Because of the blatant plagiarism combined with an actually desperately needed program in Europe, YEurope is now managing to get increasing attention. What is interesting is that not only are they getting a spotlight, but YC is getting publicity too. Is this media savvy, or simply a way to save time by copying?
I have to give YE credit for addressing the concerns of YC. Their site is no longer the same color scheme as YC. They've added the following text to various areas:
Front Page: " This site is inspired by, but not affiliated with YCombinator.",
FAQ: "Are you affiliated with YCombinator?
No, we're not. YC's program is quite revolutionary. We think of YC as akin to something like the first University, and we hope to bring that concept to Europe. "
FAQ: "Couldn't I just go to YCombinator?
If you have the opportunity to, you should! I'm sure it is a great experience. Some of us don't want or can't move to YC, either because of Visa Issues, or simply because they prefer to stay in Europe."
And they explain their name as "Why Europe" instead of YC's which is based on "The ``Y-combinator'', which is sometimes also called fixpoint combinator, was discovered by H. Curry. With its help it is possible to handle recursive functions in the Lambda Calculus." A very nice derivation for Y C is available at http://www.ececs.uc.edu/~franco/C511/html/Scheme/ycomb.html .
Should they change their name anyway? My answer would be only if YC asks them to, which they haven't (at least not in the public threads to date) because "Why Europe" as a name really makes sense as it is not the place people would normally go to start a startup given the intense regulatory environment there.
they haven't (at least not in the public threads to date) because "Why Europe" as a name really makes sense as it is not the place people would normally go to start a startup given the intense regulatory environment there.
You got me laughing with that one, quite right. To be fair though, London is becoming increasingly competitive with New York for IPOs in the wake of Sarbanes-Oxley, so while you stand a greater chance of going to prison you might have an easier exit if that's the goal.
I have to give YE credit for addressing the concerns of YC. Their site is no longer the same color scheme as YC. They've added the following text to various areas:
Front Page: " This site is inspired by, but not affiliated with YCombinator.",
FAQ: "Are you affiliated with YCombinator?
No, we're not. YC's program is quite revolutionary. We think of YC as akin to something like the first University, and we hope to bring that concept to Europe. "
FAQ: "Couldn't I just go to YCombinator?
If you have the opportunity to, you should! I'm sure it is a great experience. Some of us don't want or can't move to YC, either because of Visa Issues, or simply because they prefer to stay in Europe."
And they explain their name as "Why Europe" instead of YC's which is based on "The ``Y-combinator'', which is sometimes also called fixpoint combinator, was discovered by H. Curry. With its help it is possible to handle recursive functions in the Lambda Calculus." A very nice derivation for Y C is available at http://www.ececs.uc.edu/~franco/C511/html/Scheme/ycomb.html .
Should they change their name anyway? My answer would be only if YC asks them to, which they haven't (at least not in the public threads to date) because "Why Europe" as a name really makes sense as it is not the place people would normally go to start a startup given the intense regulatory environment there.