How to get into YC:<p>* Be young, about to finish college, or just finished college and working on your startup<p>* Go to a name-brand school like MIT<p>* Done some open source project that may or may not be popular<p>* Done something a bit impressive<p>* Be able to write very good english<p>* Be U.S based<p>* Have a co-founder from a similar background as yours, and who you've known for a while<p>* Do something that sounds simple<p>* Build a personal brand here on this site<p>* In the video, be comfortable and project intelligence<p>That will get you to interview, assuming there are not more impressive people. When you interview:<p>* Don't give off a loser vibe<p>* Have a determined jaw and a friendly personality<p>* Communicate clearly what you want to build<p>* Make what you want to build something that in some way is in one of the major areas where there is potential (like money management or so)<p>* Be sure your idea is something the partners can relate to (i.e, not building huts in africa)<p>Yes, no need to point out the exceptions, I'm well aware.
And just in case you don't get accepted to YC: <a href="http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/04/07/you-didnt-make-it-to-y-combinator-or-techstars-now-what/" rel="nofollow">http://blog.fairsoftware.net/2009/04/07/you-didnt-make-it-to...</a><p>I'm just saying, because it's interview season and we already had at least 4 posts on the topic of how to get accepted... If everyone who read these posts got accepted, the YC building would have to add quite a few floors.<p>Good entrepreneurs are resilient, even in the face of early rejection.