3 common YC interview mistakes

It's interview season for Y Combinator. Diana shares three common mistakes founders should avoid!

[kwhandy]

missed mistake number 0, not receiving yc interview invitation

[Greg_Chase]

My opening statement: "We have an AI MVP with 150 paying customers - the customers are in the defense, aerospace, mining, and shipbuilding industries. The AI application helps in the design of artificial gravity hulls for undersea, airborne, and underground devices and vehicles" - the "150 paying customers" is a great conversation lubricant.

[udamo]

Would be really interesting to have a video on what kind of founders write good applications but fall down at interview in the ways you’ve described above. It’s interesting that people can write well but can’t present well

[lauramccann]

I have a reunion with our first client in an hour, we're a marketing agency, and the third tip was an answer for my doubt of: should I make it professional or more personal and human? Thank

[AgilityFeat]

First two mistakes indicate your pitch is under prepared, third mistake sounds like over preparation. So being prepared “just right” but being able to deliver it in a way that sounds casual and passionate would be key. Seems tough to do and connect with people in only 10 minutes, but it’s still good advice!

[Teatea]

Those three questions are not for answering investers, it is most important thing for founder keep asking those questions to themselves over and over again to identify what is the most important thing to do for now compared their always limited time and resources.

[jordanchristley]

Thanks for this, I hope to be interviewing soon to see what you guys think of Jail Cell Apts :)

[george_davituri]

Yep so true, describe your product in three word

[ankurbhuyan]

Hey hey hey ... actually I'm naturally Good at all these things ...I'm 22 Should I apply with my idea .

[PhillipHilton]

You don't mean 'customers' you mean 'prospects.' 'Prospects' don't become 'customers' until 'after' they have 'paid you' for your product or service. At that point they are 'customers' until then they aren't.

Also, until someone actually pays you don't have a 'business' you have a 'science project.'

[raunakashgulati]

Mistake #4, don't come from a FAANG company or an Ivy league

[daysofend]

So basically just people trying to find a problem for their solution.

[Ari_Shukla]

I am a YC fan, We applied on 24th May by the name of Tiluf, sorry for the late Submission - please consider it

We launched on 23rd and got the time and confidence on the 24th- that we are ready now -- please review it -- I hope you guys like us and support us on what we are doing -

Looking forward to changing the world with you'll