21 hours ago
- Y Combinator (YC) looks for founders who understand their users and can build what they want, rather than exploit people.
- A successful startup must have a 'larval market'—a small but growable market of initial users who urgently need the product.
- The best YC interview preparation is to deeply understand your users and teach the partners about them, not to pitch or control the conversation.
- Founders should be honest about risks, competitors, and gaps in knowledge; partners value thoughtfulness and authenticity over flawless ideas.
- The defining quality of billionaire founders is genuine interest in their project, not exploitation, which correlates with long-term success.