The YC Demo Day almost turned investors away at the door — and that might’ve been the point. In this behind-the-scenes breakdown, Gabriel Jarrosson (Lobster Capital) and Laurie dissect the most exclusive Demo Day yet, revealing why this Spring 25 batch could be the best in years.
We explore YC's most AI-heavy cohort, debate sky-high valuations, and uncover what separates a good startup from a breakout unicorn.
You’ll learn:
Why YC Spring 25 had a record 0.8% acceptance rate
What caused Demo Day chaos at the YC office
How to evaluate traction vs hype in early AI startups
Why some investors are restructuring funds just to get into YC
How to get allocation in oversubscribed rounds
Gabriel’s method for revenue due diligence during Demo Day
📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Lobster Talks: Behind the Scenes of YC Spring 25 Demo Day
00:21 The Unique Challenges of This Year's Demo Day
02:50 Impressive Stats and Trends from the Spring Batch
04:30 The Growing Influence of AI in YC Startups
09:03 Investor Insights and Revenue Due Diligence
15:33 Evaluating Founders and Early Traction
18:07 The Darwinian Approach to Startup Evolution
18:41 Revenue as the Ultimate Proof of Success
21:13 Navigating Competition and Investor Strategies
21:48 The European Angle and Hot Deals
23:12 Valuation Challenges and Investor Decisions
25:27 The Role of Media and Networking in Investment
26:40 High Valuations and Future Growth
32:16 Follow-On Strategies and Growth Metrics
35:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
🎧 Listen on the go:
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4m2K7ah
Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm
My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCahCIZ9KfmeK4rLosGNYpdg
