A practical guide to get a YC Interview

This isn’t official YC advice, but a practical guide based on my experience getting in and helping applicants prepare applications and one that helps me in recommending applicants to YC. The core idea is that YC is looking for a compelling reason to invite you for an interview; your application just needs to provide them with that excuse.

Here’s a simplified scoring system I use to determine what to focus on in the application and one you could use to assess your interview chances:

(Give yourself 1 point for each criterion met):

HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING IN THE LAST 100 DAYS (1 POINT FOR EACH):

1. Growing Revenue: The most straightforward indicator that people want what you're offering. Even earning a dollar can set you apart, as many haven't made any money despite significant effort.
2. Signed Contracts: In the absence of current revenue, having signed contracts shows potential future income.
3. Letters of Intent (LOIs): For long-term projects like jet engine production or an enterprise insurance company pilot where revenue is delayed, LOIs can be a substitute for immediate revenue.
4. Active Usage: If revenue isn’t part of your current picture, active user engagement is a strong sign that there’s demand for what you’re making. YC can help with monetization strategies later.

ARE YOU CAPABLE OF DOING ANYTHING IN THE NEXT 100 DAYS (1 POINT FOR EACH):

1. Previous Success or Notable Failure: Whether it’s a past venture with viral uptake, revenue, or a noteworthy exit, or even an honorable failure, these experiences suggest you’re capable of success.
2. Top-tier Work Experience: Experience as an early team member at a YC-backed startup/rocketship companies like UBER, SLACK or CANVA (yeah FAANG counts too) shows you understand the grind or have the experience and network to make shit happen.
3. Prestigious Education: Attending a renowned school (e.g., Stanford, MIT, Harvard, Oxford, Sciences Po or some of India's IITs) implies a high level of potential and achievement. If you have to ask if your school is prestigious, it’s not. Sorry.
4. Deep Domain Expertise: Deep expertise in a specialized area (like drug discovery or photonics), particularly if you have some insight on how software could unlock value, demonstrates significant promise. This would make you the right person to build that startup.

YC'S WILDCARD QUESTION: YC IS HUMBLE ENOUGH TO ACKNOWLEDGE BLINDSPOTS AND ASK THIS INTERESTING QUESTION TO FIND FOLKS THEY OTHERWISE MAY MISS

YC's application process includes a unique question that can serve as a wildcard in assessing potential candidates. This question focuses on an applicant’s ability to "beat the system" creatively and effectively. YC asks “Please tell us about the time you most successfully hacked some (non-computer) system to your advantage”.

For the significance of this question I just quote 2 important people:

Paul Graham on the Impact of the Wildcard Question:

"There's one question that acts like a wildcard, at least for me," says YC co-founder Paul Graham. He explains that a compelling response to this question can make him reconsider an application that might not have initially stood out. "We’re looking for people who like to beat the system. So if the answer to this question is good enough, it will make me go back and take a second look at an application that otherwise seemed unpromising. In fact, I think there are people we’ve invited to interviews mainly on the strength of their answer to this question." (Source: Y Combinator, July 2009, How to Apply)

Sam Altman's Contribution to the Question:

Sam Altman, (Founder of Open AI and YC alum) now suggests this question said, "Ask about a time when they’d hacked something to their advantage—hacked in the sense of beating the system, not breaking into computers," Altman advised. This question has since become one of the most significant in judging applications. (Source: Paul Graham, October 2010, Founders)

This question is designed to identify non-traditional candidates who demonstrate resourcefulness and innovation, key traits for successful entrepreneurs.

To summarize, if you check a few of these boxes your likelihood of getting an interview is actually quite high. Conversely, if you don’t check any of these boxes, your likelihood of being 1 of the ~1500 interviewed is super low. I am not trying to be discouraging or saying that one should not apply. The process of applying itself is useful. It helps you think through your startup in a holistic way.

I know some of you will interpret this as “unless you are Ivy league or FAANG you wont get into YC”. We applied 4 times (2 years - once every 6 months) before we got in. We had zero points in this framework in our first application. We were able to go from zero points to getting in, because we did not give up and continued to chip away at the problem, got revenue, and showed great growth that could eventually make a compelling application. If we can get in, anyone who is willing to work hard can.

Good luck folks! Feel free to DM me if you need help with reviewing your applications or have any YC related questions.

Only thing I ask is, don't explicitly ask me for recommendations. If you are a good team, I will recommend out of my own judgement.