Free tool · No signup
YC Application Checker
Fill in your full YC application — all 10 questions — and get free feedback on every answer, your fit with YC's Request for Startups, and similar accepted YC startups.
Your full YC application · free check · no sign-up
0/10 answeredOptional · start from your website
Have a live website? We read it and show how a YC partner sees it in 5 seconds. We can also fill in starter answers for you.
Fill in at least 3 answers. The more you fill in, the better the feedback.
1 free scan · competitor reality check
"We have no competitors" is one of the fastest ways to lose a YC reader. Add up to 3 competitor websites. We read them today and help you say clearly why you're different.
Full application review packs
The free check tells you what's weak. A review pack fixes it: every answer rewritten, checked against YC partner advice, plus your video, red flags and interview prep.
Free vs full YC application review
Free check
- All 10 answers read
- A score and the biggest problem for each answer
- Clarity grade A–F and top 3 fixes
- RFS fit and a "why now" tip
- 2 similar YC startups
- Vague words to cut
Detailed rewrite · $29
- A rewrite of every answer
- 5 rounds of checks
- How to frame your idea for the RFS
- 4 similar YC startups, uniqueness and traction checks
- Video tips and a downloadable report
YC application tips: 3 common mistakes
- Vague first sentence. "An AI platform that empowers teams" says nothing. Say who uses it and what it does: "Billing software for small dental clinics."
- No proof people need it. Say who you talked to, what they use today, and what they told you.
- "We have no competitors." Every idea has an option people use today, even a spreadsheet. Name it and say why you are better.
What a strong answer to the YC application questions looks like
Short, plain and specific. A busy reader should understand what you make and why it matters in about 10 seconds. Use numbers when you have them, and skip big words. See real examples in our YC application guide, compare your idea with the YC Request for Startups, and keep your drafts in the application tracker.
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Keep your drafts in one place
Track all 10 answers and count down to your deadline. The checker can load drafts from it.
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Free YC databases
Everything behind this page is in our open databases
Batch lists, rejection case studies, RFS playbooks and launch guides — all free to read, no signup.
Playbook
RFS Playbook 2026 →
All 15 YC Request for Startups ideas, each turned into a customer, wedge and 90-day plan.
Database
YC Rejection Database →
Airbnb, Stripe, Reddit — founders who got rejected first, with every source linked.
Database
YC Solo Founder Database →
20+ verified solo founders, their pre-YC traction and the exact application framing they used.
Browse all free YC databases → · or start on the YCInsight homepage
FAQ
Is the YC application checker free?
Yes. Fill in all 10 questions and get a free score and the biggest problem for every answer, with no sign-up. The detailed rewrite of every answer is $29 for one report, with 5 rounds of checks.
Does my idea need to be on the YC RFS list?
No. YC funds many ideas outside the Request for Startups. The checker tells you if your idea fits a theme, and if not, how to explain why now is the right time.
Where do the similar YC startups come from?
Only from the YC founder stories on this site. The checker never makes up companies, and each one links to its full story.
Can this tell me if I'll get into YC?
No. Nobody outside YC can. It shows where your answers are unclear and how to make them sharper.
Is my application saved?
No. Your answers are sent to be checked and are not stored by us.
How can I get feedback on my YC application before I submit?
Paste your answers here for a free review. Then ask a founder who has been through YC, or a friend outside tech, to read it. If they can't repeat what you do in one sentence, simplify it.
Can I edit my YC application after submitting?
Check YC's apply page for the current rules. It's safer to review your answers before you submit, which is what this checker is for.
Keep reading
Playbook
YC Application Guide →
Process, essays, interview, and how to use the founder database before applying.
Ideas
YC Request for Startups →
All 15 RFS ideas YC actively wants funded in 2026.
Questions
YC Application Questions →
Every question on the YC application, what reviewers want, and good vs bad answers.
Interview
YC Interview Questions →
The 10 questions partners ask, and what each one is really testing.
New here? Start on the YCInsight homepage — every YC database, founder story and Q&A in one place. Or jump straight to the free YC databases.