/blog
The YC Blog Y Combinator Doesn't Have.
Long-form, well-researched posts on YC — acceptance rates, deal terms, unicorn batches, application patterns. Every number is sourced. Every table is real.
- 01.The Real YC Acceptance Rate (And Why The Number You Heard Is Probably Wrong)
Apr 22, 2026 · 9 min · Data & Stats
What ~1% acceptance actually means, how it has shifted batch-to-batch, and the cohorts where your odds are quietly much better.
- 02.Where The YC Unicorns Actually Came From
Apr 15, 2026 · 11 min · Analysis
A batch-by-batch look at which YC cohorts produced the most billion-dollar companies — and what those cohorts had in common.
- 03.The YC Deal, Explained Like You're About To Sign It
Apr 8, 2026 · 8 min · Playbook
$500K for ~7%, but the structure is two SAFEs with two different mechanics. Here's the math, the dilution, and the gotchas.
- 04.What YC Actually Teaches You In 12 Weeks
Apr 1, 2026 · 10 min · Playbook
A week-by-week walkthrough of the YC program, based on Startup School curriculum and founder accounts.
- 05.What 100+ Successful YC Applications Have In Common
Mar 25, 2026 · 7 min · Data & Stats
Patterns from publicly shared accepted YC applications: word counts, structure, the demo video, and the answers that worked.
- 06.YC vs Techstars vs 500 vs Antler — A Real Comparison
Mar 18, 2026 · 8 min · Analysis
What you actually get for your equity at each of the top accelerators, with the dilution math side by side.