Follow the Gradient How to Break Into YC from Europe: David Oort Alonso’s Playbook for Early Stage Founders
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Aug 21, 2025 David Oort Alonso, co-founder of Bloom and a Y Combinator alum, shares his journey as a European founder navigating the competitive startup incubator landscape. He discusses the importance of knowing when to pivot and emphasizes that YC values market potential over tech innovation. Tune in to discover his fast fundraising tactics that brought in $3.4M in just five days, and learn how to master investor pitches using compelling demos and storytelling. Team dynamics and resilience are also crucial elements he highlights for success.
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Six Applications Before Acceptance
- David recounts six YC applications across three startups before acceptance with Bloom.
- The final Bloom application combined team experience, prior products, and network to secure an interview and acceptance.
Market Trumps Tech For YC
- YC prioritizes market potential over pure tech novelty because VCs play the power-law game.
- Pitch the market as obviously huge or show a clear path to becoming a billion-dollar company.
Master The Ten-Minute Interview Pitch
- Prepare for YC's 10-minute interviews by practicing concise, expandable answers to common questions.
- Know your key numbers, customers, and growth so partners can cut you off and still understand you.