YC does not have a rule that says “no website, no funding.” Plenty of teams have applied with nothing more than a doc, a deck, or a rough demo. But that does not mean a website is pointless. It means YC cares about substance first, and clarity second.
Your website lives in that second category. And clarity matters more than most founders admit.
Short answer: no, it’s not required.
Real answer: if you care about your application, you should have one.
What YC actually evaluates?
Y Combinator partners are trying to answer a few questions as fast as possible:
- Do you clearly understand the problem you’re solving?
- Can you explain what you’re building without hiding behind buzzwords?
- Is there evidence you can execute?
- Does this feel like a real company or just an idea floating around?
The application form gets you most of the way there. The website, if you have one, fills in the gaps.
Think of it like this. If a job application says “cover letter optional,” and you really want the job, you write the cover letter anyway. Not because it’s required, but because it gives the reader more context and removes doubt.
Your website plays the same role.
Why a website helps, even if YC says it’s optional?
A YC partner might spend a few minutes on your application. If there’s a link to a site, they might click it. When they do, they are not judging your colour palette or animations.
They are asking one thing: do I get this?
A good website helps because it:
- Reinforces what you wrote in the application
- Shows you can communicate clearly to people who are not you
- Makes your product feel real, not theoretical
- Reduces cognitive load for the reviewer
A bad website does the opposite. It creates confusion, raises questions, and makes the partner work harder to understand you. That is the last thing you want.
What you actually need, and what you don’t?
You do not need a “startup website.”
You do not need a brand system.
You do not need a video background.
You definitely do not need a carousel.
What you need is a clear landing page that answers a few basics.
The minimum YC-ready website
Above the fold, your page should do this in under ten seconds:
- Say exactly what the product does
- Say who it is for
- Say why it matters
- Show the product or the outcome
- Present one clear next step
That’s it.
A strong example looks like this:
- Headline: plain English, no slogans
- Subhead: outcome or use case
- Visual: screenshot, short clip, or simple diagram
- CTA: one action, not five
- Proof: users, pilots, waitlist numbers, or traction if you have it
Below the fold, keep it simple:
- How it works in three steps
- Key benefits, not feature soup
- Short FAQ that kills obvious objections
- The same CTA again
If your page does that, it’s good enough for YC.
The mistakes founders keep making
Here’s where most people mess this up.
They think “simple” means vague.
So they write things like:
- “AI-powered platform”
- “Redefining the future of X”
- “The all-in-one solution”
That tells the reader nothing. It forces them to guess, and guessing kills interest.
Other common mistakes:
- Multiple CTAs fighting each other
- Talking about the company instead of the user
- Hiding the product behind marketing copy
- Using templates without understanding why sections exist
- Trying to look impressive instead of being clear
If your landing page feels like it’s trying to impress other founders, it’s already lost.
YC cares about clarity more than polish
YC partners have said, repeatedly, that clear thinking shows up in clear communication. If you cannot explain your product simply, it usually means the idea is still fuzzy.
Your website is an indirect test of that.
A plain page that explains a real problem and a believable solution beats a beautiful page that hides behind jargon every time.
Minimal is fine. Confusing is not.
If you are an introverted founder, this matters more
Most people searching this question are founders who hate pitching.
They do not want to “sell" or hype.
They just want their idea to be understood.
A good website does that work for you.
It:
- Answers questions before they’re asked
- Saves you from repeating the same explanation
- Gives you a link instead of a live pitch
- Lets people evaluate your idea without pressure
If you are quiet, analytical, or uncomfortable selling yourself, your website becomes your voice. Make it a good one.
What if you don’t get into YC?
This is where most founders think short term.
Even if you don’t get accepted, the website still pays off.
You will use it to:
- Convert curious visitors into signups
- Show angels and early investors what you’re building
- Recruit early hires
- Validate messaging with real traffic
- Run outbound without sounding vague
A solid landing page is not “for YC.” It’s for your company.
YC just happens to be the first serious audience that might look at it.
So, do you need a website before applying?
No.
But if you want every possible edge, you should have one.
Not because YC demands it, but because it helps smart people understand you faster.
And that is the real goal.
A note from NexaFlow
We work with founders who are building real products and do not want marketing nonsense.
If you want a second set of eyes on your landing page, here are three low-friction options:
- We record a short Loom breaking down what’s unclear and exactly how to fix it
- We run a fast landing page audit and walk you through it on a 15-minute call
- Or you send your URL and one sentence about your product, and we rewrite your hero section so it actually makes sense
No pressure. If it’s useful, great. If not, you still walk away with clear next steps.
That alone already puts you ahead of most YC applicants.
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