Dec 16, 2025
How to Record a YC Application Video That Actually Gets Watched
You have exactly 60 seconds to convince a stranger to invest $500,000 in your life's work.
Most founders waste this opportunity on "marketing." They script perfect sentences, add upbeat background music, and use vague buzzwords like "revolutionizing."
This is a mistake.
YC partners are not looking for a commercial. They are looking for signal. Every second you spend on a fancy transition or a slow intro is a second you aren't talking about your revenue, your unique insight, or your traction.
The videos that get funded often look terrible. They feature grainy webcam footage, bad lighting, and messy rooms. But they sound incredible. They are dense, factual, and fast.
This guide outlines the High-Bandwidth Framework: how to stop focusing on production value and start packing 10 minutes of signal into a 1-minute video.
The YC application video is a mandatory 60-second clip submitted as part of your application. It is your team's first face-to-face impression with the partners.
Unlike the Demo Video (which shows how your product works), the Founder Video focuses entirely on who you are and how you think.
Why It Exists
YC partners review thousands of applications. Text can be polished by advisors or ChatGPT. Video is the truth serum. They use this minute to assess:
Founder Chemistry: Do you like each other? Does the CEO dominate, or is there mutual respect?
Communication Clarity: Can you explain a complex idea simply? If you ramble here, you will ramble in sales meetings.
Velocity: Are you moving fast? (e.g., launching in weeks, not months).
The Hard Rules (Do Not Ignore These)
1 Minute Hard Limit: If you submit a 2-minute video, it proves you cannot follow simple instructions.
YouTube Only: Upload to YouTube. No Loom, Vimeo, or Dropbox.
"Unlisted" Privacy: Set to Unlisted. "Private" means they can't see it; "Public" means competitors can.
Founders Only: No advisors, employees, or users. Just the equity-holding founders.
Real Examples of Winning Videos
We analyzed accepted videos from recent batches. Here is exactly what they did to get in.
1. DoorDash (YC S13): Admit you are doing the work manually
Note: The video above functions correctly. The thumbnail is not displayed because the video is unlisted.
What They Did:
The founders didn't hide behind their code. At the 0:45 mark, they admitted, "The four of us actually started off as delivery drivers."
Why It Worked:
This proved they weren't just engineers building software in a tower. They were willing to do the hard, unscalable work to solve the problem. They also mentioned a hard revenue number ($10,000) immediately after.
Your Move:
If your "AI" is currently just you checking spreadsheets or driving cars, admit it. YC loves hustle.
2. Lumona (YC W24): List your achievements immediately
Note: The video above functions correctly. The thumbnail is not displayed because the video is unlisted.
What They Did:
Lumona’s team of four MIT students wasted no time. In the first 10 seconds, they listed their impressive background: "Senior at MIT," "Interned at Stripe and Google," "Interned at Reddit." They followed this with a speed signal: "We won first place at HackMIT."
Why It Worked:
It told YC: "We are smart, and we build fast."
Your Move:
Don't be humble. If you went to a top school or worked at a top company, say it in the first sentence.
3. Artisan (YC W24): Highlight your unique background
What They Did:
The founders highlighted their specific, unusual backgrounds immediately.
Founder A: "Started a candy shop at age 8... run an agency of 15 people."
Founder B: "PhD in Astrophysics from Oxford... research at NASA."
Why It Worked:
The combination of "Business Experience" and "Technical Genius" is very attractive to investors.
Your Move:
Find the most impressive thing about your background. "PhD in Astrophysics" is better than "5 years Java experience."
4. Suggestr (YC S21): Use a specific number to prove the problem
What They Did:
They used simple math to define the problem.
"Amazon gets 30% of sales from recommendations. Small stores get 4-7%."
Why It Worked:
This simple statistic defined the entire opportunity. It wasn't a vague problem ("ads are expensive"); it was a clear mathematical gap they could fix.
Your Move:
Find a stat that proves the market is broken. "Industry X wastes $5B a year on Y process."
5. Kater (YC W24): Name-drop the big companies you are talking to
What They Did:
Kater didn't just say "we have interest from big companies." They listed specific names: Snowflake, Shopify, ThoughtSpot, Rivian.
Why It Worked:
By associating their startup with these giants, they borrowed credibility. If Snowflake is interested, the problem must be real.
Your Move:
Do not be vague. If you are talking to Google, say "Google." Names carry weight.
6. Keywords AI (YC W24): Show how fast you move
What They Did:
They highlighted extreme speed: "We launched our product publicly yesterday and we already have 20 customers paying."
Why It Worked:
Going from 0 to 20 customers in 24 hours is a massive signal of speed. It forces the investor to imagine where they will be in a month.
Your Move:
Highlight what you achieved recently. "We built this in 48 hours" is better than "We have been working on this for 2 years."
7. Encore (YC F24): Use real numbers, not vague claims
What They Did:
They avoided vague claims like "we are growing fast." Instead, they used specific numbers: "20,000 searches" and "Growing 40% Month-over-Month."
Why It Worked:
A specific number proves you are tracking your business closely.
Your Move:
If you don't have revenue, find a usage metric. Count messages sent, files uploaded, or searches made.
The Content Framework: The "Grid" Method
Don't script it word-for-word, but structure it rigidly. Successful videos often follow a "Grid" pattern where founders trade off speaking roles to cover four specific quadrants.
1. The Hook & Credentials (0:00 - 0:15)
Speaker A: Who are you? Don't just say your name; establish authority.
Bad: "Hi, I'm John."
Good (from Artisan): "My first business was a candy shop... I've been working with my agency of 15 people."
Good (from Lumona): "I'm a senior at MIT... I've interned at Stripe and Google."
2. The Concrete Problem (0:15 - 0:30)
Speaker B: What is broken? Be specific.
Bad: "Recommendations are bad."
Good (from Suggestr): "Amazon generates 30% of sales from recommendations. But for smaller brands, this figure is 4-7%. This represents a huge lost revenue opportunity."
3. The Insight & Solution (0:30 - 0:45)
Speaker A: What did you build? Use plain English.
Example (from Remembrall): "We realized remembering details about the user fundamentally changes the user experience... it allows you to turn unstructured data into actionable user profiles."
4. The Traction & Velocity (0:45 - 1:00)
Speaker B: Why is this working now? This is the most critical section.
Example (from Encore): "We're doing over 20,000 searches... growing 40% month over month."
Example (from Kater): "Over 20 companies have expressed interest... including Snowflake and Shopify."
How to Pass the "Founder Chemistry" Test
YCombinator fears co-founder disputes above all else. They use this video to judge if you actually like each other.
Proximity: Sit close. Shoulder-to-shoulder. Recording on Zoom is a disadvantage. If you can fly to meet each other for 24 hours to record this, do it. It shows commitment.
The "Nod" Protocol: When Founder A is speaking, Founder B should be looking at them and actively listening (nodding, smiling). If Founder B is looking at the ceiling or checking their phone, it signals a lack of respect.
The 50/50 Split: If one founder talks for 50 seconds and the other talks for 10, YC assumes the second founder is weak or disengaged. Aim for equal airtime.
The Only Tech Stack You Need (Phone + Window)
You don't need a studio. You need Audio Clarity.
Audio is King (The "Sync" Trick)
Bad video is forgivable; bad audio is not.
Camera: Use your laptop webcam or a phone on a tripod.
Mic: Open "Voice Memos" on a second phone. Place it on the table right in front of you (just out of frame).
Sync: Clap once loudly at the start. Sync the audio file with the video in any editor. This removes the "echo" of an empty room.
Lighting is Key
Face a window. Natural light is best. Do not sit with a window behind you (you will look like a shadow witness protection interview).
3 Mistakes That Scream "Reject Me"
The "Commercial" Intro: Do not add a 5-second animated logo or upbeat ukulele music. YC partners watch these back-to-back. They hate fluff.
Reading Off Screen: If your eyes scan left-to-right, you are dead. It looks robotic. Memorize the points, not the words.
The "Marketing Voice": Don't use your "pitch voice." Talk like you are explaining the business to a smart friend at a coffee shop.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What if we stumble?
Leave it in. If it's a small stumble, it proves you aren't reading a script. It makes you look human and authentic.
Should we introduce our advisors?
No. Advisors don't write code. YC invests in the founders. Listing advisors sounds like you are insecure about your own credentials.
Can we record over Zoom?
Only if you absolutely have to. It is a negative signal regarding your commitment to being in the same room to build the company. If you do, address why you are remote and when you plan to unite.
Can we add text overlays or graphics?
Avoid it. This video is for testing chemistry, not UI. If you hide your faces behind a slide or a logo, you fail the chemistry test. Put the screen recordings in the separate "Demo Video" field.
We have 4 founders. Do we all need to speak?
Yes. It is harder with a large team, but everyone must talk. If one founder stands silently in the back, YC partners wonder if they are actually contributing or just along for the ride. Split the time blocks to ensure everyone gets at least 10 seconds.
