Ask HN: How did Y Combinator get its name?

4 pointsby resdirector15 anni fa8 comments

I've often wondered why the incubator Y Combinator is called "Y Combinator". Obviously it has something to do with the fixed point combinator (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_point_combinator), but after reading that, I fail to see the connection to the Y Combinator program.

Maybe I'm missing something completely obvious. Can anyone fill me in?

5 comments

pg15 anni fa

http://ycombinator.com/faq.html

wh-uws15 anni fa

Quoting the FAQ:

"Why did you choose the name "Y Combinator?"

The Y combinator is one of the coolest ideas in computer science. It's also a metaphor for what we do. It's a program that runs programs; we're a company that helps start companies."

popsteven15 anni fa

ahhhh guess i should've read the FAQ's ^.^ ty.

resdirector15 anni fa

Ah...I guess I should have read the faqs, too!

_pius15 anni fa

Search for "name" here: http://ycombinator.com/faq.html

[deleted]15 anni fa

popsteven15 anni fa

ya for real. How did they lol?

mihn15 anni fa

Something to do with sex chromosomes, maybe? :)

popsteven15 anni fa

lmao