If you've applied early, will the (updated) application be checked again after the deadline, or are the chances that it's been looked at already and already evaluated?
AMA with YC Partner Aaron Harris on Applying to YC – S17 Deadline Is Tonight
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Re: AMA with YC Partner Aaron Harris on Applying to YC – S17 Deadline Is Tonight
#22Hey Aaron, we applied last batch and got an in person interview! Do you have any advice on how to get back there? (we have better numbers and a better product)
Great to hear that you've made more progress! Just describe it clearly and talk about anything new you've learned.
Re: AMA with YC Partner Aaron Harris on Applying to YC – S17 Deadline Is Tonight
#23If there's a competing startup funded already by YC, will you make sure that they won't get details of the application?
Re: AMA with YC Partner Aaron Harris on Applying to YC – S17 Deadline Is Tonight
#24What's the best stage of startup for applying to YC - when you have a product in mind and still chalking out the plan, working on Product Market Fit (not building it yet)? when you have a working prototype? when you already have some traction? any of above?
This is a great question. We take companies at all different stages, from ideas through those who are already in market with customers.
The "right stage" is more a question of how long you've been working than an absolute state. The more you can get done in a given amount of time, the better.
Re: AMA with YC Partner Aaron Harris on Applying to YC – S17 Deadline Is Tonight
#25If you apply early, and then decide to rewrite everything, does anyone see the edits or has the decision been made?
If someone on the admissions team happened to look at your earlier application, sure, but that doesn't get considered. We just look at finished applications when making decisions.
Re: AMA with YC Partner Aaron Harris on Applying to YC – S17 Deadline Is Tonight
#26Hey Aaron, If you've previous applied and got at least to a video interview. Can it work against you if you've slightly changed your answer to 'Describe your company...' and 'What will your company make'?
It won't work against you. Did you change what you do, or just how you describe it?
Just how it is described.
Any suggestions on how to go further than a video interview the next time you apply? What do you all look for?
Re: AMA with YC Partner Aaron Harris on Applying to YC – S17 Deadline Is Tonight
#27I am feeling a little worried of our changes while applying to YC. I remember reading that YC looks for companies with can grow up to 10BN.
While we think we can definitely grow upwards of 1 Billion which is what VC firms usually look up too. After 1 Billion is gonna depend a lot on being able to lower the cost of the product enough to increase volume
How hard is this rule? What if the company cannot reach that 10 Billions in Revenue in the future is that a weighted heavily on the application?
Re: AMA with YC Partner Aaron Harris on Applying to YC – S17 Deadline Is Tonight
#28Do YC reviewers watch the video first, or at the same time as the text app, or only watch the video if they like the text app?
I have no idea what the process is but in a previous application my video (AFAICT from YouTube Analytics) was never viewed.
Re: AMA with YC Partner Aaron Harris on Applying to YC – S17 Deadline Is Tonight
#29Hi Aaron, please tell what docs are needed at the YC office (we're optimistic!) if there is no legal entity yet? In other words, how should I prove the thing is really ours? Is it actually bad that we aren't incorporated? We didn't hurry with this, because we are outside of the US and we know about the need to convert a legal entity into a US one.
It's fine that you aren't incorporated yet, and I'm glad you waited! Many applicants have not formed a legal entity when they apply. If you are accepted in the S17 batch, we will help you incorporate in the US.
Re: AMA with YC Partner Aaron Harris on Applying to YC – S17 Deadline Is Tonight
#30What's the best stage of startup for applying to YC - when you have a product in mind and still chalking out the plan, working on Product Market Fit (not building it yet)? when you have a working prototype? when you already have some traction? any of above?
This is a great question. We take companies at all different stages, from ideas through those who are already in market with customers. The "right stage" is more a question of how long you've been working than an absolute state. The more you can get done in a given amount of time, the better.
> The more you can get done in a given amount of time, the better.
Time meaning calendar days or person hours? E.g. if you're comparing a two cofounder startup with a three cofounder startup, where they've each been working full time for a year, do you care more about absolute progress after a year or about progress normalized to the number of person hours?
Obviously after you invest the main metric that matters is progress per calendar day, since that's what affects your IRR. But if a startup hasn't taken external funding then there is a more interesting discussion to be had about the relative meaningfulness of each, how their importance might be shifting over time, etc.