50 Founders Share How They Got Their First Customers

At the start of the S23 batch we interviewed 50 founders about how they managed to get their very first customers. It's a snapshot in time that highlights the different tactics YC founders employ in the early stages to get their companies up and running. Hopefully their experience will offer some insights for anyone wondering about how exactly to go after that first customer.

Thank you to all the companies who volunteered to be interviewed for this episode: Artie, CandorIQ, Accend, Mantlebio, Fleet Works, Sweetspot, Shasta Health, Kapa, Ohmic Biosciences, Kino AI, Osium AI, Gleam, Paylane, Fortuna Health, Roame, Mano AI, Certainly Health, Strada, Envelope Money, Greenlite, Spine AI, RightPage, Movley, Octo, Craftwork, Letter AI, Flair Health, Helios

00:00 - Intro: How did you find your first customer?
00:20 - Sweetspot
00:31 - Shasta Health
01:01 - Platform we got our first customer?
01:15 - Envelope Money
01:36 - Reworkd AI
01:53 - Greenlite
02:12 - Ohmic Biosciences
02:23 - Kino AI
02:34 - MantleBio
02:49 - Accend
02:57 - Craftwork
03:11 - Helios
03:25 - Letter AI
03:52 - Outro

[bzengineer]

We need this type of snapshot content into founders life

[ymvtech]

Love the fast paced insightful content

[timsamuel]

I fucking love it!

So many people think giant businesses are born overnight. But no. They all have to start somewhere.

[NhlakaMkhize-ohdr]

This channel is amazing!!!...I'm from South Africa, and I'm starting my very own property development company and the information I am getting here is great♡♡

[mukurpuri]

YCombinator is one such a great ecosystem !!

[Zblboul]

I wish one day I can be a Y Combinator alumnie. This is so inspirational and far better than any guru out there.

[chapterme]

Chapters (Powered by ChapterMe) -
00:00 - Intro: How did you find your first customer?
00:20 - Sweetspot
00:31 - Shasta Health
00:45 - Kapa AI
01:01 - Platform we got our first customer?
01:15 - Envelope Money
01:36 - Reworkd AI
01:53 - Greenlite
02:12 - Ohmic Biosciences
02:23 - Kino AI
02:34 - MantleBio
02:49 - Accend
02:57 - Craftwork
03:11 - Helios
03:25 - Letter AI
03:52 - Outro

[dotpenji]

It's intriguing to hear about the various strategies to land that crucial first customer. What method or approach do you think proved most effective for your startup in securing your initial customers?

[m.ehtizan]

Hey Y Combinator, I just watched your video and I must say that it was really informative and well-made. I loved your videos. I was wondering if I could help you edit your videos and also make highly engaging shorts for you?

[rey-opje]

How can a startup without customer can be accepted by YC? There are couple of people in the video without customers. Do these individuals possess the right founder-market fit?

[fronkamili]

the name of the companies are too hidden in the video

[marleybarrett]

seems like more single person founders than before

[samedbensaad]

I'm still looking for someone to invest in my idea 😂😂😂

[xenstarnetwork]

Summary:

Cold Email

Reddit

cold outreach

door to door

Linkedin

Hacker news

Network (Friends)

[vincenthus]

Life hack: pay your customers to be your customers

[sricharangovindolla]

My notes: LinkedIn is always better to reach your first customer.