How do I install the Yc New Way skill?

Run npx skillmds add modbender/yc-new-way in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Yc New Way safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: docs only. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Yc New Way?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Yc New Way free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Yc New Way?

modbender (@modbender) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Yc New Way by modbender — Agent Skill

Name: Yc New Way
Rating: 4.5 (4 reviews)
Author: modbender

Yc New Way

Apply Y Combinator’s “New Way to Build a Startup” playbook to ship fast, validate with real distribution, and iterate using data. Use when the user asks to follow “New Way”, design a 7-day startup sprint, pick a narrow wedge, build a lightweight MVP/SEO site/newsletter, set up experiments, or turn a vague idea into a testable plan with metrics, launch checklist, and weekly iteration loop.

modbender d80214f 5 files · 5.5 KB Updated Sep 9, 2026 12 repo stars

File contents

YC “New Way” (ship → distribute → learn)

Goal

Turn an idea into a running distribution loop fast (days, not weeks), using the smallest product that can measure real demand.

Workflow (default)

0) Clarify the bet (2 minutes)

Fill this sentence:

For [who] with [pain], we offer [promise] via [channel], and we’ll know it works when [metric] hits [threshold].

If missing, use references/experiment-brief.md.

1) Pick a narrow wedge

Prefer wedges that are:

High intent (people already searching/buying)
Clear objects (SKUs, listings, templates)
Easy to prove with evidence (links, screenshots, timestamps)

Output:

1 primary wedge + 1 backup wedge
3 user stories

2) Choose one distribution channel first

Pick exactly one:

SEO (content library + internal links)
Newsletter (weekly digest)
Community (Reddit/Discord/forums) where posting is allowed

Do not build more channels until one shows signal.

3) Ship the smallest MVP that measures

Default MVPs:

SEO site: 10 pages (2 money pages + 8 support pages)
Newsletter: 1 issue + signup + archive
Tool page: 1 calculator/checklist with email capture

Include:

Clear CTA
Analytics
Evidence links (avoid “AI says”)

Use references/landing-page-checklist.md and references/seo-10-page-plan.md.

4) Instrumentation & decision rules

Track only the fewest metrics:

Traffic → CTA CTR → Outbound clicks → (optional) purchases
Time to publish / pages per week (throughput)

Define stop/iterate rules:

If CTR is low → fix promise/copy
If CTR is high but no conversions → fix offer/price/trust
If no traffic after 7 days → distribution problem (not product)

Use references/weekly-loop.md.

5) Weekly iteration loop

Every week:

Double down on 1 thing that worked
Kill 1 thing that didn’t
Add 1 new experiment

Keep a changelog; avoid rebuilding.

Output templates (use these verbatim)

Experiment brief: references/experiment-brief.md
Landing page checklist: references/landing-page-checklist.md
SEO 10-page plan: references/seo-10-page-plan.md
Weekly loop: references/weekly-loop.md

Guardrails

Distribution before system: don’t over-automate until there’s signal.
Evidence-first: recommendations must cite sources.
Narrow first: one wedge, one channel, one metric.
Legal/ToS: prefer public sources / allowed APIs; avoid bypassing logins or CAPTCHAs.

---name: yc-new-waydescription: Apply Y Combinator’s “New Way to Build a Startup” playbook to ship fast, validate with real distribution, and iterate using data. Use when the user asks to follow “New Way”, design a 7-day startup sprint, pick a narrow wedge, build a lightweight MVP/SEO site/newsletter, set up experiments, or turn a vague idea into a testable plan with metrics, launch checklist, and weekly iteration loop.--- # YC “New Way” (ship → distribute → learn) ## Goal Turn an idea into **a running distribution loop** fast (days, not weeks), using the smallest product that can **measure real demand**. ## Workflow (default) ### 0) Clarify the bet (2 minutes) Fill this sentence: - **For [who]** with **[pain]**, we offer **[promise]** via **[channel]**, and we’ll know it works when **[metric]** hits **[threshold]**. If missing, use `references/experiment-brief.md`. ### 1) Pick a narrow wedge Prefer wedges that are: - High intent (people already searching/buying) - Clear objects (SKUs, listings, templates) - Easy to prove with evidence (links, screenshots, timestamps) Output: - 1 primary wedge + 1 backup wedge - 3 user stories ### 2) Choose one distribution channel first Pick exactly one: - **SEO** (content library + internal links) - **Newsletter** (weekly digest) - **Community** (Reddit/Discord/forums) where posting is allowed Do **not** build more channels until one shows signal. ### 3) Ship the smallest MVP that measures Default MVPs: - SEO site: 10 pages (2 money pages + 8 support pages) - Newsletter: 1 issue + signup + archive - Tool page: 1 calculator/checklist with email capture Include: - Clear CTA - Analytics - Evidence links (avoid “AI says”) Use `references/landing-page-checklist.md` and `references/seo-10-page-plan.md`. ### 4) Instrumentation & decision rules Track only the fewest metrics: - **Traffic → CTA CTR → Outbound clicks → (optional) purchases** - Time to publish / pages per week (throughput) Define stop/iterate rules: - If CTR is low → fix promise/copy - If CTR is high but no conversions → fix offer/price/trust - If no traffic after 7 days → distribution problem (not product) Use `references/weekly-loop.md`. ### 5) Weekly iteration loop Every week: 1) Double down on 1 thing that worked 2) Kill 1 thing that didn’t 3) Add 1 new experiment Keep a changelog; avoid rebuilding. ## Output templates (use these verbatim) - Experiment brief: `references/experiment-brief.md` - Landing page checklist: `references/landing-page-checklist.md` - SEO 10-page plan: `references/seo-10-page-plan.md` - Weekly loop: `references/weekly-loop.md` ## Guardrails - **Distribution before system**: don’t over-automate until there’s signal. - **Evidence-first**: recommendations must cite sources. - **Narrow first**: one wedge, one channel, one metric. - **Legal/ToS**: prefer public sources / allowed APIs; avoid bypassing logins or CAPTCHAs.

Frequently asked questions