- You don't need to know anyone at YC to get in.
- YC alumni recommendation is not necessary.
- It is a negative signal when founders solicit recommendations from alumni who barely know them.

A common misconception from founders applying to Y Combinator is that you need to know someone in the YC network to get accepted. YC Head of Admissions Stephanie Simon addresses this myth and shares why sometimes it might even be a negative signal.

Apply to YC today at ycombinator.com/apply.

Y Combinator is a startup accelerator that provides seed funding for startups. We've backed companies like Airbnb, Coinbase, DoorDash, Reddit, Inc. Razorpay and more.

You don't need to know anyone at YC to get in.

There is some bad advice on the internet that says you need a YC alumni recommendation.

If a YC alumni knows you well and wants to chime in on your behalf, we'll gladly read it.

But hundreds of startups get in every batch without a recommendation.

And it's actually a negative signal when founders solicit a bunch of recommendations from alumni who barely know them.

It can come across as spammy, so I just wouldn't do it.


Speaker 0: You don't need to know anyone at YC to get in. There is some bad advice on the internet that says you need a YC alumni recommendation. That is not the case. If a YC alumni knows you well and wants to chime in on your behalf, we'll gladly read it. But hundreds of startups get in every batch without a recommendation.

And it's actually a negative signal when founders solicit a bunch of recommendations from alumni who barely know them. It can come across as spammy, so I just wouldn't do it.

See all Y Combinator transcripts on Youtube

Do I need to know someone at YC to get in?