Founders Interview Guide
A practical study guide for founders preparing for YC and other accelerator interviews, and for early VC diligence. Each topic is a short page, not a textbook chapter. The spine is the interview itself: why this, why now, why you, then product, market, traction, competition, go-to-market, team, and the ask.
How to use this guide
- Each topic in the left nav is a standalone page you can read in ~10 minutes.
- Every page follows the same shape: why it matters, core concepts, a mental model, interview questions with brief answer keys, and a short watch list of verified YouTube videos.
- Topics are ordered the way a good interview actually runs: know the room, then the company, then the proof, then the traps. You can read them in order, or jump straight to the topic you need.
- Nothing here requires a backend, an API key, or a login — it’s just reading.
- This is interview prep. It is not a startup operating playbook, and it is not legal advice.
Roadmap
| # | Topic | Interview |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Interview formats (YC vs VC diligence) | Occasional |
| 02 | Why this / why now / why you | 🎯 Frequent |
| 03 | Problem clarity & customer stories | 🎯 Frequent |
| 04 | Product sense & prioritization | Occasional |
| 05 | Market size & wedge | 🎯 Frequent |
| 06 | Competition & differentiation | 🎯 Frequent |
| 07 | Traction & metrics under fire | 🎯 Frequent |
| 08 | Go-to-market story | Occasional |
| 09 | Business model & pricing defense | Occasional |
| 10 | Team, equity, roles | Occasional |
| 11 | Fundraising narrative & ask | 🎯 Frequent |
| 12 | Common traps & weak answers | 🎯 Frequent |
| 13 | Mock Q packs (hotspots) | 🎯 Frequent |
| 14 | Closing & follow-ups | Background |
Contributing
See CONTRIBUTING.md. Short version: keep topics tight, verify every link yourself, don’t invent scope.