Chariot YC Application

Winter 2015Acquired

Chariot went through Y Combinator in the Winter 2015 batch as a Consumer company. Below: what the company does, who founded it, and its application to YC, reconstructed question by question in the real YC form.

YC batch: Winter 2015
Industry: ConsumerTransportation Services
Team size: 501
Status: Acquired
Launched: 2014

Founders

Romain Di VuoloFounder

What Chariot does

At Chariot, we're focused on creating the world's first self-sustainable mass-transit system that relieves congestion while offering a comfortable, personalized commuting experience. The core of our mission is universal access to better transportation. We envision cities where every commuter takes Chariot to work and home - regardless of income or location - which is why we prioritize affordability and flexibility as we expand. When the world runs on smarter routes, lower costs, and better ride experiences, we'll collectively take cars off the road and transform our twice-daily frustration into a part of your day you actually look forward to. Chariot + Ford Smart Mobility Ford Smart Mobility (FSM) was formed by the Ford Motor Company in 2015 to acquire and invest in innovative mobility startups and technologies. Chariot is proud to be FSM's first acquisition, making it a cornerstone of the company's mobility strategy. With all the resources and influence Ford provides, Chariot is accelerating accomplishing its Mission.

Chariot's YC application, reconstructed

Y Combinator application

Chariot, Winter 2015 batch. The real form questions, answered from public data.

Founders2
Company7
Progress7
Idea4
Equity3
Curious2
Batch Preference1

Company

Company name

Chariot

Describe what your company does in 50 characters or less.

Private mass transit for daily commuters

What is your company going to make? Please describe your product and what it does or will do.

We built a mass-transit service that runs shuttles on fixed routes based on where commuters actually live and work. Riders can reserve seats via our app for more comfort and reliability than public transit. Our system relieves congestion by making carpooling convenient and affordable for daily commuters.

Where do you live now, and where would the company be based after YC?

We live in San Francisco, CA, and the company is based here now and would stay here after YC.

Explain your decision regarding location.

San Francisco is where our customers are and where ride-sharing and transit innovation is happening. It gives us access to talent and partners who understand urban transportation challenges.

21 more answers in the full application

Founders, Progress, Idea, Equity, Curious, Batch Preference are in the full version. Create a free account to open it in YC Insights, next to every other YC batch.

See full application

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the real Chariot YC application?

No. Y Combinator keeps submitted applications private. This is a reconstruction: the real YC form questions, answered from Chariot's public data (launch notes, founder backgrounds, product description). It shows how a company like Chariot would present itself to YC, not the text they submitted.