Raphael Schaad

General Partner @ycombinator, helping founders build iconic startups. Swiss designer, MIT engineer, founder Cron (acq by Notion). I run through forests.

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

Life update: dropping the "Visiting" — I'm joining @ycombinator as a General Partner 🤩

YC was my first choice as a founder in 2019. Seven years later, I'm choosing it again.

This past year, I got to come full circle: working with founders through the W26 and S26 batches, helping them turn early ideas into products people love.

I'm incredibly excited to keep finding founders and helping them build the iconic companies of this generation 🔥

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

@benblumenrose I hear second half is 80% of the shocker

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

@kevinzenghu Well you’re hardcore sir

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

PhD teaches you time is cheap and money is expensive.

Startup teaches you the inverse.

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

@dflieb 💯

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

I wake up, new personal assistant drops.

I wake up, …

[Claude @claudeai]

We’re opening a research preview of Claude Duet, a new app where Claude works as a proactive agent.

It comes to you with what needs your attention, completes tasks you ask of it, keeps working when you step away, and checks with you before it acts on your behalf.

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

A campus like this within Manhattan is wild 🗽

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

@fatih I wouldn't count on that happening! It could, but it could also retain its retail value, or, increase.

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

@paulg I like how your taste expands!

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

Did a bunch of coffee chats with young builders in NYC.

Waaay underrated founder quality: Optimism.

[Notion @NotionHQ]

Today, Notion AI gets some major upgrades. Introducing:

→ More capable Notion Agents
→ A smarter Auto (frontier results, 90% cheaper)
→ Bring your own AI (BYOK)
→ Improved Notion MCP
→ AI Command Center (coming soon)
→ A new credit system

Let’s get into it 👇

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

@zakariaornot Congrats!

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

@sevensevensix @776NYC 🔥

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

@copedynamics @gauravsbuilding @CronHQ @cron

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

@AlexEdgerton Oof bad take 😆

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

@dafacto I love that it doesn’t have a dumb inferior in-car entertainment / navigation system than the iPhone everyone on their pocket has already is.

Am I missing something?

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

@r00k I like dog-shaped dogs, car-shaped cars, and house-shaped houses.

Chihuahuas, Cyber Trucks, and McMansions GTFO

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

@RphGrc Ok haven’t tried that yet! Any good? Where’s the UI entry point?

I think just used Astra.

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

Connected a model to my Spotify.

Asked it to analyze my taste.

"Nocturnal, rhythmic, and slightly off-center."
🦉🔊🤙

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

It’s good to see Porsche hasn’t just peaked in the early 90s but can still do really cool stuff (again).

In general it’s interesting how I think so many iconic brands’ products have peaked in the 90s. Might be an age thing.

That said, Neo vintage Rolex genuinely better in terms of design (proportion etc. — not construction) than contemporary. Same for most cars, Apple, appliances, etc.

[Raphael Schaad @raphaelschaad]

@bnj I hate that I love the Mission S so much