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In a move that could reshape how startups approach publicity, former Y Combinator events and PR leads, alongside an ex-Andreessen Horowitz social media manager, are organizing the To Do List Summit—a tightly curated, invite-only gathering for early-stage founders. Slated for a select group of 80, the event promises hands-on training in managing press relations and running effective social media campaigns, all for a flat $600 fee. As TechCrunch reports, this effort stems from the organizers' frustration with an industry that often pushes cash-strapped startups toward agencies charging tens of thousands of dollars for services that, as recent viral hits prove, can sometimes be mastered independently.

The summit's origins trace back to surprising layoffs at Y Combinator, which cut most of its events team in two waves—one minor reduction a year ago and a larger one in 2023. This was particularly notable given YC's events historically fueled San Francisco's rise as an AI startup epicenter, anchored by YC-affiliated giants like OpenAI under Sam Altman. Yet, as one insider revealed, the ex-YC team was driven to act after witnessing founders being misled into overspending on PR:

'Early-stage startups are constantly told they need to shell out fortunes for agencies, but we've seen how a single social media post can change everything,' the source emphasized. 'Our goal is to empower them with the skills to control their narrative cheaply.'

This urgency is amplified by viral phenomena like Cluely, whose explosive growth from a simple social push underscores the pressure on founders. Defense tech startup Theseus landed a $4.3 million funding round and a U.S. Special Forces contract after one viral X post, while app vibe coding venture Rork leveraged a tweet to secure $2.8 million and a spot in Andreessen Horowitz's Speedrun accelerator—all while nearly bankrupt.


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By focusing on practical, equity-free education, the summit targets founders outside YC's elite circle, offering tools to replicate such wins without draining resources. In today's landscape, where organic social media can eclipse traditional PR, this shift empowers innovators to build audiences directly, reducing reliance on costly intermediaries. As startups increasingly turn to lean, self-driven strategies, events like this could herald a broader democratization of growth hacking—where authenticity and savvy trump big budgets.