So, you’ve probably seen that Reddit post floating around titled “How We Got Into YC on Our First Try.”
It blew up, and for good reason.
The OP and her husband (and sister!) shared their wild ride from FAANG employees to YC-backed founders. Their story was raw, real, and packed with actionable advice.
I’m here to riff on their experience, add my own two cents, and maybe inspire you to take the leap too.
The Backstory: FAANG to Mom’s Basement
The OP and her husband were living the SF tech dream—Google and Apple paychecks, free lunches, and all the perks.
But, as she put it, “corporate life was slowly killing our souls.”
Sound familiar? They started tinkering with side projects, and their first Discord bot gave them that sweet, sweet founder high.
You know the one—where you ship something, and it’s like, “Holy crap, we made this.” Addictive, right?
So, they did what most people only dream about: they quit their jobs, moved in with her mom, and went full indie hacker mode. Over seven months, they shipped seven products.
SEVEN.
Some even made money. When they finally hit on a bigger idea that needed funding, YC was the obvious choice.
The Application Hacks That Actually Worked
Here’s where their advice gets juicy. Let’s break it down:
- Apply Late, Move Fast
They applied late in the batch, and it turned out to be a secret weapon. YC partners are scrambling to fill slots, so decisions come quicker. Their timeline? Insane:Moral of the story? Don’t wait for the “perfect” time. Just apply.- Started application Friday
- Submitted Sunday
- Interview invite Monday/Tuesday
- Interview Thursday
- Acceptance call THAT NIGHT
- Cut the Fluff, Be Ruthlessly Concise
They spent a weekend crafting their application, but the real magic was in cutting it down. As they said, “clarity beats completeness.” YC doesn’t want your life story—they want to know you can execute. So, answer the questions, and nothing more. - Have a Working Prototype (Even If It’s Ugly)
Her husband (the CTO) cranked out a basic prototype over the weekend. Their demo video was 1-2 minutes of core functionality. No frills, just proof they could build. As they put it, “No bells and whistles, just execution.” - Talk to Real Users (Like, Yesterday)
After getting the interview invite, they went into overdrive on user research. She spent 48 hours calling every product manager she knew, gathering real stories about the problem they were solving. This paid off big time in the interview—when YC asked for details, she had actual user anecdotes ready.My take? User research isn’t just a box to check. It’s your secret weapon. Do it early, do it often. - Show Founder Grit
Having two ex-FAANG engineers on the team definitely helped, but what really stood out was their founder grit. They’d already quit their jobs, moved home, and shipped seven products. As they said, “Actions speak louder than words.”If you’re sitting on the fence, ask yourself: “What am I willing to sacrifice to make this happen?” - Family Teams Can Be a Strength
Here’s a fun twist: her sister was also a co-founder. Some investors see family teams as a red flag, but they spun it as a strength. They’d already proven they could work together, and co-founder breakup risk was minimal.My two cents? If you’re building with family, lean into it. Just make sure you can handle the Thanksgiving dinner table debates.
The Interview : 10 Minutes of Chaos
The actual interview was short.
Like, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it short. Here’s what they learned:
- YC showed up 15 minutes late (don’t panic if this happens).
- Questions were straightforward.
- It felt like they’d mostly decided and were just checking for red flags.
- That famous “email = reject, call = accept” thing? 100% true in their case.
Final Thoughts: Just Ship It
The OP’s biggest piece of advice? “Focus on showing you can ship quickly and have thought about your user thoroughly.”
And honestly, that’s the golden nugget. YC isn’t looking for perfection—they’re looking for founders who can execute, adapt, and solve real problems.
So, if you’re sitting on an idea, stop overthinking it. Build something. Talk to users. Apply.
Oh, and if you’re building with your spouse or sibling? Own it. Family drama aside, it might just be your secret sauce.
Inspired by that Reddit post? Yeah, me too. Now go build something.
