On August 9, a small, invitation-only event will take place, organized by former Y Combinator events and PR staff along with a former Andreessen Horowitz social media manager. TechCrunch reports that the To Do List Summit will host up to 80 early-stage founders, offering lessons on working with the press and managing their own social media. The event costs $600 to attend.
The organizers were part of Y Combinator’s layoffs, which occurred in two waves—one about a year ago and a larger one in 2023. These layoffs were unexpected, given Y Combinator’s historically popular events, which played a key role in establishing San Francisco as a hub for the growing AI startup community. Notably, OpenAI, a YC-affiliated company led by former YC president Sam Altman, is also headquartered in San Francisco.
The motivation behind this event stems from the organizers’ frustration with early-stage startups being convinced they must spend tens of thousands on PR and social media agencies. Despite this, many founders feel pressured to replicate the success of viral startups like Cluely.
A single social media post can now propel an early-stage startup to viral fame. For example, the founders of Rork, a vibe coding app, were nearly out of funds when a viral tweet helped them secure $2.8 million in funding and a spot in Andreessen Horowitz’s Speedrun program. Similarly, defense tech startup Theseus landed a U.S. Special Forces contract, $4.3 million in funding, and a Y Combinator spot—all from a viral post.
The organizers believe their expertise, honed at Y Combinator, can benefit founders outside the program—offering affordable guidance without requiring equity.