> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.founderbounty.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # My interview with YC and how you can do better in 2026 - URL: https://www.founderbounty.com/my-interview-with-yc-and-how-you-can-do-better/ - Published: 2022-02-19T16:25:39.000Z - Updated: 2026-07-11T20:02:49.000Z - Author: Vlad Kozul - Tags: Start building your business, Venture capital and Fundraising I'm sharing my experience from interviewing with [Y Combinator](https://www.ycombinator.com/?ref=founderbounty.com) accelerator, one of the world's best Venture capital companies. The YC interview is short quick, to the point, and also a great learning experience. Just getting an interview you are in the top 1% of founders so count yourself lucky. We tried with Chefr (ecommerce platform for kitchen) and had a few learnings. (similar to [Gloriafood](https://www.gloriafood.com/?ref=founderbounty.com) or [Flipdish](https://www.flipdish.com/gb/?ref=founderbounty.com)) Our youtube: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2b/26/2b26b1fd-73cd-4f02-8e47-30befb47b417/content/images/2022/10/Screenshot-2022-01-04-at-16.03.40-1.png) Our pricing ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2b/26/2b26b1fd-73cd-4f02-8e47-30befb47b417/content/images/2022/10/Screenshot-2021-03-27-at-22.30.47-1.png) ## How I think YC operates It's clear that YC invests in current trends and scoops up quite a few companies in the same verticals such as "Shopify for restaurants" and will then take on at least a few companies in that domain which it believes will be the future and which are proving to do very well in previous YC batches. This is what we had and we were going for it. This is the case for, for example, [Getjusto](https://www.getjusto.com/?ref=founderbounty.com), [Atlas Kitchen](https://atlas.kitchen/?ref=founderbounty.com) then [Shef](https://shef.com/?ref=founderbounty.com) (slightly different as it is more of a marketplace). The only difference I see between Getjusto and Atlas is that they focus on different geographic areas but are in fact exactly the same. Of course, [Kitch](https://www.kitch.io/?ref=founderbounty.com) ([Atlantic food labs](https://www.foodlabs.com/?ref=founderbounty.com)) and [slerp](https://www.slerp.com/?ref=founderbounty.com) are also in the same area but not YC backed. In 2026 they are focusing on "founders who are building AI agents, physical-world tech, and "Company Brain" infrastructure" The theme of dark kitchens is obviously big for YC and so it will invest in quite a bunch of companies with the same core mission but may just be focusing on different locations for example. 💡 [Subscribe to our newsletter for more](https://www.founderbounty.com/#/portal/signup) ## Our interview Our interview was short and focused on the company, the team, and why we are different. The difference was that chefr said that it would focus on individual chefs, which during covid which was working out, but should have really focused on restaurants. We were early enough I felt that we could have easily pivoted to restaurants, but didn't make it into the YC program. This is my learning. I should have clearly gone after the companies that were proving to work at YC, but I tried to differentiate and made a mistake. ## Key learnings Have a plan set out about what you want to achieve and how you want to achieve it It's totally ok if your copying another YC company just make sure at least you clearly state that your focusing on a different geographic location. Check out where their current companies are not focused on. As [Chamath Palihapitiya](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chamath?ref=founderbounty.com) says in his [Stanford](https://www.stanford.edu/?ref=founderbounty.com) interview be a "[good copier](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlz19%5FnoryU&ref=founderbounty.com)" > [ADD ME ON LINKEDIN](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladkozul/?ref=founderbounty.com). > [Follow me on X](https://x.com/vladkozul?ref=founderbounty.com) ## Check out more on my interview [See another article I published on this](https://www.founderbounty.com/founder-raouf-yousfi-of-terra-yc-talk-about-tips-to-interview-at-y-combinator/) (CLICK) [How to interview with YC with Founder Raouf Yousfi of Terra (YC)We got a chance to interview one of the hottest startups in YC, Terra, which is an API that makes it easy for apps to connect to wearables. We wanted to know how he got started, how he got into y-combinator, what inspired him to build Terra, and where he sees the future. We also wanted to know thei…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2b/26/2b26b1fd-73cd-4f02-8e47-30befb47b417/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/05/F-3.png)FounderBounty. Courses and mentorship to help start a business.Vlad Kozul![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2b/26/2b26b1fd-73cd-4f02-8e47-30befb47b417/content/images/2022/03/WhatsApp-Image-2022-03-10-at-10.45.01-PM.jpeg)](https://www.founderbounty.com/founder-raouf-yousfi-of-terra-yc-talk-about-tips-to-interview-at-y-combinator/) below shows the highlights from Terra's interview ## Building a business? Check this out [FounderBounty. Resources needed to help your side hustle from a former Lazard, Techstars COO. Coaching with quality entrepreneurs to start a business.The Tech, Finance and Fashion podcast and newsletter. By a former Lazard, Bernstein, Techstars COO. Subscribe for exclusive content. Join over 100,000 subscribers. All the resources needed to help your side hustle and start your own business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2b/26/2b26b1fd-73cd-4f02-8e47-30befb47b417/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/05/F-3.png)FounderBounty. Resources needed to help your side hustle from a former Lazard, Techstars COO. Coaching with quality entrepreneurs to start a business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2b/26/2b26b1fd-73cd-4f02-8e47-30befb47b417/content/images/2022/05/F--1-.png)](https://www.founderbounty.com/#/portal/signup) ## Sign up for FounderBounty Founderbounty. Learn how to build a business with ideas and case studies from exited founders. Your daily dose of business and tech. Subscribe now. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.