Sept. 1, 2025

First Principles: Listen to This Before You Apply to YC

First Principles: Listen to This Before You Apply to YC

It seems like startup accelerators are everywhere these days. But what are they? What’s the point of them? And most importantly, is it worth having your startup go through one?

Based on their own experience with YC and startups, Chris and Yaniv talk you through it all.


In this episode, you will:

  • Learn what startup accelerators are and how they work.
  • Discover the primary benefits of going through a startup accelerator.
  • Understand whether applying to a startup accelerator is right for you.
  • Explore the process of choosing an accelerator.
  • Listen to Yaniv’s first-hand experience going through the Y Combinator accelerator.


The Pact

Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:

  • Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app
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Key links

Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A

The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/


Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/

Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/

Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/


Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur

Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/