The most brutal and funniest YC application roasts of the month, picked by AI from hundreds of submissions.
May 2 – Jun 1, 2026
“June for a deployable prototype is late when one founder is part-time until July and you have zero users.”
Strong problem and wedge, but execution velocity is too slow to matter without dramatic acceleration.
Why featured: Calls out part-time founder and zero users with June prototype as fatally slow execution.
“This is a pitch deck, not a YC application, with zero traction, no revenue, no users, and no proof garages will actually adopt or pay for it.”
Big market, smart technical approach with NVIDIA validation, but entirely theoretical with no customer pull.
Why featured: Dismisses entire application as pitch deck theater with zero proof garages will adopt.
“V1 broke on real data, you have zero customers outside your dad, and a $100K to $700K ACV range means you have never actually priced this.”
Legitimately smart technical builder, but 8 weeks too early, come back when V2 works and someone not related to you will pay for it.
Why featured: V1 broke, only customer is dad, price range proves you've never actually sold this.
“This is not a completed YC application, it is a placeholder with a name and email but no team details, no product, no traction, and no execution proof.”
Strong market, painful problem, but zero evidence this is more than an idea on paper. Needs to show the founder can build and customers will buy.
Why featured: Declares incomplete application a placeholder with no team, product, or execution proof.
“Two users after 11 months full time is not traction, it's a research project with a privacy excuse.”
Sharp clinical insight and real product, but you need 100 users in 90 days or this stays theoretical.
Why featured: Two users after 11 months full-time isn't traction, it's a research project.
“You charge $150/month to replace a $40k/year junior, then QA every output with human reviewers, that's a service business wearing a software costume.”
Real traction and sharp wedge, but prove you can automate the reviewers and charge enterprise prices or stay trapped in SMB land forever.
Why featured: Service business wearing a software costume perfectly captures the unit economics trap.
“V1 broke on real data, you have zero customers outside your dad, and a $100K to $700K ACV range means you have never actually priced this.”
Legitimately smart technical builder, but 8 weeks too early, come back when V2 works and someone not related to you will pay for it.
Why featured: Only customer outside your dad is harsh and memorable founder-market fit callout.
“Solo software engineer building a certified jet aircraft with no aerospace co-founder is a slow-motion failure waiting to happen.”
Massive swing on a real problem with impressive engineering work, but crushing execution risk without the right team.
Why featured: Solo software engineer building certified jet aircraft as slow-motion failure is darkly funny.
Free roasts by Lobster Capital