Applying to Y Combinator? 3 tips from a former YC partner

Hi, I'm Garry Tan, former Y Combinator partner, Forbes Midas List top venture capitalist and cofounder at Initialized Capital. We were earliest investors in billion dollar startups like Coinbase and Instacart. I'm doing my own run-and-gun one man YouTube channel with no staff or crew - we're going for raw and unfiltered and high signal in order to help you with your building your world-changing startup.

In this episode I want to talk about what advice I always give to people writing their YC applications. Watch to the end you'll find a link to submit your YC app to me for comments and review. I can guarantee I'll read the first 100 responses from YouTube, but honestly I'll try my best overall just because I really want to help.

Y Combinator changed my life and I hope it changes yours.

Please like this video and subscribe to my channel if you want to see more videos like this!

[senthilsg]

1. Show, don't tell:
Mention any of the following.
- created something
- users using it
- if someone is actually paying
- special sauce, mention it!.


2. It needs to be big for VC to be interested:
- is there a way to show the problem is worth a billion or more?
- is there a way to get to 100 million dollars in revenue?


3. Plain english is best:
- YC uses plain english to talk.
- talk to me about the problem (like to a single person)
- talk to me about the solution plainly.
- don't say 'unbundling', hyper-verticalization etc
- a great pitch is simple statements put side by side in a string.
- when you zoom out, those simple statements stringed together
will suddenly strike you as a really big idea.
- writing style in high school: topic: beginning, middle and end.
- this is not good for YC.
- use inverted pyramid. put the conclusion at the front.
- then add proof for each claim leading to that conclusion.

[MichaelWBauer]

Garry this is genius. You get to help people improve their YC applications AND have a chance to jump on the investment train at the earliest stages if one catches your eye. Smart man

[Ranjanwatson]

Hey, Garry, I am watched this on 4/30/2024, and i might be late. But I'll still try sending my application. I applied for the YC 24 Summer batch.

[yourtable]

Gary, I came across this as I was filling out our YC application. Thank you so much for sharing in a clear and concise way, it was really helpful. I loved how you guys were so casual eating and drinking together, as that's what we are setting people up for, to solve the problem of loneliness caused by people eating alone frequently. Stay safe and well, hope to meet you one-day in-person as a YC Alumni, take care!

YourTable - Peter Chien

[kenmooso]

Great advice! I’ll take this advice and apply it to my teams application to YC!

[DrringHealth]

This is amazing Gary! Even though we are viewing this late and we won't get a chance to get a review from you.

[murrayclarke]

I haven’t tuned in for a while but great to be back. Love this guy!! If (when?) we need funding I’ll be mailing Gary’s team!

[rpgbx]

It always boggles my mind on how hard it is to write/speak using simple language. It's like unlearning everything from K-12!


Thank you for your advice. I probably submitted my app too late for your review, but I appreciate you offering your time and advice to the rest of us trying to make a difference with our startups. :)

[AlbertoR]

Thanks for being so open and willing to help!
I filled out the form but I'm already editing my application based on your advice in this video.

[tellreel]

00:40 Garry was a YC partner for 5 years, worked with more than 700 companies
00:53 tip #1 - show don't tell, why is your solution required, your traction
01:57 YC looks for large market size, $1B startups
03:05 tip #2 - don't use buzzwords, use plain English
05:03 great pitches are simple statements
05:20 tip #3 - write using the inverted pyramid: conclusion at the beginning then proof
06:30 Garry is doing a giveaway - reviewing 100 YC applications


(get key takeaways from timestamp video summaries - TLDW.app your video guide)

[franciszekszombara]

Thanks for quality content. Your YC startup school lecture got me here.

[LilyAmericanDream]

Hi Garry, I just want to thank you for your tips. I am working on the Y Combinator applications.

[mattskilly]

This is awesome Garry - thank you. I hope we made it into the first 100. Keep up the great work.

[Batman-vhso]

Great advice! And thanks for offering to review applications, I'm sure it'll make a big difference for some startup out there just getting started.

[tpwb]

Thanks Gary, we are coming for you guys this winter. Mittbox it is it what you've been looking for decades.

[amanjha__]

Former YC partner, future YC President/CEO. This video suddenly became a lot more relevant.

[Maverck]

Invaluable advice but missed (my bad) it before applying for 2021 .But listening to this makes us comfortable that we've articulated our proportion well.( fingers crossed).

[sandieman]

Wow.. in person meetings! Such a throwback :)

[TimurMone]

this is truly amazing. I just submitted the application to you for review, I hope you can help, if not, thanks for the tips, keep them coming. Real value add.

[ratneshpandey]

OMG!! I missed the most important video from your side Garry!! Always love your content, as you reflect what you just said - Use simple and plain English :)