Q&A with YC at the Female Founders Conference 2016

TL;DR

Y Combinator accepts startups at any stage, with no such thing as “too early” or “too late,” and the application itself is a useful exercise. They look for determined, domain-expert teams solving a problem they personally have, with a big idea and clear communication.

Key insights

• YC’s Fellowship program specifically targets even earlier-stage (idea/prototype) companies.
• Going through the application questions is valuable even if you don’t submit.
• YC prioritizes determination, a history of shipping (even on past projects), cofounders who have worked together before, and an idea that could be huge.