Applying to Y Combinator Batches

Applying to Y Combinator Batches | Generated by AI

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How to Submit a Y Combinator Batch Application

Y Combinator (YC) runs four batches per year: Winter (January–March), Spring (April–June), Summer (July–September), and Fall (October–December). Each batch involves a 3-month in-person program in San Francisco, providing $500,000 in seed funding (for 7% equity, plus additional terms based on future raises), mentorship from YC partners, weekly dinners with experts, office hours, and access to the YC founder network. The program ends with Demo Day, where you pitch to investors.

The application process is straightforward, online, and free. YC receives over 10,000 applications per batch but accepts only about 1–1.5% (roughly 200–300 companies). They prioritize exceptional founders, clear thinking, and traction over polished ideas. You can apply even if you’re pre-product or bootstrapped—many successful companies (e.g., Airbnb, Dropbox) applied early.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Check Eligibility and Deadlines:
- Anyone can apply: solo founders, students, non-technical teams, or international applicants (though relocation to SF is required for the batch).
- Batches open applications ~2–3 months in advance. For example:
  - Winter 2026: Applications open now; on-time deadline November 10, 2025, at 8pm PT (decisions by December 10, 2025). Late applications are reviewed rolling but without guaranteed timelines.
  - Spring 2026: Expected to open in January 2026.
- Sign up for email reminders on the YC site to avoid missing cycles.
- Special option: Early Decision for students—apply while in school to reserve a spot in a future batch (e.g., apply Fall 2025 for Summer 2026). You get funded upon acceptance but can defer until after graduation.
Prepare Your Materials:
- Video: A 1-minute founder video (not a product demo). Introduce yourself, explain your idea simply, and show enthusiasm. Film casually (e.g., on your phone). Examples: DoorDash’s 2013 video showed founders delivering food to demonstrate the problem.
- Demo: If you have a prototype or live product, include a link (e.g., to a landing page, app, or demo video). No demo? Describe your progress honestly.
- Team Details: Bios, LinkedIn profiles, and why you’re the right founders.
- Draft answers offline first (use a Google Doc template) for feedback from mentors or peers.
Submit the Form:
- Go to the official application page: ycombinator.com/apply.
- Create an account or log in.
- Fill out the form (takes 30–60 minutes). It’s text-based with short-answer fields (keep responses concise: 100–300 words max per question).
- Upload your video and demo links.
- Select your preferred batch (you can apply to multiple but commit to one if accepted).
- Submit by the deadline for priority review. No fee.
After Submission:
- Review: All YC partners read applications independently. Promising ones (top ~10%) get a 10-minute video interview (November–December for Winter batch).
- Interview: Focus on founders, progress, and market fit. Be honest—YC values determination over perfection. Decisions same day; feedback provided.
- Acceptance: If yes, you get the investment immediately (no milestones required). Relocate to SF for the batch.
- Rejection: You can reapply to future batches (many alumni applied 2–4 times). Use feedback to iterate.

Tips for Success

Be Specific and Honest: YC wants clarity on your problem, users, and growth potential. Avoid hype; back claims with evidence (e.g., “We interviewed 50 teachers and found 80% struggle with X”).
Show Progress: Even small wins (e.g., 10 users, a MVP built) matter more than the idea.
Team Focus: YC bets on people—highlight unique strengths and prior collaborations.
Common Pitfalls: Generic answers, ignoring questions, or over-focusing on competitors. Read YC’s advice essays (e.g., Paul Graham’s “How to Apply to YC”).
Acceptance rate is low, but applying sharpens your thinking—many founders submit just to iterate.

Questions Asked in the YC Application Form

The form evolves slightly per batch, but core questions remain focused on your company, team, progress, and vision. Based on the latest templates (for Winter 2026), expect ~20–25 questions divided into sections. They’re open-ended to reveal your thinking. Sample questions and advice (from YC’s guide and alumni insights):

Company Basics

What is your company name? (Or “TBD” if pre-incorporated.)
What is your URL? (Website, landing page, or “N/A.”)
What is your company’s one-sentence description?
Advice: Make it punchy and novel, e.g., “We’re Dropbox: like an answering service, but for email.” (Avoid jargon; explain value simply.)
What exactly does your company do? What problem are you solving? For whom?
Advice: Be user-focused: “We help X do Y by Z.” Include target market size and why now.

Progress and Traction

What have you built to date? Please include links to demos, videos, etc.
Advice: Link everything; if nothing, explain your plan and any prototypes.
What milestones have you hit to date? (e.g., launched a product, got X users, raised $Y)?
Advice: Quantify: “Acquired 500 beta users via Reddit; 20% retention.” Progress > perfection.
What’s new since your last update? (If reapplying.)
Advice: Show iteration—e.g., “Grew from 10 to 100 users in 2 months.”

Founders and Team

Tell us about the founders: backgrounds, how you met, why you’re the right team.
Advice: Specific stories, e.g., “We built X together at Google; combined, we have 10 years in edtech.” Highlight grit (e.g., “I bootstrapped my first app at 16”).
Who are your co-founders, if any? (Names, roles, % equity.)
What’s your most impressive achievement as a founder (not the startup itself)?
Advice: Personal, specific—e.g., “Wrote open-source tool used by 1K devs” vs. vague praise. YC sees this as the #1 question for founder fit.

Idea and Market

Why is now the right time for your company?
Advice: Tie to trends/tech (e.g., “AI APIs now make X scalable”).
How do you acquire customers? What’s your go-to-market strategy?
Advice: Channels + metrics, e.g., “SEO + partnerships; CAC $20, LTV $200.”
Who are your competitors? What sets you apart?
Advice: Acknowledge them; focus on your edge (e.g., “Like Uber for jobs, but for blue-collar workers”).
How will you make money? What’s your business model?
Advice: Clear revenue: “Subscription at $10/mo; targeting $1B TAM.”

Logistics and Commitment

Full-time dedication dates? (e.g., “Started Jan 2025; full-time since.”)
Legal status? (Incorporated? Where?)
Batch preference? (Winter/Spring/etc.)
Additional questions: Funding history, prior YC apps, or “Anything else we should know?”

Video and Final Notes

Upload founder video: 60 seconds max. Script: Who you are → Problem → Solution → Why you.
Optional: Progress since last app, or challenges/risks.

For the full, up-to-date form, start it at ycombinator.com/apply—you can save and exit. Alumni recommend answering as if pitching a smart friend: direct, evidence-based, and passionate.

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