The YC application, question by question
All 27 questions on the 2026 Y Combinator application, in YC's own sections, with what a strong answer looks like.
YC's live form is behind a login and changes between batches. This list is compiled from two founder-published sources that agree with each other, checked against YC's own FAQ and video guidelines. Confirm the final wording when you open the form.
Section
Founders
Each cofounder also fills in a profile (education, work history) through an emailed link.
Who writes code, or does other technical work on your product? Was any of it done by a non-founder? Please explain.
YC wants founders who can build. Name who built what. If an agency or contractor wrote the code, say so plainly and explain how you'll take it over.
Are you looking for a cofounder?
Answer honestly. YC regularly accepts solo founders, so a solo application is not a reason to say yes.
How long have the founders known one another, and how did you meet?
Cofounder breakups kill startups. Give years and concrete shared history: projects, jobs, school.
Section
Company
Company name
Describe what your company does in 50 characters or less.
The only character limit the sources confirm. Say what you make and for whom, in plain words: "Payroll API for Brazilian startups" beats "Reimagining the future of work".
Company URL, if any
Please provide a link to the product, if any.
Include a demo login if partners would otherwise hit a signup wall.
What is your company going to make? Please describe your product and what it does or will do.
Lead with the user and the problem, then what the product does. Skip vision statements; partners read thousands of these.
Where do you live now, and where would the company be based after YC?
Explain your decision regarding location.
Tie it to customers, talent or regulation, not personal preference alone.
Section
Progress
How far along are you?
State exactly what exists today: built, launched, paying users. Specific beats impressive.
How long have each of you been working on this? How much of that has been full-time? Please explain.
What tech stack are you using, or planning to use, to build this product? Include AI models and AI coding tools you use.
List it plainly. Mention which models and AI coding tools you use; YC asks for them explicitly.
Are people using your product?
If yes, the form asks how many active users or customers you have; if no, when people will be able to use it. Use active, not signed-up, numbers.
Do you have revenue?
Give monthly revenue and growth rate. YC says 7% of recent batches had over $50K in monthly revenue when accepted, and about 40% were just an idea, so either is fine if you're honest.
If you are applying with the same idea as a previous batch, did anything change? If you applied with a different idea, why did you pivot and what did you learn from the last idea?
About half of YC companies applied more than once. Show progress since last time in numbers.
If you have already participated or committed to participate in an incubator, "accelerator" or "pre-accelerator" program, please tell us about it.
Section
Idea
Why did you pick this idea to work on? Do you have domain expertise in this area? How do you know people need what you're making?
The strongest answers combine personal experience of the problem with evidence from users: interviews, waitlists, pilots, pre-orders.
Who are your competitors? What do you understand about your business that they don't?
Never say "no competitors". Name them, then give one specific insight they're missing.
How do or will you make money? How much could you make?
Show the arithmetic: price × number of customers you can realistically reach. A bottom-up estimate is more credible than a top-down market-size figure.
If you had any other ideas you considered applying with, please list them.
Section
Equity
Have you formed ANY legal entity yet?
Have you taken any investment yet?
Are you currently fundraising?
Section
Curious
What convinced you to apply to Y Combinator? Did someone encourage you to apply? Have you been to any YC events?
How did you hear about Y Combinator?
Section
Batch preference
What batch do you want to apply for?
YC runs four batches a year (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) and lets you apply now for a later batch, which it calls Early Decision.
The founder video
One minute, founders only
- One minute long, containing nothing except the founders talking.
- Introduce yourselves and explain what you're doing and why.
- Every founder should appear; if you can't be in one room, screen-record a video call.
- Speak from bullet points rather than reading a script.
- It is not a demo or promo video. Demos go in a separate part of the application.
FAQ
- How many questions are on the YC application?
- About 26 questions in seven sections: Founders, Company, Progress, Idea, Equity, Curious and Batch preference, plus a one-minute founder video and a profile for each cofounder.
- How long should the YC founder video be?
- YC asks for a one-minute video containing nothing except the founders talking: introduce yourselves and explain what you're doing and why. It is not a demo or promotional video; demos go elsewhere in the application.
- What is YC's acceptance rate?
- YC says over 10,000 companies apply every three months and it typically accepts about 1%. For Winter 2024 it funded 260 companies from over 27,000 applications.
- Can I edit my YC application after submitting?
- Yes. You can update your application after submitting, which is useful for adding new traction before interview decisions.
Next: read our guide to getting into YC, see YC's deal and timeline, or compare it with other accelerators.
Sources
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