The Y Combinator Startup Hiring Playbook
What top YC companies like Stripe, Airbnb, and DoorDash have in common when it comes to hiring exceptional talent.
Roles Team
Talent Advisors · January 15, 2025
# The Y Combinator Startup Hiring Playbook
Y Combinator has produced some of the most successful startups in history. What do they have in common when it comes to hiring?
The YC Hiring Philosophy
Top YC founders stay deeply involved in hiring long after they should delegate it. Patrick Collison was doing final interviews at Stripe past 1,000 employees.
Key Lessons
### Hire Slowly, Fire Quickly This YC mantra means being deliberate about who you bring on and quick to address mistakes.
### Reference Obsession Top YC founders do extensive reference checks, including backdoor references through their network.
### Culture Carriers Airbnb asks: Would I want to go on a long trip with this person?
The Bottom Line
The best YC companies treat hiring as a core competency, not an administrative task.