During Y Combinator, founders should prioritize writing code, talking to users, and exercising, avoiding distractions like networking or hiring interns.

Focus is essential; it's easy to waste time on the wrong things in a startup, so prioritize the one optimal task over the many less important ones.

Overthinking the decision to apply to Y Combinator can hinder your progress; if you believe it could be a good opportunity, just go for it without excessive deliberation.

In the early stages of a startup, it's crucial to focus on getting a product out to market rather than perfecting it. Feedback and iteration are key to success, as demonstrated by our experience at Y Combinator when we were advised to launch quickly instead of getting bogged down in details.

Applying to Y Combinator is worth it because it helps you organize and clarify your startup ideas through the application questions, which can lead to valuable insights.

Many successful founders funded by Y Combinator had little to no online presence in the early stages of their companies, and focusing too much on establishing thought leadership can distract from what truly matters: making your company work.

During the Y Combinator batch, founders often become super focused on growth and scaling, but they can get distracted by numerous tasks that don't contribute to their core goals.

Applying to Y Combinator is a low time commitment with the potential for significant upside, making it a worthwhile opportunity for aspiring founders.

If you don't want to commit to your startup for a long time, such as only working on it for a summer, then you probably shouldn't apply to Y Combinator.