YC Startup Library · Starting Up

▶️ Video

✓ Link checked Free Beginner

Why we picked it A YC partner turns 'talk to users' into a repeatable 5-question interview script you can use this afternoon. It's The Mom Test compressed into a lecture, perfect if you want the method fast before reading the book.

How to Talk to Users

On YC Startup Library by Eric Migicovsky (YC / founder of Pebble) ~25 min

Don't pitch your idea, you'll bias every answer.
Anchor on the last time they hit the problem, and what they did about it.
If they've done nothing to solve it, the problem may not be painful enough.

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Answers How do I talk to customers without getting false positives? How many people should I talk to, and how do I find them? How do I talk to customers without them just telling me what I want to hear? What questions should I actually ask in a customer interview? How many customer interviews do I need before I trust the signal? How do I show a prototype to users without biasing their reaction? How do I actually uncover the job my customers are hiring my product for? How do I get honest answers when the person I'm interviewing is a friend or someone in my network?

▶️ Video

✓ Link checked Free Beginner

Why we picked it Bridges the gap between 'I have an idea' and 'I have evidence.' Gives a concrete framework for cheap, fast tests so you stop debating your idea in your head and start putting it in front of reality.

How to Get and Test Startup Ideas

On YC Startup Library by YC ~30 min

An idea is a hypothesis, not a plan, design a test for it.
Cheaper, faster tests beat elaborate ones.
Look for signal in behaviour, not applause.

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Answers What does 'validating an idea' actually mean? How do I know if my idea is any good? How do I validate an idea without building anything?

▶️ Video

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Why we picked it A YC partner turns 'how do I get an idea' into a concrete checklist you can run today, plus the traps (tarpit ideas) that sink beginners. It's the practical companion to Paul Graham's essay, with a repeatable framework for judging an idea's strength.

How to Get and Evaluate Startup Ideas

On YC Startup Library by Jared Friedman (Y Combinator) ~50 min

Evaluate ideas on the problem: how many people have it, how often, and how badly.
Watch out for 'tarpit ideas' that feel exciting but have quietly killed hundreds of startups.
The best sources are your own expertise, things you personally wish existed, and noticing recent changes.

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Answers I want to start a startup but I don't have an idea. Where do I even begin? How do I come up with startup ideas that aren't just 'Uber for X'? Should I solve a problem I personally have, or chase a bigger market? How do I know if my idea is a real problem or just a 'nice to have'? I have too many ideas. How do I pick which one to actually work on? What makes an Indian startup idea work when the market is so price-sensitive? Should I chase whatever is hot (AI, crypto) or build in a boring niche?

📄 Article

✓ Link checked Free Beginner

Why we picked it YC is the canonical authority on early-stage team formation, and this is their direct playbook for the exact problem a non-technical founder faces. Practical and honest about the trade-offs of agencies vs. a real partner.

How to Find a Technical Co-Founder

From YC Startup Library by Y Combinator ~12 min read

A technical co-founder beats an agency for a real product company.
Build your network first, don't cold-pitch strangers.
Show tangible progress to attract a strong technical partner.

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Answers I'm non-technical, do I actually need a technical co-founder? How do I actually find a technical co-founder? Should I hire an agency or a freelancer to build my MVP? What equity should I offer a technical co-founder vs. an early engineer?

📄 Article

✓ Link checked Free Beginner

Why we picked it Directly answers the scoping question non-technical founders wrestle with, build in-house vs. outsource, backed by patterns across thousands of YC companies. The honest counterweight to 'just hire an agency.'

Does Your Tech Startup Really Need a Technical Co-Founder? (Yes)

From YC Startup Library by Y Combinator ~10 min read

Companies without technical ownership measurably underperform.
Agencies and outsourcing are a stopgap, not a foundation.
Bringing tech in-house should be a priority, not a 'later' problem.

Open ycombinator.com →

Answers I'm non-technical, do I actually need a technical co-founder? Should I hire an agency or a freelancer to build my MVP?

▶️ Video

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Why we picked it Michael Seibel (co-founder of Twitch, YC managing director) breaks the first-ten problem into a concrete, repeatable playbook. Perfect for a founder staring at zero customers.

How to Get Your First Ten Customers

On YC Startup Library by Michael Seibel (Y Combinator) ~15 min

Your first customers come from personal outreach, not marketing.
Identify exactly who your customer is before you go find them.
Get on calls and in conversations rather than hiding behind a landing page.
Turn a waitlist into a list of people to reach out to one by one.

Open ycombinator.com →

Answers How do I actually get my first 10 customers when nobody has heard of me? Where do I find the very first people to even talk to about my product? I only have a landing page and a waitlist, how do I turn signups into paying customers?

▶️ Video

✓ Link checked Free Beginner

Why we picked it A YC partner and ex-Airbnb growth lead gives a tactical, no-fluff talk on landing early customers for both B2B and B2C. It's canonical and free.

How to Get Your First Customers

On YC Startup Library by Gustaf Alstromer (Y Combinator) ~30 min video

Do things that don't scale, and do sales yourself as a founder.
Charge for your product early, paying customers give honest signal.
Work backwards from your goals to figure out how many customers you need.
Understand your funnel even when the numbers are tiny.

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Answers How do I actually get my first 10 customers when nobody has heard of me? Isn't doing things that don't scale a waste of time, shouldn't I automate from day one? Should I charge my very first customers or give it away free to get traction?

📄 Article

✓ Link checked Free Beginner

Why we picked it Fifty-plus recent YC founders answer the exact question every early founder asks. The pattern across their answers is the lesson.

Founder FAQ: How did you get your first customer?

From YC Startup Library by Y Combinator (50+ founders) ~10 min read

Nearly every first customer came from a personal connection or direct outreach.
Founders hustled, DMs, cold emails, communities, and events, not ads.
Speed and persistence beat polish at this stage.
There's no magic channel; there's founder effort applied to a specific niche.

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Answers Should I charge my very first customers or give it away free to get traction?

▶️ Video

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Why we picked it The definitive talk that reframes launching from a one-shot event into a repeatable tactic, exactly this category's thesis. YC partner Kat Manalac gives concrete relaunch strategies.

How to Launch (Again and Again)

On YC Startup Library by Kat Manalac (Y Combinator) ~25 min

Launching is a continuous process, not a single moment you get one shot at.
Most first launches get ignored, that's normal, so relaunch repeatedly.
Relaunch around new features, audiences, milestones, and channels.
Use tactics like pre-orders and outreach to bloggers without big sponsorships.

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Answers When is my product 'ready' to launch? My launch flopped and nobody cared, did I mess it up? What's the best channel to launch on, Product Hunt, Reddit, Hacker News, or LinkedIn? How do I build up an audience before I launch so it's not just crickets? How often should I be launching, is once a quarter too much?

📄 Article

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Why we picked it A practical companion piece on how to actually execute launches and build an audience to launch to. Pairs perfectly with the 'launch again and again' mindset.

The best way to launch your startup

From YC Startup Library by Y Combinator ~12 min read

Build an audience and email list before launch day so it isn't crickets.
Ship early rather than waiting for a perfect product.
Pick channels that match where your customers actually are.
Have a clear story and assets ready before you launch.

Open ycombinator.com →

Answers When is my product 'ready' to launch? My launch flopped and nobody cared, did I mess it up? How do I actually launch on Product Hunt and not embarrass myself? How do I build up an audience before I launch so it's not just crickets?

▶️ Video

✓ Link checked Free Beginner

Why we picked it A step-by-step, modern YC walkthrough of identifying buyers, starting conversations, and converting them into your first customers. Very actionable for a founder starting cold.

How to Get Your First 10 Customers

On YC Startup Library by Max Kolysh (Y Combinator) ~20 min

Identify the right buyers before you spend effort reaching out.
Start real conversations rather than broadcasting.
Convert conversations into your first paying customers deliberately.
Founder hustle, not automation, gets you the first ten.

Open ycombinator.com →

Answers How do I actually get my first 10 customers when nobody has heard of me? Where do I find the very first people to even talk to about my product? I only have a landing page and a waitlist, how do I turn signups into paying customers?

📄 Article

✓ Link checked Free Beginner

Why we picked it A curated collection of YC's best primary guidance on how to find, evaluate, and test a co-founder, straight from the people who've seen thousands of founding teams. It's practical, opinionated, and free.

Finding a Co-Founder (YC Startup Library)

From YC Startup Library by Y Combinator Curated essay + video collection

Prioritize people you've worked with over strangers
Run a paid trial project before making it official
Have the hard money and equity conversations early, not later

Open ycombinator.com →

Answers Do I actually need a co-founder, or can I go solo? Where do I actually find a co-founder if I don't already know one? What should I look for in a co-founder, and what are red flags? How do I 'date' a potential co-founder before committing? As a non-technical founder, how do I find a technical co-founder?

📄 Article

✓ Link checked Free Beginner

Why we picked it A concrete, tactical guide to presenting yourself well to potential co-founders, useful whether or not you use YC's platform. It clarifies what a great co-founder is actually evaluating.

How to make your co-founder matching profile stand out

From YC Startup Library by Y Combinator Short read

Treat your profile as an elevator pitch for yourself
Show a specific accomplishment that reveals how you think
Be explicit about what you're looking for in a partner

Open ycombinator.com →

Answers Do I actually need a co-founder, or can I go solo? What should I look for in a co-founder, and what are red flags? Should I co-found with a friend or family member?

📄 Article

✓ Link checked Free Intermediate

Why we picked it Battle-tested YC advice on landing your critical first engineering hire, from founders who've done it at scale. It reframes hiring as a founder-led sales and persistence problem.

How to hire your first engineer (YC Startup Library)

From YC Startup Library by Y Combinator (Greg Brockman, Harj Taggar) Essay

Treat hiring like fundraising: personalized outreach and relentless follow-up
Leverage your personal network before generic job posts
Generate inbound with content and a crisp mission

Open ycombinator.com →

Answers When should I make my first hire? How do I hire my first engineer when nobody's heard of my startup? What kind of people should my first ten hires be? Should I hire full-time employees, contractors, or an agency first? How do I interview and evaluate candidates when I've never hired before?

📄 Article

✓ Link checked Free Intermediate

Why we picked it YC's full curated body of hiring wisdom, from when to hire to how to close and evaluate early employees. The best free, high-signal resource for founders hiring for the first time.

Hiring & Recruiting (YC Startup Library collection)

From YC Startup Library by Y Combinator Curated essays + talks

Wait longer than feels comfortable to make your first hires
Hire generalists with high slope, low ego, and comfort with ambiguity
Use paid work samples and honest reference checks over trivia interviews

Open ycombinator.com →

Answers When should I make my first hire? How do I hire my first engineer when nobody's heard of my startup? What kind of people should my first ten hires be? Should I hire full-time employees, contractors, or an agency first? How do I compensate early employees with salary and equity in India? How do I interview and evaluate candidates when I've never hired before?

✍️ Essay

✓ Link checked Free Intermediate

Why we picked it A YC partner who has read thousands of applications tells you plainly what separates the founders who get in from the ones who don't. It doubles as a masterclass in pitching and self-evaluation that applies to any accelerator or pitch competition, not just YC.

How to Apply and Succeed at Y Combinator

From YC Startup Library by Dalton Caldwell Long-form essay / talk

In interviews, winning founders show mastery of their own business, they can explain what they're building and know their own numbers cold.
Filling out the application is valuable in itself: it forces you to confront differentiation, competitors and why-now.
Avoid 'tar pit' ideas, the well-worn concepts (e.g. music discovery) that tens of thousands of founders have already attempted.
Be concrete and specific; vague, buzzword-filled applications get filtered out fast.

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Answers How do I get into YC or a top accelerator, what do they actually look for? Are pitch competitions worth my time, and how do I win one? I'm still at the idea stage with no team, am I too early for any of this?

▶️ Video

✓ Link checked Free Beginner

Why we picked it Michael Seibel is blunt that many startups die not from competition but because the founders lose the will to keep going, and that loss usually traces back to picking a problem they never actually cared about. That is what forcing founder-market fit looks like from the inside, so this is a candid gut-check on whether your conviction is real. Treat it as a mirror for your own motivation, not a diagnosis of your idea.

Why do startups fail?

On YC Startup Library by Michael Seibel ~10 min

A common failure pattern is founders solving a problem they chose because it looked big or trendy, not one they would give five plus years of their life to.
Weak conviction shows up later as fading motivation, so honestly asking "do I actually care about this problem and these users?" early is a real warning system.
Being lukewarm about the people you serve (not just the problem) is its own red flag for forced fit.

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Answers What are the warning signs that I have weak founder-market fit and I'm forcing it?

✍️ Essay

✓ Link checked Free Beginner

Why we picked it Graham wrote this after watching hundreds of early companies fail, so the failure patterns are observed, not theorized. Two of his mistakes go straight at trend-chasing: the derivative idea (building an imitation of whatever is hot) and the marginal niche (picking a weak market to dodge competition), both of which trace back to his root failure, not making something users actually want. It is a good starting point for pressure-testing whether you are building on a trend or just following one.

The 18 Mistakes That Kill Startups

From YC Startup Library by Paul Graham ~20 min read

Copying a hot company (a derivative idea) is a top killer: real startups usually start from a problem the founder personally felt, not from a trend to ride.
Chasing an obscure corner to avoid competition is its own trap, you can only dodge competitors by dodging good ideas.
Every mistake funnels back to one test: are real users demonstrably choosing what you built?

Open ycombinator.com →

Answers What are the most common mistakes founders make when they try to build on a hot trend?