Smash Notes
Marques Brownlee Y Combinator Interview

Y Combinator

Marques Brownlee Y Combinator Interview

Marques Brownlee is a YouTuber. He has over 8 million subscribers to his channel MKBHD where he reviews electronics, drives electric vehicles, and interviews people such as Kobe Bryant and Bill Gates. You can find Marques on YouTube and on Twitter at @MKBHD . The YC Podcast is hosted by Craig Cannon . *** Topics 00:00 - Intro 00:26 - What does Marques…

People

Notes

  1. What Makes Marques Brownlee So Successful at 1:42

    Marques has been doing his YouTube channel for over ten years now, and while there are many other channels, consistency over a long time is what brings his… Full answer

  2. What Drives New Subscribers to a YouTube Channel at 1:52

    Reputability [one could also call it herd mentality]. Full answer

  3. What Are Some Things That Companies Would Send to a YouTuber to Review at 2:51

    In the early days, companies would send Marques Brownlee computer accessories such as a mouse, keyboard, and even paid software to access and review. Full answer

  4. How Does Marques Brownlee Judge a Product's Quality at 5:24

    Instead of focusing on technical stats, Brownlee tries to evaluate a feature by thinking whether or not he would incorporate it into his daily life. Full answer

  5. Are There Features Marques Brownlee Likes but His Followers Do Not Care for at 7:37

    Sure. Full answer

  6. Will We Ever Reach a Peak Smartphone at 8:54

    Marques has been hearing this question for the past five years, and so far, we have not hit peak smartphone. Full answer

  7. Can Age Affect a YouTuber’s Grasp on the Latest Trends at 16:00

    Yes, it can. Brownlee is currently 25. One fear for when he’s older is that he will not be able to grasp the latest trends in society. Full answer

  8. Why Did Marques Brownlee Start a Podcast at 18:15

    His main goal is to talk with other creators and to get their insight and help. Full answer

  9. Can a Camera Limit a YouTuber’s Creativity at 22:27

    According to Brownlee, a camera only slightly limits his work. Full answer

  10. How to Create a YouTube Product Reviews 101 at 26:58

    Start with context and momentum. Take a product that people want to know about and compare it to other products that came before and after it. Full answer

  11. What Advice Does Brownlee Have for New YouTube Creators at 30:20

    Take your inspiration from other places, but always come back to your own voice and perspective. You shouldn’t try to be something that already exists. Full answer

  12. Are YouTube Comments Useful at 38:03

    Marques says the first few hours of YouTube comments after an episode is published are useless, but comments that come later on is where you can find great… Full answer

  13. How Should a Startup Approach a Social Media Influencer at 44:59

    Even if you don’t have money, you can always offer something to make a video better. Full answer

  14. What Is Marques Brownlee’s Long-term Goal at 50:42

    When considering 10 years, he envisions a media company containing a YouTube channel or two, a podcast, and a production aspect of assisting other channels. Full answer

Related notes

Related episodes

Plays from this note through the rest of the episode.

Note

Weekly highlights

One letter a week.

The notes worth hearing, with the minute they were said.