Is Crypto Back at YC? (+ The New Rules for Series A)

YC just changed the rules—and the market is catching up. We break down why seed is the power position, how CVCs are reshaping Series A, and what YC’s new Early Decision really means for founders and investors.

In this episode, we cover Lobster Capital updates (first Series A, first DPI), how we decide follow-ons from an insider vantage point, the rise of “seed-strapping,” Coinbase Ventures x YC’s RFS on Fintech 3.0, and why stablecoins + AI agents may be the next real on-chain wedge. We also unpack YC’s Early Decision—who it actually benefits—and what to expect heading into the next Demo Day.

You’ll learn:

Why seed has asymmetric leverage (and why top YC teams don’t optimize for dollars)

How we evaluate follow-ons: revenue quality, NRR, churn, hiring, and real signal vs noise

CVCs at Series A: when specialization beats the “Tier-1” logo

“Seed-strapping”: profitability at seed, and why some teams skip A entirely

Coinbase Ventures x YC’s Fintech 3.0 RFS and the stablecoin/AI-agent stack

YC Early Decision: who it helps (hardware/bio) and how YC captures talent earlier

📌 Watch now and subscribe for more smart, fast, founder-first interviews.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Investing Insights

00:23 Welcome to Lobster Talks

00:45 Lobster Capital Updates

03:16 Series A Graduation Rates

04:08 Fund Strategy and Follow-Ons

05:38 YC Companies and Profitability

10:33 Fundraising and Strategic Alliances

17:28 Crypto and FinTech 3.0

25:23 Global Currency Dynamics

26:20 The Rise of Stablecoins

27:27 AI and Crypto Synergy

32:03 Speculative Trading and Meme Coins

38:42 YC's Early Decision Program

44:01 The Future of YC and Startup Ecosystem

51:04 Conclusion and Upcoming Content

🎧 Listen on the go:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1u1JyRKH8JYFjhBkvTUOAP

Apple: https://apple.co/4cZ8RMm

My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GJarrosson