Jan 21, 2023
Number of words in this post: 364

I spent several hours reading and researching about YC’s application and interview processes. This is a summary.

  • Apply early: It’s ok to start with the ‘thin edge of the wedge’. Example, AirBnb
  • Good application traits:
    • Concise and precise 1-minute intro video with all cofounders
      • Clarity on key points: what’s the idea, who’re the people, how it works, state of company
      • Focus on coherent understanding. People should easily understand the product.
    • Example Questions:
      • What is your company going to make?
      • Why do you pick up the idea that you work on?
      • Do you have domain expertise in this area?
      • How do you know that people need what you make?
    • GitLab application: What is your company going to make?
      • We’re making open source software to collaborate on code. It started as ‘run your own GitHub’ that most users deploy on their own server(s). GitLab allows you to version control code including pull/merge requests, forking and public projects. It also includes project wiki’s and an issue tracker. Over 100k organizations use it including thousands of programmers at Apple. We also offer GitLab Cl that allows you to test your code with a distributed set of workers.
    • Tell a story:
      • Who we are, what we are working on, why we work on it, what we have accomplished thus far, why we are going to make this work.
  • Let others/friends to read/review your application, ask for feedback.
  • Have a key cofounder on the team.
  • Get smarter co-founder. YC doesn’t like sole founder.
  • What happens in an interview:
    • 10-minute in-person meeting with the full founding team, will be fast and intense.
    • 3 or 4 YC interviewers to understand the nuts and bolts of the business.
      • What is the product? Is it good?
      • Are you the ones to do it?
      • How big can it be? YC looks for growth
      • Are you getting users? How will you expand? What’s the next step?
    • YC evaluates mastery of your business
    • Know future risk exists.
    • Example:
      • Market opportunity, Customer, who’s your first customer?
      • Product and underlying market/industry
      • Who’re the competitors and what’s the difference?
      • What’s your market strategy
      • Your passion
      • Progress status
    • Know your NPS (Net Promoter Score) and cohort retention rate
    • Practice being interrupted.