(the lighthearted: 希望輕鬆過日子的人)

Interesting Word:
1. fledgling company: 剛起步的公司
fledgling當名詞是指:剛長出羽毛正在學飛的小鳥
形容詞則有"剛起步的"、"剛開始的意思"

2. boot camp: (魔鬼)訓練營
通常第一聯想是軍隊裡的訓練營，
指訓練強度很高很密集、非常折磨人的訓練
(本文用 bone-grinding(累人的), sleep-depriving, brain-busting(耗腦力的)
來形容Y Combinator舉辦的boot camp)

3. fold (verb): (公司)倒閉
原為撲克牌用語，蓋牌表示我不跟啦，
商業用法就是指公司倒閉
本文例句: Apple didn't fold and won't fold in a day.

4. day in and day out = everyday = 24/7 (24 all seven)
Ex: I do the same thing day in and day out.


Vocabulary List (Data Base):
1. bootstrapped: 自力更生的、不求其他人(資金)援助
Ex: a bootstrapped experiment

2. hand the reins to : 交棒

3. relinquish: 放棄
Ex: He has relinquished his claim to the throne.

4. groom sb for sth: 培訓；培養
Ex: Altman is grooming Y Combinator for explosive growth.

5. star-studded: 眾星雲集的
Ex: a star-studded network of technologists, politicians, and investors

6. culminate with: 以...為結；以....為終點
Ex: The boot camps culminate with Demo Day,
when each company makes tow-minute pitch to investors.

7. the likes of: 之類的
Ex: The event was attended by the likes of Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs.

8. tenacity: 堅持
Ex: You have to have the tenacity to keep going.

9. a dime a dozen: 隨處可見的，不稀奇的、沒什麼價值的
Ex: Books like this are a dime a dozen.

10. the lighthearted: 輕鬆過日的人
You have to work day in and day out.
It is not for the lighthearted.

11. gut-wrenchingly awful: 極度痛苦的
Ex: Fighting for your business is really gut-wrenchingly awful --- and awesome.


(Reading article is Y Combinator from Advanced, Oct. 23-25, 2014)