The founder network at YC is invaluable, offering support and learning opportunities from peers at various stages of their startups.

Co-founders typically collaborate to develop ideas together, sharing excitement and inspiration, which is vital for a successful partnership. If you're applying to Y Combinator, it's better to have a co-founder because single founders are disproportionately unlikely to get accepted.

Seeking a co-founder just to fill perceived deficiencies or to check a box for the YC application is a bad idea; founders should try to succeed on their own first.

The YC alumni network grows more powerful over time, providing valuable connections and resources to new startups.

Among YC companies valued over a hundred million, about half of the co-founding teams met in school, primarily during their undergraduate years.

The YC application process emphasizes the importance of clearly expressing your startup idea to avoid missing out on opportunities.

In the early days of YC, I observed social cues during interviews, such as how well co-founders got along and their level of commitment.

YC emphasizes that being a solo founder is challenging. While it's generally better to have a co-founder, YC has accepted solo founders if they present unique insights and demonstrate competence.

About 20% of co-founding teams in top YC companies met at work, while 16% were introduced by mutual friends.