Can You Think Like a YC Partner? This Game Will Help You Find Out
Ever wondered what it’s like to make the high-stakes decisions of a Y Combinator partner? Can you think like a YC partner? This game will help you find out by letting you step into their shoes—without the 12-hour workdays or endless founder meetings.
Image Credits:Bryce Durbin
YC Arena, created by a student in Berlin, isn’t a secret club for founders—it’s a fun, interactive way to experience the partner mindset. Its YC Partner Simulator game shows you real pitch videos from companies that applied to YC, along with their application year. Your job? Decide whether to “accept” or “reject” each startup, then see if your choice matches what YC actually did.
Step Into the Shoes of a YC Partner
It’s trickier than it looks. YC reportedly accepts only about 1% of applicants. Timing and luck play a surprisingly big role—maybe your pitch is the first a partner watched after coffee, or the last one after a long day.
The game reminds players: “Many rejected founders went on to build incredibly successful companies afterwards. Rejection means nothing.” It’s a chance to understand the difficult judgment calls that YC partners make daily, all in a few minutes of gameplay.
How the Game Works
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Watch a pitch video from a real YC applicant.
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Click “accept” or “reject.”
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Discover if your decision matches YC’s.
The simulation gives insight into how partners balance potential, team quality, and product vision. Even if you get it “wrong,” it’s an eye-opening look at what goes into the most famous startup accelerator in the world.
Why You Should Try It
Whether you’re an aspiring founder, startup enthusiast, or just curious about the inner workings of YC, the game is addictive and educational. It highlights how unpredictable and nuanced startup investing can be.
Playing the YC Partner Simulator is not just fun—it’s a learning experience. You’ll leave with a better understanding of startup evaluation, an appreciation for founder resilience, and maybe even improved decision-making skills for your own ventures.
If you’ve ever asked yourself how YC partners think, now you can find out firsthand. Can you think like a YC partner? This game will help you find out, and it might even teach you a thing or two about spotting the next big startup.
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