Pillar guide · Updated 2026

The Y Combinator application, end to end.

One form, fifteen questions, a one-minute video, and a 10-minute interview stand between you and $500K. This is the full map: what to write, when to submit, what partners score, and what happens after you hit send.

What the application actually is

There is no deck, no referral, no fee and no minimum stage. YC's form asks about your company, your founders, your progress, your idea, and your equity — then asks for a one-minute video of the founding team talking to camera. Two or more partners read every submission.

Acceptance sits at roughly 1–2% of applicants overall and around 20% of the founders who reach an interview. See the batch-by-batch numbers on YC acceptance rate.

The five-step application sequence

  1. 01

    Lock the one-sentence description

    If a partner can't repeat what you do after reading one line, nothing else in the form gets read carefully.

  2. 02

    Write the progress section first

    Users, revenue, launch dates, growth rate. Numbers beat adjectives everywhere in this form.

  3. 03

    Answer the founder questions honestly

    Founder-market fit is scored. 'I spent four years inside this workflow' outranks any credential.

  4. 04

    Film the one-minute video

    Faces on camera, each founder speaks, no slides, no production. It exists to prove you're real people who can talk.

  5. 05

    Submit early, then keep updating

    The update field is the most under-used lever in the whole process. Post every launch and metric jump until decisions go out.

Deadlines and timeline

YC runs four batches a year now. Applications close roughly three months before each batch starts, interviews land 3–4 weeks after the deadline, and decisions come the same day as the interview. The dated calendar lives on YC application deadlines.

The interview

Ten minutes, rapid fire, no pitch. Partners interrupt, jump between topics, and probe the weakest claim in your form. Rehearse against the 10 questions partners actually ask.

If you get in

The standard deal is $125K for 7% plus $375K on an uncapped MFN SAFE. The mechanics are on the $500K YC deal and post-money SAFE.

FAQ

How do I apply to Y Combinator?

You fill in a single online form at ycombinator.com/apply — around 15 written questions plus a one-minute founder video. There is no fee, no warm intro required, and no deck. Roughly 1–2% of applicants get in; about 20% of those who reach the interview stage are funded.

Is the YC application free?

Yes. There is no application fee, and YC has never charged one. Anyone, anywhere, at any stage — including pre-idea and pre-incorporation — can submit.

Do I need a co-founder to apply?

No, but solo founders face a higher bar. YC funds solo founders every batch, and we track 40+ of them in the solo founder database, but two-founder teams remain the modal accepted shape.

Do I need revenue or users to apply?

No. Plenty of accepted teams apply pre-launch. What YC screens for is velocity — evidence that you build fast and talk to users — not absolute numbers.

How long is the YC application?

Most founders spend 3–6 hours on a strong first draft. Answers should be 2–4 sentences, specific, and full of concrete numbers, user names, and dates.

What happens after I submit?

Two or more partners read every application. Interview invites go out roughly 3–4 weeks after the deadline, interviews are 10 minutes over video, and decisions arrive the same day or within 24 hours.

Can I reapply if rejected?

Yes, and it works. A large share of funded companies applied more than once. Reapplying with visible progress since the last attempt is one of the strongest signals you can send.

Keep reading

Questions

YC Application Questions →

Every question on the YC application, what reviewers want, and good vs bad answers.

Timeline

YC Application Deadline →

Every 2026 batch deadline, interview window and decision date.

Playbook

YC Application Examples →

Airbnb, Stripe, Reddit — real accepted YC applications, decoded.

Interview

YC Interview Questions →

The 10 questions partners ask, and what each one is really testing.

Data

YC Acceptance Rate →

1–2% overall, ~20% after interview — the real numbers batch by batch.

Playbook

How to Apply to YC →

Application questions, video tips, and what partners look for.