YC application readiness checklist
Ten concrete checks for the details founders most often leave inconsistent, vague, or inaccessible before they submit.
Clarity before polish
YC’s application advice repeatedly favors concise, matter-of-fact answers. Make the company, user, progress, and founder advantage legible before tuning prose.
Use the current form
Requirements can change between batches. Treat this as a final quality pass, not a replacement for reading every field in your live YC application.
Open YC’s official application page →Frequently asked questions
What should I check before submitting a YC application?
Check that the product and user are immediately clear, traction numbers are current, founder and equity details agree, competitors are named directly, and every demo or product link works.
Is this an official Y Combinator checklist?
No. This independent preparation aid summarizes recurring application fundamentals and links to YC’s official guidance where possible. YC can change its form and requirements.
Does YC Roaster save my checklist?
No. The checklist runs in your browser and does not ask for your application answers. Anonymous completion counts are used to understand whether the tool is useful.
YC Roaster is not affiliated with Y Combinator. This checklist does not predict application outcomes.