Playbooks
Find a repeatable way to work. Review its steps, then start a case.
A practical, batch-agnostic playbook for writing, reviewing, and defending a Y Combinator application. Suitable for idea-stage, launched, revenue-generating, and technical startups. Outcome: a clear English application supported by an evidence ledger, honest stage-appropriate metrics, founder and market insight, a founder video outline, and interview preparation. Operating principles: Lead with what the product actually does. Answer each prompt directly, then support the claim with specific, verifiable facts. Separate what has been done, observed, inferred, and planned. Show founder-specific achievements, customer understanding, execution, competitive insight, and credible potential to grow. Use plain English. Do not invent users, revenue, quotes, credentials, or results. Start with minimal context. Gather company details and evidence progressively in the steps, only when relevant. No batch deadlines or preset schedule. Exact form questions and constraints are checked when available. References live in each step's Resource Hints. The included review rubric is an editorial tool, not an official YC scoring system.
