After writing for Valleywag for over a year, I want to start a company, so I want to talk to other startuppers. I've noticed a good vibe on YC, and I also enjoy using IRC (most often on #joiito on freenode). Is there a good IRC channel where a lot of startuppers go?

Mostly out of laziness in not wanting to have lots of networks open, I opened up a #news.yc on freenode, which has a few people on it from time to time.

I second the motion for laziness; joining #news.yc on freenode.

Well, #news.yc on efnet is always here if you want to pop in and chat. Activity has waned though, I think due to others using other IRC rooms and others using Meebo. So I hope we can all decide on one set place to chat because I definitely would love to chat with a lot of you guys.

Maybe the solution is a chat feature integrated with News YC?

No, but an IRC channel listed on news.yc would help funnel people to the channel rather than just when someone randomly comes across it in a comment.

Hmm ... I can envision a new startup created just to add this feature to news.yc! ;-)

I hope that doesn't mean you're quitting Valleywag!

As far as I know there aren't any good irc channels for startups. Founders tend to be rather busy so asynchronus comms such as news.yc works better.

I hang out with a bunch of other startup hackers in #polymorphs on niven.freenode.net

People starting up don't have time for IRC. (Or news.YC...Oops.)