Does Y Combinator steal ideas? Common YC myths, checked.

YC's FAQ takes this on directly. Asked whether funding a company with a similar idea hurts an applicant's chances, YC answers “It won't,” and says that, unlike many investors, it does not treat an existing similar company as a factor. It adds that startup ideas change so much that it would end up funding competitors anyway, so “if two YC startups are working on related stuff, we don't talk to one about what the other's doing.”

YC's model points the same way. Its founding principles describe the goal as causing more startups to exist by helping founders start them, and remind YC that it is an investor, not a boss. It even publishes ideas it wants other people to build, in its Requests for Startups.

Now the limit, in YC's own words. The “Application Information Disclosures” section of its privacy policy says that, because it receives so many similar applications, YC cannot accept responsibility for protecting against the misuse or disclosure of general information in them, including anything generally known in your industry. It says “you submit applications at your own risk” and asks applicants to take special care over what they send. None of the YC pages we checked offer a non-disclosure agreement.

The practical reading: treat an application as a pitch, not a confidential document. Give YC what it needs to judge the team and the company, and leave out anything you would not be comfortable sharing, such as unpublished technical details.

No, according to YC. Its FAQ says that one of YC's core principles is considering all applications equally, and that it does not rely on introductions the way many investors do. The application is open to any startup, anywhere in the world.

YC says it would be a mistake to wait. On average, 40% of the companies it funds in each batch are just an idea, and most have no revenue. It also funds companies that are further along: the FAQ says 7% of recent batches had more than $50,000 in monthly revenue when accepted.

YC says it regularly accepts solo founders, while still advising that one-person startups are tough and that you are more likely to succeed with a co-founder. It runs a free co-founder matching service for people looking for one.

The terms are public. YC's standard deal, the same for every company it accepts, as published on September 14, 2026:

So yes, YC takes equity: 7% for the first $125,000, plus whatever the MFN SAFE converts into. The page also says YC tries hard to avoid “gotcha” terms, such as enhanced returns in downside exits.

The program itself asks for less than people expect. YC's FAQ says it is a few hours a week if you take part in all the recommended activities, and every part of the program is optional. What YC does expect is the company: founders commit to working full-time on it during the batch and after.

Not during the batch. YC's apply page says the batch takes place in person at its campus in San Francisco, starting with a three-day kick-off and continuing with regular meetups. The FAQ says YC ran remotely during Covid but has been back in person since 2022, and that after the three months you can go wherever you want.

• Apply online. YC now runs its three-month program four times a year. On September 14, 2026 it was taking applications for Winter 2027, which runs from January to March, with an on-time deadline of November 2 at 8pm PT.
• Interview. Promising applicants are invited to interview, mostly by video. YC says it typically decides the same day and gives everyone it interviews detailed feedback.
• Get funded on acceptance. YC invests as soon as a company is accepted, without waiting for the batch to start.
• Do the batch. Each company works with a dedicated YC general partner and meets them weekly, inside a small group of companies that have dinner together each week.
• Raise more. Toward the end of the batch, YC introduces companies to its network of investors, and it says its help continues after the three months.

YC offers its own test. Its FAQ suggests asking whether joining YC can improve your startup's outcome by at least 7%, the reasoning behind Paul Graham's essay The Equity Equation. It also says at least half the startups it funds do not need the money, and that the money is only a small part of what YC does.

In our view, the test is the right one, and the answer depends on what you are short of. If partner time, a peer group and a push toward investors would change your odds, 7% plus the MFN SAFE can be a good trade. If you need to stay remote or cannot go full-time, the in-person, full-time expectation is the real cost, not the equity.

If the gap is marketing rather than product or funding, our page on marketing for technology companies explains how we work with startups.