Y Combinator Resources

Prep notes with questions the founders used for their interview.

Taazr detects bugs in live web applications through statistical inference.

All-in-one business phone solution for teams.

5-minute meditation app for busy people.

AI Agents to migrate Legacy Code and Fix Tech Debt

Platform helping families stay in touch.

Career platform offering job listings and company profiles.

Helping high school and college students build games.

A powerful and intuitive social media management platform complete with scheduling, analytics, and monitoring.

An open-source knowledge graph that helps solve complex problems through making sense of a vast amount of knowledge.

A digital communication tool that helps dog walkers validate their services to build trust and long term relationships with pet owners.

Slite gives your team one place to share ideas, collect knowledge and stay in tune across time and space.

Virtual and hybrid B2B event platform.

Multivariate testing and feature release management for mobile apps.

Platform for discovering and tracking fast-growing companies.

In-app notification center for web and mobile applications.

Workforce management software for employee scheduling.

An online auction site dedicated exclusively to *authentic* designer clothing and accessories.

Platform for recruiting high-quality research participants.

Embedding vision AI in low-cost devices.

Task management software for team collaboration.

Digital library offering e-books, audiobooks, and more.

Affordable online bootcamps teaching coding in 30 days.

Online auctions for authentic women's designer goods.

Innovative period products for menstrual health and the environment.

Student loan repayment as an employee benefit.

Banking APIs facilitating business transactions with banks.

Modern payments infrastructure for Africa.

Self-driving car technology company.

We make tools for Data Scientists and Engineers.

A polling chatbot that enables you to share your opinion with a worldwide community and get feedback on your own questions within seconds.

Cloud storage service for file backup and sharing.

Online system enabling easy payments at shops.

On-demand design services for marketing and sales teams.

Automates marketing for small businesses through newspapers.

Cloud-based course platform for computer science and programming classes.

Social news aggregation and discussion website.

A website builder for sports teams/leagues.

Local business directory sold through small-town newspapers.

Complete DevOps platform delivered as a single application.

Product analytics tool capturing user interaction data.

Garry Tan's insights on preparing for YC interviews, highlighting the importance of storytelling and understanding one's market.

The Proof team shares their journey of reapplying to YC after initial rejection, detailing lessons learned and strategies for crafting a stronger application.

Paul Graham discusses the dynamics between startups and investors, offering insights relevant to those seeking funding, including through YC.

Breaks down each YC application question, offering translation and tips to craft stronger answers.

A Reddit user shares their YC application story, providing an entertaining and informative read for prospective applicants.

Provides answers to frequently asked questions about YC, including application processes, funding details, and program structure.

Archived blog post by Aptible sharing their journey through YC, including application tips and lessons learned during the program.

Quora thread where various contributors, including YC alumni, provide advice on applying to YC, covering topics like team composition and product-market fit.

Reverse-engineers successful YC applications with insights from 19 experts, offering actionable advice on structure, content, and common pitfalls.

Archived version of Garry Tan's blog offering last-minute advice for YC applicants, focusing on interview preparation and presentation tips.

YC provides structure, mentorship, and community, helping founders grow faster and think bigger.

Practical tips for crafting a standout YC application, focusing on clarity, uniqueness, and demonstrating deep market understanding.

Offers practical advice for crafting a successful YC application, emphasizing clarity, team dynamics, and demonstrating traction.

Juggled YC with family responsibilities—shows it's possible to do both with focus and grit.

Glen Moriarty shares personal experiences and takeaways from participating in YC, offering advice to future applicants.

Sam Altman shares guidance on applying to YC, discussing what the selection committee looks for in startups and common pitfalls to avoid.

Discusses the value of YC and accelerators in general, helping startups assess the benefits of participation.

Provides strategies for acing the YC interview, including common questions and how to effectively showcase your startup.

Offers general advice after reviewing numerous YC applications, highlighting common strengths and weaknesses observed.

YC turned a struggling startup into a success by reshaping product, team, and personal founder growth.

Balancing motherhood and startups, YC empowered confidence and clarity in building a business.

Archived post by Damien Katz on common mistakes to avoid when pitching to YC, emphasizing authenticity and clear communication.

Panorama's founders share their story and offer advice for first-time founders and YC applicants, emphasizing perseverance and adaptability.

YC's network can profoundly shape your future, even if your startup doesn't succeed.

Reddit discussion where founders share personal experiences and practical tips on gaining admission to YC.

Zac Townsend reflects on his YC experience, outlining nine key lessons for prospective applicants and participants.

Shout's founders narrate their journey to and through YC, sharing application tips and insights from the program.

A compilation of 58 insights gained from attending YC, covering aspects from product development to fundraising.

Compares YC and 500 Startups—YC focuses on product clarity; 500 on marketing and traction.

First-hand account of the YC interview experience, describing the atmosphere, pacing, and partner dynamics.

Henrik Zillmer's list of actionable dos and don'ts, such as avoiding jargon and focusing on scalability.

Quora thread with diverse founder experiences, highlighting preparation tactics and unexpected challenges.

Lists and analyzes common YC application questions, providing tips for aligning responses with YC's evaluation criteria.

A detailed guide to YC interview preparation, covering mock sessions, key metrics to highlight, and mindset adjustments.

Danielle Morrill's tactical advice on rehearsing answers, refining traction metrics, and managing nerves.

Reiteration of Danielle Morrill's YC interview strategies, focusing on clarity and confidence.

Advises focusing on user empathy and problem-solving narratives to resonate with YC partners.

Reiterates critical YC interview questions and strategies for concise, impactful answers.

Step-by-step guide to structuring interview prep, including role-playing and prioritizing key metrics.

Barak Ben Ezer shares his approach to passing the YC interview, including preparation methods and key points to convey.

Tailored advice for international startups, addressing cultural nuances and logistical challenges.

Outlines key lessons from mock interviews, including time management and anticipating technical questions.

Danny Su's detailed breakdown of his YC interview, including partner reactions and feedback.

RentHop's retrospective on their YC journey, including interview preparation and post-acceptance steps.

Summarizes the most frequent questions asked during YC interviews, emphasizing brevity and clarity in responses.

Emphasizes practicing elevator pitches and simplifying complex ideas for YC interviews.

Discusses the unconventional nature of the YC interview, providing insights into what applicants can expect and how to prepare.

Discusses aligning your startup's mission with YC's values and avoiding over-optimization in pitches.

Curated list of potential YC interview questions sourced from Hacker News discussions.

Aptible's founders share their YC application and interview process, emphasizing team alignment and market validation.

Comprehensive guide covering research, mock interviews, and mental preparation for YC interviews.

Tom Howard's firsthand account of his YC interview, including questions asked and post-interview reflections.

Actionable tips for excelling in YC interviews, including storytelling frameworks and data-driven answers.

Sabba Keynejad's story of pivoting strategies post-rejection and focusing on product development.

Community insights on the challenges and opportunities for non-technical solo founders applying to YC.

Jason Shen's analysis of YC's team evaluation process, stressing complementary skills and execution speed.

Discussion on YC's emphasis on team dynamics vs. technical expertise, with founder anecdotes.

Paul Graham's essay on YC's founder criteria: determination, flexibility, and the ability to build something users love.

Video summary of YC's founder evaluation criteria, including team cohesion and problem-solving focus.

Official YC guidelines on selection criteria, including market size, team strength, and product traction.

Y Combinator has helped thousands of founders create pitch decks for their seed round fundraising. Here is the YC Seed Deck Template that works.

Hacker News discussion where applicants share their experiences and tips on the YC application process, providing diverse perspectives and advice.

Ethan Fast analyzes a successful YC application, breaking down the elements that contributed to its acceptance and providing tips for future applicants.

Zac Townsend provides guidance on the YC application process, sharing lessons from his experience and tips for crafting a strong application.

Quora discussion addressing whether all YC partners review each application, with insights into the selection process and how applications are evaluated.

Kwindla Hultman Kramer provides advice on preparing for YC interviews, including the importance of concise communication and conducting live practice sessions to simulate the interview environment.

Acunote's insider guide offers a comprehensive walkthrough of the YC application process, providing tips on how to present your startup effectively and common pitfalls to avoid.

YC's (old!) advice on preparing for the program, covering topics like refining your product, understanding your market, and setting clear goals for the accelerator period.

Hipmob's blog post offering advice on the YC application, including insights on what the selection committee looks for and how to present your startup compellingly.

The Supernova team shares their journey to YC, detailing the application process, interview preparation, and strategies that helped them secure a spot in the accelerator.

GiftRocket's checklist for the YC application, outlining key components and considerations to ensure a comprehensive and compelling submission.

Comprehensive guide covering ideation, application drafting, and interview preparation strategies.

VentureBeat article providing tips on crafting a successful YC application, including advice on articulating your vision, demonstrating traction, and showcasing your team's strengths.

Official YC page listing the partners and team members, offering insights into their backgrounds and areas of expertise.

J. Perla's guide to the YC application, offering detailed advice on each section of the form and strategies for standing out to the selection committee.

Quora discussion detailing the YC application process, from submission to interview, with personal anecdotes and tips from past applicants.

Quora thread where users discuss key elements of a successful YC application, offering advice on content, structure, and presentation.

Aaron Epstein shares tips on making your YC application stand out, emphasizing clarity, uniqueness, and demonstrating a deep understanding of your market.

Daniel Kang recounts his journey as a first-time YC applicant, offering insights into the application and interview process, and sharing tips that helped him succeed.

Practical advice on structuring responses, avoiding fluff, and emphasizing key metrics.

Harry Zhang shares his experiences and advice on the YC application process, emphasizing the importance of clarity, demonstrating traction, and articulating a compelling vision.

Official YC guidelines on the application process, including eligibility criteria, application components, and tips for submitting a strong application.

Gareth MacLeod outlines a straightforward method for preparing for a YC interview, emphasizing the importance of understanding your startup deeply and being able to communicate its value proposition succinctly.

Natalie Bartlett offers guidance specifically for student founders on acing the YC interview, covering topics like anticipating questions, practicing responses, and effectively conveying your startup's potential.

Offers advice to YC applicants, focusing on preparation, understanding the program's expectations, and effectively communicating your startup's potential.

Quora thread where users share advice on completing the YC application form, including insights on how to present your startup effectively and common pitfalls to avoid.

The Proof team discusses their successful application to YC, offering tips on crafting a compelling application and preparing for the interview process.

Office Hours Q&A with YC partners on market validation and early-stage execution.

Discussion on global expansion, localization, and cross-cultural team management.

Session focusing on B2B startups, pricing models, and enterprise sales tactics.

Archived YC Office Hours sessions offering mentorship on product, growth, and fundraising.

Additional Office Hours content covering founder challenges and scaling strategies.

Advice on navigating regulatory hurdles and building defensible moats.

PagerDuty's YC application video, highlighting their incident management platform for DevOps teams.

Optimizely's YC application video, showcasing their early vision for A/B testing and experimentation.

Justin Kan's insights on YC's application process, featuring alumni success stories.

Hugecity's founder introduction video, emphasizing team chemistry and market opportunity.

Official YC page detailing instructions for the application video, including guidelines on content, format, and examples of successful videos from past applicants.

Optimizely's YC application video, showcasing their early vision for A/B testing and experimentation.