If you're making something people want, just have a go and apply. YC says it outright in their motto. That's really all that matters.
The application itself can help your own thinking about what you're building, so it's worth doing just for that.
Great products come from all sorts of unconventional backgrounds, precisely because the people who made them were from an unexpected background. Some of the best new ideas come from the need to solve a problem that mainstream products don't cover, or from an insight that someone in the mainstream would never have.
Airbnb's founders weren't conventional startup founders. They were struggling and needed to pay their rent.
Also, 1000% agree on the sentiment and thanks to YC for the community here. HN is one of the blessings of the current day web.
PS there is a section in this talk by Dalton Caldwell from YC on 'how to create luck' (in the context of applying to YC). It's really great on just this topic:
There's also a separate short talk on creating luck that has an interesting story about how Brex started, and also about how sometimes you need an "outsider's philosophy":
These helped my thinking. The application is a helpful way to think about your startup even if you don't submit it. And once it's done, you might as well submit anyway :)
Yeah, just do it! Good luck with applying, and with building your startup. If I can ever help with feedback, or anything else, just reach out (details on my profile here).
Also, check out YC Startup School. That's where the video was from. It really helped our startup, it has great resources, and a really friendly and encouraging community to get feedback on what you're building.
The application itself can help your own thinking about what you're building, so it's worth doing just for that.
Great products come from all sorts of unconventional backgrounds, precisely because the people who made them were from an unexpected background. Some of the best new ideas come from the need to solve a problem that mainstream products don't cover, or from an insight that someone in the mainstream would never have.
Airbnb's founders weren't conventional startup founders. They were struggling and needed to pay their rent.
Also, 1000% agree on the sentiment and thanks to YC for the community here. HN is one of the blessings of the current day web.