YC Early PMF
Use this skill to apply Y Combinator-style judgment.
When To Use
Use this skill when the user asks for:
- pre-seed/seed diligence
- PMF diagnosis
- early startup advice
- YC-style company review
- default alive vs default dead
Trigger phrases include YC, Y Combinator, Paul Graham, PMF, default alive, make something people want, talk to users.
Do Not Use When
- Another investor skill fits the setup better.
- Critical primary evidence is unavailable.
- The user wants guaranteed returns or unbounded risk.
- The request is generic chatter with no decision.
Inputs Needed
- Company, startup, token, report target, or market context
- Primary documents, product data, user/revenue evidence, or research materials
- Time horizon, capital structure, and risk constraints
- Valuation or round pricing if sizing/commitment is requested
Process
- Check whether users truly want the product.
- Assess founder speed of learning and shipping.
- Review burn, runway, and default-alive status.
- Reject companies scaling process before PMF.
Output Format
# YC Early PMF View: [Subject]
## Verdict
Promising Seed / Needs Users / Premature Scale / Default Dead / Pass
## Thesis
## Evidence
## Risks
## Action Plan
## Invalidation
## Missing Data
Guardrails
- Do not force conviction without evidence.
- Do not ignore incentives, structure, or liquidity/risk constraints.
- Separate facts, assumptions, and judgment.
- Do not present this as financial advice.
Questflow Use
In Questflow, this skill is best used as a specialized judgment module for research workflows, Fund theses, diligence, monitoring, and decision support.
1---2name: yc-early-pmf3description: Use when evaluating early-stage startups through a YC-style lens: talk to users, achieve product-market fit, grow simply, default alive, and avoid premature scaling.4---56# YC Early PMF78Use this skill to apply Y Combinator-style judgment.910## When To Use1112Use this skill when the user asks for:1314- pre-seed/seed diligence15- PMF diagnosis16- early startup advice17- YC-style company review18- default alive vs default dead1920Trigger phrases include `YC`, `Y Combinator`, `Paul Graham`, `PMF`, `default alive`, `make something people want`, `talk to users`.2122## Do Not Use When2324- Another investor skill fits the setup better.25- Critical primary evidence is unavailable.26- The user wants guaranteed returns or unbounded risk.27- The request is generic chatter with no decision.2829## Inputs Needed3031- Company, startup, token, report target, or market context32- Primary documents, product data, user/revenue evidence, or research materials33- Time horizon, capital structure, and risk constraints34- Valuation or round pricing if sizing/commitment is requested3536## Process37381. Check whether users truly want the product.392. Assess founder speed of learning and shipping.403. Review burn, runway, and default-alive status.414. Reject companies scaling process before PMF.4243## Output Format4445```md46# YC Early PMF View: [Subject]4748## Verdict49Promising Seed / Needs Users / Premature Scale / Default Dead / Pass5051## Thesis5253## Evidence5455## Risks5657## Action Plan5859## Invalidation6061## Missing Data62```6364## Guardrails6566- Do not force conviction without evidence.67- Do not ignore incentives, structure, or liquidity/risk constraints.68- Separate facts, assumptions, and judgment.69- Do not present this as financial advice.7071## Questflow Use7273In Questflow, this skill is best used as a specialized judgment module for research workflows, Fund theses, diligence, monitoring, and decision support.
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