Reconstructed from public data
40 YC Application Examples: What is your company going to make?
Below are 40 answers to the YC form question "What is your company going to make? Please describe your product and what it does or will do.", one per company, reconstructed from public data. YC keeps real applications private, so none of these is an original text: each shows how an accepted company describes itself in that slot, with a link to its full reconstructed application.
- 1
Airbnb (Winter 2009)A trusted marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations anywhere, from an apartment for a night to a castle for a week. Hosts monetize their extra space; travelers get a more personal, affordable alternative to hotels. We handle search, booking, payments, and trust/reputation between strangers.
Full reconstructed application - 2
Algolia (Winter 2014)We are building a hosted Search & Discovery API designed for websites and mobile apps. Our product helps companies quickly create fast, relevant search experiences without dealing with complex infrastructure. It handles large volumes of queries and scales for enterprise needs, simplifying search integration for developers.
Full reconstructed application - 3
Amplitude (Winter 2012)We are building a digital analytics platform that helps companies understand user behavior within their web and mobile applications. Our product shows what users love, where they get stuck, and what keeps them coming back. This drives better product decisions and growth for apps with millions of users.
Full reconstructed application - 4
Bear Flag Robotics (Winter 2018)We build autonomous driving software and hardware that retrofits farm tractors, enabling growers to automate routine tasks like planting and cultivation. Our system also collects data to give farmers actionable insights about their fields and operations. It reduces dependence on farm labor and removes workers from hazardous conditions, which growers have struggled with for years.
Full reconstructed application - 5
Bellabeat (Winter 2014)We make wellness products designed specifically for women, including wearable devices like the Leaf and Ivy that track health data tied to menstrual cycles. Our product combines hardware and a subscription wellness service to give personalized insights and guidance for holistic health.
Full reconstructed application - 6
Benchling (Summer 2012)We build Benchling's R&D Cloud, a software platform that biotech scientists use to design, document, and manage experiments and data. It helps researchers move faster by replacing outdated, fragmented tools with an integrated system designed specifically for modern biotech workflows.
Full reconstructed application - 7
Bird (Summer 2016)We build Bird CRM, a platform that lets businesses communicate with their customers across any channel - SMS, Voice, WhatsApp, WeChat, Messenger, Email, and more - all with the right context. It's designed to be the foundation for global business communication, handling billions of devices and connecting nearly 20,000 customers worldwide.
Full reconstructed application - 8
Brex (Winter 2017)We are building a platform that combines corporate cards with much higher limits, business accounts with fast wire transfers and FDIC insurance, and spend management tools to help companies track and control expenses in real time. The tool covers startups to larger enterprises and supports multiple countries and currencies. The goal is to automate expense reporting and give finance teams better control before spend happens.
Full reconstructed application - 9
Caper (Winter 2016)We build a smart shopping cart that uses computer vision, sensor fusion, and AI to let customers shop and self-checkout without cashiers. The cart recognizes items as shoppers put them in, so stores can add cashier-less checkout quickly without restructuring store layouts like Amazon Go. It's meant for grocery stores that want to modernize but can't afford a full redesign.
Full reconstructed application - 10
Checkr (Summer 2014)We are building an API-driven background check platform that automates and improves the screening of job applicants. Our platform integrates AI to reduce bias and speed up the process, targeting employers who want fairer and more efficient hiring.
Full reconstructed application - 11
Clever (Summer 2012)We built a single platform that connects schools to all their digital learning applications. Our product provides single sign-on access for students and teachers and automates account provisioning and updates for district administrators. It solves the tedious, error-prone process of managing multiple education software tools in classrooms and districts.
Full reconstructed application - 12
Clipboard (Winter 2017)Clipboard is an app-based marketplace that connects workplaces needing shift workers with professionals who fill those shifts. We focus on long-term care staffing and are expanding into home health and hospitals, matching workers to jobs in real time.
Full reconstructed application - 13
Codecademy (Summer 2011)We built Codecademy to teach programming skills online through interactive, hands-on coding lessons. Our product lets anyone learn to code in their browser without installing anything, making technical skills accessible at scale.
Full reconstructed application - 14
Cognito (Summer 2014)We built an ID verification system that starts by verifying a user's phone number, then uses that strong link to confirm their name, birthdate, address, and Social Security Number. This reduces friction for businesses that need to verify identities without complicated steps or extra user effort.
Full reconstructed application - 15
Coinbase (Summer 2012)A digital currency wallet and platform where consumers and merchants can transact with bitcoin as easily as using a normal bank app. We hide the hard parts (keys, security, exchange) behind a simple, trusted product so that buying and holding crypto is approachable for everyone, not just engineers.
Full reconstructed application - 16
CoreOS (Summer 2013)We build open source software for infrastructure: Container Linux, a secure OS with automatic updates; and etcd, a distributed data store used by Kubernetes. These tools help developers run containerized applications reliably at scale.
Full reconstructed application - 17
Cruise (Winter 2014)We're building all-electric self-driving car technology designed to navigate dense urban environments safely. Our system connects people with places and things by letting cars drive themselves without human input, aiming for safer streets and improved transit time.
Full reconstructed application - 18
Deel (Winter 2019)We built a platform that handles payroll, compliance, HRIS, benefits, and equipment management for global teams. It serves companies hiring remote contractors and employees worldwide, solving complex legal and financial challenges in over 120 countries, with AI-powered tools and a proprietary payroll infrastructure.
Full reconstructed application - 19
DoorDash (Summer 2013)Last-mile delivery for local restaurants that do not have their own drivers. Customers order from restaurants they could not previously get delivered, and we handle the logistics: dispatching drivers, routing, and timing so food arrives hot. We start with restaurants and expand to delivering anything in a city.
Full reconstructed application - 20
DrChrono (Winter 2011)We are building an open platform for medical practices that combines electronic health records, practice management, medical billing, telehealth, and revenue cycle solutions. It is designed to make care more informed and interactive for both physicians and patients, with a fully extensible API and an app marketplace.
Full reconstructed application - 21
Dropbox (Summer 2007)A service that keeps your files in sync across all your computers and the web automatically. Drop a file in one folder and it appears everywhere, backed up and shareable. It just works, with no manual uploading, USB drives, or emailing files to yourself.
Full reconstructed application - 22
EquipmentShare (Winter 2015)We build software and hardware tools that improve equipment rental, fleet tracking, and security for construction contractors. Our product helps contractors manage their equipment better, reducing downtime and theft.
Full reconstructed application - 23
Faire (Winter 2017)We built an online marketplace that uses machine learning to match local retailers with unique brands and products that fit their stores. Our platform removes old obstacles retailers face by recommending products and offering financial terms that eliminate inventory risk and provide capital access.
Full reconstructed application - 24
Fivestars (Winter 2011)We are building a platform that helps small local businesses run customer loyalty programs and process payments in one system. Our product turns every transaction into a way to build a customer relationship, making it easier for businesses to keep customers coming back and for customers to discover new places in their neighborhood.
Full reconstructed application - 25
Fivetran (Winter 2013)We build automated data pipelines that move data between cloud platforms without manual effort. Our product handles extracts, schema changes, and transforms so data engineers spend less time fixing pipelines and more time on impact.
Full reconstructed application - 26
Flexport (Winter 2014)We are building a platform that simplifies global trade by connecting buyers, sellers, and logistics partners with technology and services to coordinate shipments internationally. Our platform tackles the fragmented supply chain and provides transparency and efficiency for global freight forwarding.
Full reconstructed application - 27
Flock Safety (Summer 2017)We make a Safety-as-a-Service product that includes affordable cameras powered by LTE and solar. Our system captures vehicle details in communities and shares evidence with law enforcement to reduce crime and improve public safety, while emphasizing privacy and fairness.
Full reconstructed application - 28
FutureAdvisor (Summer 2010)We built an online platform that offers financial management and wealth advisory services geared toward middle- and working-class families. Our software automates portfolio management while providing unbiased advice at a fraction of traditional advisor fees.
Full reconstructed application - 29
Ginkgo Bioworks (Summer 2014)We build automated foundries that design custom organisms for companies in multiple markets. Our platform combines software and hardware to scale organism engineering, making it faster and more predictable to develop biology-based solutions.
Full reconstructed application - 30
GitLab (Winter 2015)We built GitLab to be the first single application that covers the entire DevOps lifecycle - from planning and development to security and operations. Instead of stitching together multiple disconnected tools, teams can use GitLab to collaborate, track progress, enforce governance, and monitor results - all in one place. This reduces cycle times, eliminates handoffs, and makes delivering software faster and more predictable.
Full reconstructed application - 31
GitPrime (Winter 2016)We build a SaaS platform that analyzes engineering teams' Git data to provide leaders clear metrics on productivity, code quality, and process. Our product surfaces quantitative insights from repositories so managers can make better decisions about their software orgs.
Full reconstructed application - 32
Go1 (Summer 2015)We built Go1 to aggregate training content from top providers and make it accessible within any platform companies already use. It helps HR and learning teams deliver compliance and skills development training without managing multiple systems. Our product integrates with existing LMS and HRIS, so companies can simplify employee learning rather than replacing their infrastructure.
Full reconstructed application - 33
GOAT Group (Winter 2011)We have built an online marketplace focused on authentic sneakers, apparel, and accessories. Our platform connects buyers and sellers worldwide, offering a verified way to buy and sell rare and sought-after products across four brands. We solve trust issues in the sneaker and apparel resale market and give users access to products they can't find anywhere else.
Full reconstructed application - 34
Groww (Winter 2018)We built Groww to simplify investing in stocks and mutual funds in India. Our platform lets users browse investments, buy and manage stock portfolios and mutual fund SIPs with transparency and ease. We focus on removing friction and complexity from financial services for everyday retail investors.
Full reconstructed application - 35
GrubMarket (Winter 2015)We build software that digitizes and automates the American food supply chain. Our platform connects producers, distributors, and buyers through an online marketplace powered by AI tools that improve ordering, logistics, and inventory management. The goal is to replace manual, offline processes with software that saves time and reduces waste.
Full reconstructed application - 36
Gusto (Winter 2012)We built an integrated platform that automates payroll, health insurance, 401(k) accounts, and HR for small and medium businesses. It simplifies complex compliance and administration so companies can focus on their teams without payroll headaches.
Full reconstructed application - 37
Heap (Winter 2013)We built Heap to automatically capture every user interaction on a website or app without any manual event tracking. Our product eliminates the need for tracking plans or custom instrumentation, letting companies get analytics out of the box and focus on insights rather than data collection.
Full reconstructed application - 38
HelloSign (Winter 2011)We are building HelloSign, a simple eSignature platform tailored for small and mid-market businesses. It lets users sign, send, and manage documents digitally, eliminating paper and fax hassles. Our mission is to simplify how business documents get completed and stored, focusing on user experience and reliability.
Full reconstructed application - 39
Heroku (Winter 2008)We are building a platform as a service that lets developers deploy, run, and manage their applications entirely in the cloud. It removes the complexity of infrastructure so developers can focus on building software, not managing servers.
Full reconstructed application - 40
Honeylove (Summer 2018)We make functional shapewear and supportive undergarments designed for women seeking confidence and comfort. Our products solve the problem of shapewear that's uncomfortable or unattractive for real bodies, starting with garments that work for performers like EDM artist Betsie Larkin and expanding to a wider audience.
Full reconstructed application
Read the whole application, for every company
YC Insights holds the full reconstructed application of every company in the directory, filterable by batch, industry and country, next to 60,000+ investors who fund startups like yours.
About this list
This list is part of Round Funded, an investor database and outreach platform for founders. It covers 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices and accelerators with verified contacts, lets you send pitches from your own Gmail, and includes a free Data Room for your raise. How this data is built.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these real YC applications?
No. YC keeps submitted applications private. Every answer on this page is a reconstruction: the real form question, answered from the company's public data (one-liner, description, location, batch). It shows the standard accepted companies meet, not their original wording.
How should I use these examples?
Read ten answers from companies closest to yours and note the pattern: a concrete product, a named customer, a number where one exists, no adjectives. Then write your answer to that shape. Copying an answer is pointless; the reviewers know the companies.
Where do the answers come from?
From Round Funded's YC startup directory, which holds every YC company with a reconstructed application. The Company section shown here is the free part of each company page; the other sections open in YC Insights after sign-up.