When applying to Y Combinator, the midwit founder tends to overthink the application process, seeking excessive feedback and recommendations, while the successful founder simply fills out the application and submits it quickly.

Many founders fail to read the guidance provided in the YC application, leading to common mistakes that could be avoided.

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.

Pay attention to details like grammar and punctuation in your application, as neglecting these can suggest you aren't serious about applying to Y Combinator.

There's no such thing as too early or too late to apply to Y Combinator, and filling out the application is a useful exercise for any founder, even if they don't submit it.

When evaluating applications, we look at how well the founders know each other and their history together, as a strong relationship is crucial for co-founding teams.

If your application contains misleading information, it will likely be rejected, as Y Combinator values honesty and good faith.

When reviewing applications, I look for the founders' backgrounds, their idea, the current state of their product, and evidence of customer interest.

Evidence of seriousness in founders can include leaving a job to work full-time on their startup or showing progress in multiple applications.