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.

To build social radar skills, pay attention to subtle cues during founder evaluations, such as their ability to articulate their product and their defensiveness.

In YC applications, I look for unique insights on customer acquisition and how well founders can communicate their ideas during interviews.

I started my podcast, The Social Radars, to reconnect with the startup community and share stories of triumph and failure from founders. I wanted to create informal conversations with startup founders so people could understand the real stories behind the startups, rather than just scripted media messages.

My co-founders are excellent at judging technical ideas, but I'm the one who assesses character, which has been crucial for Y Combinator's success.

I was fascinated by founder psychology and the dynamics of their relationships, which influenced my evaluations during interviews.

I was often left out of news articles about Y Combinator, which can be frustrating, but people within YC know my contributions.

When evaluating a startup application, YC looks for unique insights on user acquisition and the founder's competence. Having traction and a clear understanding of your market is crucial.

As Y Combinator gained recognition, it faced challenges from critics and distractions, which were difficult for sensitive individuals like me to handle personally.