Ep. 5: Applying to Y Combinator? What to Expect + Application Tips from a 2-Time YC Founder

Considering applying to Y Combinator, the world's top startup accelerator? In this episode, Govind Chandrasekhar shares his decision-making framework for evaluating if YC is the right fit for your startup and provides expert insights on navigating both the application and interview processes. Govind has been through Y Combinator twice—first in 2013 with Semantics3 and again in 2023 with Branch AI. If you’re working on your YC application and would like feedback, feel free to send it to yc@weekendentrepreneurs.com, or connect with Govind directly on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/govindchandrasekhar/ Chapters: 00:00 - Teaser 00:38 - Introduction 01:20 - What is Y Combinator (YC)? 02:17 - What made Govind apply to YC in 2013? 04:21 - Notable companies from Govind’s 2013 YC cohort 06:03 - A typical day/week at YC 10:06 - How much do the YC partners actually help you? 12:33 - Govind’s experience meeting Sam Altman 14:30 - When is the right time to apply to YC? What kinds of founders benefit the most from it? 16:28 - Does YC make sense for startups targeting non-US markets? 20:02 - Why Govind reapplied to YC in 2023 23:45 - Common mistakes founders make in their YC applications 31:56 - What founders should expect during the YC interview process #entrepreneurship #ycombinator #yc #incubator #startupaccelerator #fundraising #startup #startupjourney