Can I mention my product if it genuinely helps people?
Yes for promotion. The rule “No self promotion.” is absolute, so a post about your product gets removed no matter how useful you think it is.
Subreddit guides
r/ycombinator rules, stats, and what to post
A source-backed Rankhog guide to r/ycombinator: public rules, community context, posting fit, and startup-promotion risk before you publish.
By Anthony Riera, founder and operator of Rankhog.
Subreddit guides combine public Reddit source URLs, captured rules, visible verification dates, and Rankhog's account-safety workflow.
Current public stats
- Members
- 205,656
- Verified
- September 29, 2026
- Category
- YC applicants and startup founders
Rules can change, so Rankhog keeps verification dates and the original public Reddit sources visible.
Rule summary
- Read the stickied post at the top of the sub.: Read the stickied post at the top of the sub before creating a new post.
- Don't be a jerk.: No trolling, harassment, ad hominem. Flame wars don’t contribute to discussions, and don’t help anyone.
- Use the search before making a new post.: Use the search before making a new post.
- Use the megathreads for feedback and application discussions.: Use the megathreads for feedback and application discussions.
- No self promotion.: No self promotion.
- No hiring or co-founder search posts.: Everyone is constantly either hiring or on the lookout for a co-founder. Please use the cofounder matching tool at https://www.ycombinator.com/cofounder-matching.
- No memes, politics, or shitposts.: Find another sub for that. Low effort posts will be removed.
- No solicitation of surveys, DMs, external groups, etc: Posts in this sub should be applicable to other members of this community, or promote discussion. Not requests that only apply to the poster.
- No AMAs.: No AMAs
- No discussions about VCs or other accelerators.: These posts are better fitted for r/startups or r/startupaccelerators — you’ll likely get more insights there.
Works well
- A question about the YC application process that you could not answer with the search bar, asked honestly and with context about your own situation
- A discussion post about a startup decision, like pricing or first hires, framed around what others have learned rather than what you built
- A lesson learned post about building or launching a startup, written as a story other founders can respond to, with no links and no product name
- A comment in an application feedback megathread giving another founder honest, specific feedback
- A news post about a Y Combinator announcement or batch, shared to discuss what it means for applicants
Avoid
- Posting a link to your own product, blog, or landing page, because “No self promotion.” gets that removed
- Asking people to fill out a survey, book a call, or join your Slack or Discord, because “No solicitation of surveys, DMs, external groups, etc” bans requests that only help you
- Writing a post that is really a co-founder or hiring ad in disguise, because “No hiring or co-founder search posts.” covers that
- Dropping your application essay or pitch in a new post instead of the megathreads, because “Use the megathreads for feedback and application discussions.” sends it to removal
- Posting a meme or a hot take with no substance, because “No memes, politics, or shitposts.” removes low effort posts
- Starting a thread comparing Y Combinator to another accelerator or debating venture capital firms, because “No discussions about VCs or other accelerators.” points those elsewhere
What r/ycombinator Is For
This community is for news and discussion around startups and applying to Y Combinator. The people here are founders thinking about applying, founders who went through the program, and people who follow the startup world closely. The description says Y Combinator invests in early stage startups and works with founders for three months, so a lot of the talk is about that experience and the application process. The rules make it clear this is a discussion space for the whole community, not a place to push your own thing. Posts should be useful to other members or spark discussion, not serve the person posting.
Rules That Matter Before Posting
The rule that decides most things here is “No self promotion.”, which bans self promotion outright. “Use the megathreads for feedback and application discussions.” means any post asking for feedback on your application, idea, or pitch belongs in a megathread, not a new post. “No hiring or co-founder search posts.” removes recruiting and co-founder threads, and points people to the official co-founder matching tool instead. “No solicitation of surveys, DMs, external groups, etc” blocks any post that only serves the poster, like survey requests or invitations to outside groups. “No memes, politics, or shitposts.” removes low effort content. “No discussions about VCs or other accelerators.” keeps the topic on Y Combinator itself. Two process rules matter before you post at all: “Read the stickied post at the top of the sub.” and “Use the search before making a new post.”. Finally, “Don't be a jerk.” sets the tone, no trolling or harassment.
What To Post
A good post here is a genuine question or discussion topic that other founders can learn from or weigh in on. Think lessons from building a startup, honest questions about the YC application process that search does not already answer, or discussion about startup decisions that applies to many people here. Keep the focus on Y Combinator and startups, not other investors or accelerators. Put any application or pitch feedback in the megathreads the rules point to. Before posting anything, read the stickied post at the top of the sub and search to check your question has not been answered already. If you want feedback on your idea, the megathread is the respectful route, not a new post.
What To Avoid
The fastest way to get removed is self promotion, so do not post links to your product, your blog, or your launch. Do not post asking for feedback on your application or idea outside the megathreads. Do not post hiring ads or co-founder searches, the rules point you to the official co-founder matching tool instead. Do not ask people to fill in surveys, reply by DM, or join an external group, that counts as solicitation. Do not post memes, politics, or low effort shitposts. Do not start threads about VCs or other accelerators, the rules say those fit better in r/startups or r/startupaccelerators. And before any post, read the stickied post at the top of the sub and search first, because repeat questions get removed.
Use Rankhog before posting in r/ycombinator
Want the version that does not run out? Subscribers get unlimited tool runs and more careful checks before posting.
Get my free Reddit SEO auditStart your 3-day free trial. Card required. $99/month after trial. Next, connect a verified Reddit account; no strategy starts until you explicitly start Rankhog.
Common questions about r/ycombinator
Can I post my application or pitch for feedback?
No. “Use the megathreads for feedback and application discussions.” means all application and pitch feedback goes in the designated megathreads, not new posts.
Can I look for a co-founder here?
No. “No hiring or co-founder search posts.” applies to everyone, and the rules point you to the official co-founder matching tool instead.
Can I compare YC to other accelerators or talk about VCs?
No. “No discussions about VCs or other accelerators.” says those posts fit better in r/startups or r/startupaccelerators.
What should I do before posting anything here?
Two things. Read the stickied post at the top of the sub first, and use the search before making a new post so you are not repeating something already answered.
Lists featuring r/ycombinator
Use these audience lists to decide whether r/ycombinator is the best fit for your Reddit SEO plan or just one supporting community.