The 3 Questions We Ask When Reading Applications | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Learn how to craft a concise and clear Y Combinator application that highlights your idea, team expertise, and progress.

Key Insights

• 🔍 Be concise and clear in the beginning of your application, providing a clear picture of your product or idea in the first few sentences.
• 💡 Emphasize why your product should exist and how it solves a problem.
• 💪 Highlight why your team is the best fit to build the product, showcasing expertise or a track record of accomplishments.
• 🚀 Demonstrate progress by sharing what you have already done, such as whether the product has been built, if it is being used, or if there are paying customers.
• 📚 YC reads applications differently, so tailor your application to make it easy for reviewers to understand your idea quickly.
• ️ Focus on using the fewest words possible to convey your message effectively.
• 🤝 Domain expertise or a strong history of achievement can increase your chances of being seen as the right team to build the product.
• 🌱 Show evidence of progress by sharing any developments or milestones reached so far, such as building, usage, or revenue generation.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How can I make my Y Combinator application easier to understand?

The key to making your Y Combinator application stand out is to be concise and clear about your product's purpose and functionality in the first few sentences.

Q: What does Y Combinator look for in a team?

Y Combinator wants to see that the team is the right fit to build the product, whether it's through domain expertise or a track record of impressive achievements.

Q: What evidence of progress should I include in my Y Combinator application?

Y Combinator is interested in knowing if you have started building the product, if anyone is using it, and if you have any paying customers.

Q: How important is it to highlight past accomplishments in the Y Combinator application?

Showcasing past accomplishments can help demonstrate to Y Combinator that your team has a proven track record of getting things done, increasing the chances of your application being successful.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• When reading Y Combinator applications, it's important to clearly understand the idea and purpose of the product in just a few sentences.

• The application should also demonstrate why the team is the right fit, showcasing expertise or past accomplishments.

• Y Combinator looks for evidence of progress, such as the development stage, user engagement, or revenue generation.