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YC Startup Idea Generator
Pick a YC Request for Startups category, add a domain you know, and get a concrete startup idea with a 90-day validation plan.
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Validate the idea against what YC wants
The RFS guide breaks down every 2026 category with the problems partners say they’d fund today.
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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.
Playbook
Product Hunt Launch Playbook →
Hour-by-hour launch day playbook calibrated to the 2026 Product Hunt algorithm.
Index
List of YC Companies →
Searchable index of YC alumni by batch, from Airbnb (W09) to the newest AI startups.
Browse all free YC databases → · or start on the YCInsight homepage
FAQ
Should I build exactly what the RFS says?
No. YC funds founders, not categories. Use the RFS to understand what partners are excited about, then bring your own evidence and unfair advantage.
What makes a good YC idea?
A real problem you understand deeply, a small wedge you can build in weeks, and a path to a billion-dollar market.
Can I apply with multiple ideas?
Pick the one you can talk about most convincingly. The idea matters less than the team's velocity and insight.
Is the YC idea generator free?
Yes, free with no signup required.
Are these ideas based on YC's Request for Startups?
Yes. Each idea is anchored to an RFS category, then paired with a specific customer, a wedge, and a 90-day validation plan.
Keep reading
Ideas
YC Request for Startups →
All 15 RFS ideas YC actively wants funded in 2026.
Playbook
YC RFS Playbook 2026 →
All 15 YC Request for Startups ideas, turned into founder playbooks.
Playbook
How to Talk to Users →
The YC playbook for user interviews — questions, patterns, mistakes.
RFS
YC Company Brain →
Tom Blomfield's enterprise AI layer — decoded.
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.