What YC founders actually care about (but don’t say out loud)
Most YC-stage founders think they’re competing on features.
They’re not.
In real deals, three things matter way more inside your buyer’s org:
how fast this gets approved (legal, security, procurement)
how many people need to sign off (and how senior)
how much risk it introduces internally
That’s it.
I’ve seen technically “better” products lose over and over — not because they were worse, but because they triggered more questions, more stakeholders, and more explanation inside the company.
The “worse” tool that legal has already seen will often beat the “better” one that kicks off a fresh security review.
The buyer might like your product.
But they’re not the only one who matters.
What founders don’t say out loud:
They’re not optimizing for the best product.
They’re optimizing for the fastest path to a yes.
If your product:
needs a long explanation
sounds different depending on who’s describing it
raises new security or compliance questions
doesn’t map cleanly to a budget they already own
you’ve already slowed the deal down.
Doesn’t matter how good it is.
The winning products aren’t always better.
They’re easier to approve.
Less friction.
Cleaner story.
Fits into something that already exists.
That’s the shift most teams miss after early traction.
You’re not just selling value anymore.
You’re trying to become the easiest yes in a decision process you don’t control.
Agree. Research shows that investors are more likely to fund niche solutions because they address specific problems, have clear positioning, and are more likely to find product-market fit. It’s no longer about revolutionary ideas. Investors are looking for a deep understanding of a target audience and realistic go-to-market strategies.
I think this ties back to what Sonu is saying in a slightly different way. Its not just about niche or positioning, but how easily your product fits into something the buyer already understands internally. Even a well targeted product can struggle if it creates too much friction in approval or requires too much explanation across teams. The fastest yes point is really about reducing that internal resistance more than just having a strong idea.
Totally agree.