Nov 5, 2025
You’ve got the idea. You’ve got the team. Now you're staring at a blank YCombinator application and realizing this is your one shot to impress the people who backed Airbnb, Stripe, and Dropbox.
It's a big deal.
Most guides out there give you one of two things: a sterile copy of the questions or a few fluffy tips like "be concise." Neither of those will help you stand out from the tens of thousands of other applications.
This is not one of those guides.
This is a deep-dive, section-by-section playbook for crafting a YC application that demands attention. We’ll give you the full YCombinator Application Template and, more importantly, teach you the strategy behind answering each part. Let's get started.
Before You Write: Think Like a YC Partner
First, stop thinking about this as a form to fill out.
Think of it as a conversation with a YC partner. They are reading your words, trying to build a mental model of your company, your team, and your potential. Every sentence either builds their excitement or slowly drains it. Your job is to make them excited.
What YC Is Really Looking For (It's Not Just a Good Idea)
Ideas are cheap. YC isn't funding ideas; they are funding companies. Specifically, they're looking for early signals that you have the potential to build a massive, high-growth company.
They filter for this by looking for three things above all else.
The Three Pillars: Team, Market, Progress
Everything in your application should be a testament to these three pillars.
Team: Are you the right people to solve this problem? Are you resilient, resourceful, and technically capable? The application is designed to test this.
Market: Are you tackling a problem in a large and growing market? YC looks for founders who are aiming to build something that can realistically become a billion-dollar company. A small market caps your potential from day one.
Progress: Have you actually done anything? This is the most underrated part. An impressive prototype, a handful of passionate users, or early revenue is worth more than a thousand pages of business plans. Progress is proof that you can execute.
Clarity and Conciseness Are Your Superpowers
YC partners read thousands of applications. They don't have time for jargon, business-speak, or long, winding paragraphs.
Get to the point. Fast.
Write simple, declarative sentences. If a friend asked what you do at a bar, you wouldn't launch into a five-minute monologue about "synergistic platforms." You'd say, "We help companies do X." Write like that.
[PRO TIP: Read your answers out loud. If they sound unnatural or confusing, rewrite them until they are painfully simple to understand.]
The YCombinator Application Template: A Section-by-Section Breakdown
Alright, let's get into the weeds. Here are the core sections of the YC application, along with a guide on how to answer them effectively.
Part 1: Company Profile - Nailing the Basics
This first section sets the stage. Don't rush it. A confusing start makes it hard for a reviewer to get excited about what comes next.
Your Company Name, URL, and One-Liner
This is the first thing a YC partner reads. It needs to be perfect.
Company Name: Make it simple and memorable.
URL: Make sure it's live, even if it's a basic landing page. A dead link is a terrible first impression.
One-Liner: This is not a marketing slogan. It's a clear, concise description of what you do.
Deconstructing the "One-Liner": The Most Important Sentence You'll Write
The best format for a one-liner is the "X for Y" analogy, but only if it clarifies, not confuses.
Good Example: "A modern, collaborative whiteboard for remote teams." (Clear, descriptive)
Bad Example: "We are the Uber for pet-walking." (Overused and often inaccurate)
A better formula is: We do [Action] for [Specific Audience] so they can [Achieve Benefit].
For example: "We provide an API for e-commerce companies to instantly calculate international shipping costs."
It’s not sexy. It’s clear. And clarity wins every time.
Part 2: The Founders - Proving You're the Right Team
YC bets on founders more than anything else. This section is where you prove you are a good bet.
Founder Profiles & The 60-Second Video Pitch
Each founder fills out a profile. Be honest about your background and skills. More importantly, this is where you'll link to your individual founder videos.
The video is not a bug; it's a feature. It's your chance to be a human being, not just words on a page. They want to see your energy, your passion, and how you communicate.
The Founder Video: A Step-by-Step Guide to Your 60-Second Pitch
Don't Overproduce It: Use your laptop camera or phone. This isn't a film festival. A fancy, highly-edited video can actually work against you by making you seem inauthentic.
Location: A quiet, well-lit room is all you need.
Script It (Loosely): Know your key points, but don't read from a script. It should feel natural.
0-5s: Your Name, Your Company.
5-20s: What are you building? (Your one-liner).
20-40s: What's your unique insight? Why now? Why are you the one to build it?
40-55s: Show your progress. ("We've already signed up 50 users and have a working prototype.")
55-60s: A confident closing.
Be Yourself: Let your personality show. YC partners are looking for authentic, driven people they want to work with. Smile. Be energetic.
How did you meet? Why is this the right founding team?
YC is looking for founder-market fit and a strong team dynamic.
How you met: They want to know if your relationship has stood the test of time. "We met last week at a networking event" is a red flag. "We've been building projects together since college" is a huge plus.
Why you're the right team: Connect your past experiences directly to the problem you're solving.
Good Example: "As former software engineers at a logistics company (Founder A) and a payments company (Founder B), we experienced the pain of cross-border shipping delays firsthand. We've spent the last five years building the exact systems we're now commercializing."
Part 3: The Idea - What Are You Building?
Now you get to explain your vision. But remember the rule: clarity over cleverness.
Explaining Your Project in Detail (The "What" and "Why")
This is where you expand on your one-liner. Explain the problem you are solving in plain English. Assume the reader knows nothing about your industry.
[PRO TIP: Start by describing the world before your product exists. What is the specific pain point? Who feels it? Then, describe how your product makes that pain go away.]
Where do you stand on competitors?
This question is a test. The wrong answer is "We have no competitors." This either means the market doesn't exist or you haven't done your research.
The right way to answer is to acknowledge the landscape and explain your unique angle.
Formula:
Acknowledge: "Our main competitors are X and Y."
Differentiate: "They focus on large enterprises, which requires expensive setup and long sales cycles. We are building for small to medium-sized businesses with a self-serve, product-led approach."
Unique Insight: "We believe the real opportunity is not just [what competitors do], but [your unique approach]."
Part 4: The Progress - Show, Don't Just Tell
This is the section that separates the dreamers from the builders. Evidence of progress is the single most compelling part of an application.
[CUSTOM IMAGE: A simple chart showing a startup's growth, with an arrow pointing up and key metrics like 'Users' and 'Revenue' highlighted.]
How Do You Make Money? (Business Model)
Be specific. "We will sell a subscription" is not enough.
Better: "We will offer a tiered subscription model. A free tier for individuals, a $49/month Pro tier for teams of up to 10, and an Enterprise plan with custom pricing."
If you don't know yet, that's okay. Be honest. "We plan to focus on user growth for the first 12 months and will likely monetize through a subscription model, but we are still validating pricing."
What's Your Progress? (Metrics, Users, Revenue)
This is it. The proof.
If you have users/revenue: State it clearly. "We have 15 paying customers at an average of $100/month, for a total of $1,500 MRR."
If you have a product but no users: Talk about your development progress. "We have a working web app in private beta. We've completed [X feature] and are currently working on [Y feature]."
If you have nothing but an idea: This is the hardest position. You need to show "proto-progress." This could be customer interviews ("We've spoken to 50 potential customers and have 10 who have agreed to be beta testers"), a popular open-source project, or a deep domain expertise that is hard to replicate.
How are you different from your competitors?
This may seem repetitive, but it is another opportunity to show your deep understanding of the market. While the earlier question was about your general standing, this one is about your product and go-to-market strategy. Be specific about features, target audience, and your overall approach that sets you apart.
Part 5: The "Etc." Section - Don't Neglect the Details
This last section has some of the most revealing questions. Treat them with the same seriousness as the rest of the application.
How will you get your first 1,000 users?
They are testing whether you have thought about distribution. "We'll run some Facebook ads" is a weak answer.
A strong answer shows a specific, founder-led plan.
Good Example: "We're going to get our first 100 users by personally reaching out to project managers on LinkedIn who fit our ideal customer profile. For the next 900, we plan to create content for a specific community (e.g., the /r/projectmanagement subreddit) and build free tools that solve a small part of their problem."
What is the most impressive thing you've built?
This doesn't have to be a company. It can be a personal project, a piece of code, a club you started, or an event you organized. They are looking for evidence that you are a "doer." Someone who can make things happen. Tell the story and explain why it was impressive.
5 Common Red Flags That Get Applications Instantly Rejected
I've seen these mistakes kill countless otherwise promising applications. Avoid them at all costs.
Red Flag #1: Long, Rambling Answers
If you can't explain your idea concisely on paper, it's a sign you can't explain it to customers, investors, or employees. Every word counts.
Red Flag #2: Evading the Competition Question
Saying "Google is our only competitor, but we'll move faster" or "There's no one doing what we do" shows naivete. It's an instant credibility killer.
Red Flag #3: A Team Without Technical Co-founders (for tech startups)
If you are building a software company, someone on the founding team needs to be able to build the product. If you are outsourcing your core technology, it's a major red flag for YC.
Red Flag #4: Focusing on a "Solution in Search of a Problem"
Starting with a cool technology (like AI or blockchain) and then trying to find a problem it can solve is backward. You must start with a real, painful problem that people will pay to have solved.
Red Flag #5: No Tangible Progress or Evidence of Initiative
If you've been "working" on an idea for two years but have nothing to show for it - no code, no mockups, no customer interviews - it signals you aren't serious or can't execute.
After You Submit: The Waiting Game and Next Steps
Once you hit that submit button, the hard part is over, right? Not quite.
What to Expect After Hitting 'Submit'
You'll get a confirmation email. After that, it's a waiting game. The YC partners review applications in batches. Don't stress about it. The single best thing you can do while you wait is to... keep making progress on your startup.
If you hit a new milestone (e.g., you sign a major customer, your user growth triples), you can send a brief, one-paragraph update. This shows you are continually executing.
The Interview Invite: How to Prepare
If your application is successful, you'll receive an invite for a 10-minute interview. This is a topic for a whole other article, but the key is simple: know your business and your numbers inside and out. The interview is a rapid-fire version of the questions in your application.
Quick Takeaways
Think Like an Investor: Your application is a pitch. Make it easy for them to get excited.
Focus on the Three Pillars: Everything you write should reinforce the strength of your Team, Market, and Progress.
Clarity Is King: Simple, direct language always wins. Ban jargon from your vocabulary.
Show, Don't Tell: Progress is your best evidence. Metrics, prototypes, and user feedback are your most powerful arguments.
The Video Matters: Don't just mail it in. Your 60-second video is your chance to connect as a human. Be authentic and energetic.
Acknowledge Your Competition: It shows you've done your homework and understand your market.
Avoid Red Flags: Be concise, prove you can build, and demonstrate real initiative.
Your Next Steps
Writing a YC application is not just about getting into an accelerator. It's an exercise that forces you to think critically about every aspect of your business. It makes you stronger, whether you get in or not.
Use this template and guide to put your best foot forward. Be clear, be honest, and let your passion for the problem you're solving shine through.
Good luck.
FAQs
1. What's the deadline for the YC application?
YCombinator has two batches per year (Winter and Summer). The applications are typically open for a few months leading up to the batch start, but YC reviews applications on a rolling basis. It's always better to apply early rather than waiting for the deadline.
2. I'm a solo founder. Can I apply to YC?
Yes, you can. YC has funded many successful solo founders. However, they note that the odds are lower. You need to be exceptionally capable and prove that you can do the work of multiple people. Your progress section is even more important as a solo founder.
3. Do I need to have revenue to get into YC?
No, you don't. Many companies get into YC pre-launch or pre-revenue. In this case, your application needs to be strong in other areas, especially the team and the market size. A working prototype and strong evidence from user interviews are critical.
4. What if my English isn't perfect?
YC is a global program and funds founders from all over the world. They care about the clarity of your ideas, not your grammar. Use simple, direct language. It's better to have a simple, grammatically imperfect sentence that is easy to understand than a complex one that is confusing.
5. Should I include a deck or other attachments with my application?
The YC application does not have a field for attaching a pitch deck. They want all the information to be in the text fields provided. Focus on making your written answers as strong and clear as possible. The application itself is the pitch.
