YC deadline in <2 weeks; Who's applying?
If you're applying, reply below with what you're building so we can cheer you on!
If you're doing a startup and not applying, why aren't you applying?
If I were starting a company today, I would 100% apply even though I've done it before with @Tandem (S19) for a few key reasons:
The partners help. A lot. (this isn't common. Most people who say they help startups are neutral or harmful)
The network is insane, especially for b2b companies. It will accelerate your G2M like nothing else.
You'll learn what real speed looks like, by grinding alongside the top early stage founders. Every time I talk to a current or recent YC company or go to the events, I'm reminded what top speed looks like. And I'm also reminded that the speed that start-ups are capable of gets faster every year, especially with AI.
As for hesitations...sometimes people balk at the dilution, but generally speaking, the higher price that startups command in their next round at Demo Day more than compensates.
Replies
Applied to YC Spring 2026! Building CatsMe — an AI app that reads cat facial expressions to detect pain and stress. Co-developed with Nihon University's veterinary researchers in Japan.
We've grown to 31,000+ users across 50 countries with zero ad spend. Cats hide pain by instinct, so most owners don't notice until it's too late. Our AI catches what humans miss.
Solo founder, based in Tokyo. Whether YC says yes or not, we're shipping every day. Good luck to everyone applying — rooting for all of you.