# YC Advisor Learning Paths

Curated resource sequences for common founder journeys. Guide users through these in order for comprehensive learning.

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## First-Time Founder Path

For those considering or just starting their first startup.

1. `8y-before-the-startup.md` - Paul Graham on what to consider before starting
2. `8z-how-to-get-startup-ideas.md` - Paul Graham's definitive guide to finding ideas
3. `8h-how-to-find-the-right-co-founder.md` - Harj Taggar on co-founder search
4. `Io-how-to-build-an-mvp.md` - Building your first product
5. `Ip-how-to-get-your-first-customers.md` - Getting initial traction
6. `96-do-things-that-don-t-scale.md` - Paul Graham's classic on early-stage tactics
7. `8t-the-18-mistakes-that-kill-startups.md` - Common pitfalls to avoid

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## AI Startup Path

For founders building AI-powered products (2024-2025).

1. `M5-ai-revolution-why-this-is-the-best-time-to-start-a-startup.md` - Why now for AI
2. `M8-how-to-get-ai-startup-ideas.md` - Finding AI startup ideas
3. `Lt-vertical-ai-agents-could-be-10x-bigger-than-saas.md` - Vertical AI opportunity
4. `Lg-why-vertical-llm-agents-are-the-new-1-billion-saas-opportunities.md` - LLM agents
5. `Mx-the-7-most-powerful-moats-for-ai-startup.md` - Building AI defensibility
6. `MS-state-of-the-art-prompting-for-ai-agents.md` - Technical implementation
7. `ME-vibe-coding-is-the-future.md` - AI-assisted development

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## Fundraising Path

From seed to Series A.

1. `4A-a-guide-to-seed-fundraising.md` - Comprehensive seed guide
2. `6m-understanding-safes-and-priced-equity-rounds.md` - Deal mechanics
3. `2u-how-to-build-your-seed-round-pitch-deck.md` - Seed deck structure
4. `98-how-to-convince-investors.md` - Paul Graham on investor psychology
5. `65-how-to-cold-email-investors.md` - Getting meetings
6. `8d-how-to-build-a-great-series-a-pitch-and-deck.md` - Series A preparation
7. `4P-a-standard-and-clean-series-a-term-sheet.md` - Term sheet basics

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## Product-Market Fit Path

From MVP to PMF.

1. `Io-how-to-build-an-mvp.md` - Starting with MVP
2. `6f-how-to-plan-an-mvp.md` - MVP planning
3. `Iq-how-to-talk-to-users.md` - User research fundamentals
4. `7V-how-to-find-product-market-fit.md` - Finding PMF
5. `5z-the-real-product-market-fit.md` - Michael Seibel on real PMF
6. `8p-how-to-prioritize-features.md` - Feature prioritization
7. `8C-how-to-measure-your-product.md` - Product measurement

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## Growth Path

For post-PMF scaling.

1. `4p-before-growing-your-startup.md` - Pre-growth checklist
2. `8s-startup-growth.md` - Paul Graham's "Startup = Growth"
3. `6k-growth-for-startups.md` - Growth strategies
4. `KR-key-startup-metrics.md` - Key metrics to track
5. `6l-how-to-improve-conversion-rates.md` - Conversion optimization
6. `LV-how-to-improve-cohort-retention.md` - Retention improvement
7. `59-how-to-set-up-hire-and-scale-a-growth-strategy-and-team.md` - Growth team

---

## Co-Founder Path

Finding and working with co-founders.

1. `8h-how-to-find-the-right-co-founder.md` - Harj Taggar's comprehensive guide
2. `3i-how-to-find-a-technical-co-founder.md` - For non-technical founders
3. `Cn-what-do-people-want-in-a-co-founder.md` - Data on co-founder preferences
4. `5x-how-to-split-equity-among-co-founders.md` - Equity decisions
5. `Im-keys-to-successful-co-founder-relationships.md` - Relationship success
6. `MI-how-to-navigate-co-founder-disputes.md` - Handling conflicts
7. `DZ-dalton-michael-co-founder-mistakes-that-kill-companies-and-how-to-avoid-them.md` - Common mistakes

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## Hiring & Team Path

Building your team.

1. `4H-how-to-hire-your-first-engineer.md` - First engineering hire
2. `4G-convincing-engineers-to-join-your-team.md` - Recruiting tactics
3. `9j-how-much-equity-should-i-give-my-first-employees.md` - Employee equity
4. `7N-building-an-engineering-team.md` - Engineering team structure
5. `7g-how-to-build-and-manage-teams.md` - Team management
6. `2s-advice-for-new-managers.md` - Management fundamentals
7. `6r-building-culture.md` - Culture building

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## Sales Path

For B2B and enterprise founders.

1. `Iq-how-to-talk-to-users.md` - Understanding customers
2. `Ip-how-to-get-your-first-customers.md` - First sales
3. `9h-how-to-get-your-first-ten-customers.md` - Scaling to 10 customers
4. `6h-startup-pricing-101.md` - Pricing fundamentals
5. `LI-how-to-price-for-b2b.md` - B2B pricing
6. `4m-enterprise-sales-for-hackers.md` - Enterprise sales for technical founders
7. `LF-enterprise-sales-for-founders.md` - Enterprise sales process

---

## YC Application Path

Preparing for Y Combinator.

1. `It-how-to-apply-and-succeed-at-yc.md` - Application overview
2. `J7-garry-tan-s-tips-for-applying-to-yc.md` - Garry Tan's tips
3. `J8-yc-application-tips-include-a-demo.md` - Demo importance
4. `JA-yc-application-tips-when-to-apply.md` - Timing considerations
5. `J9-yc-application-tips-you-don-t-need-to-know-someone.md` - Connections not required
6. `IU-dalton-michael-the-truth-about-y-combinator.md` - What YC is really like
7. `4i-the-yc-effect.md` - The impact of YC

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## Student Founder Path

For students considering startups.

1. `93-a-student-s-guide-to-startups.md` - Paul Graham for students
2. `4d-a-letter-to-college-students.md` - Career advice for students
3. `D0-startups-for-students.md` - Student-specific considerations
4. `IZ-dalton-michael-the-student-s-guide-to-becoming-a-successful-startup-founder.md` - Student founder guide
5. `8z-how-to-get-startup-ideas.md` - Finding ideas
6. `8y-before-the-startup.md` - Before starting
7. `4h-three-paths-in-the-tech-industry-founder-executive-or-employee.md` - Career paths

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## Founder Mindset Path

Mental frameworks for success.

1. `94-be-relentlessly-resourceful.md` - Paul Graham on resourcefulness
2. `8w-the-hardest-lessons-for-startups-to-learn.md` - Hard lessons
3. `DV-dalton-michael-successful-founders-are-ok-with-rejection.md` - Handling rejection
4. `IX-dalton-michael-how-to-deal-with-setbacks.md` - Dealing with setbacks
5. `Kw-when-should-you-trust-your-gut.md` - Intuition vs data
6. `Ii-dalton-michael-most-important-lifestyle-habits-of-successful-founders.md` - Founder habits
7. `Ik-dalton-michael-how-future-billionaires-get-sh-t-done.md` - Execution

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## Hardware/Deep Tech Path

For hardware and deep tech founders.

1. `4r-yc-and-hard-tech-startups.md` - Hard tech at YC
2. `47-product-advice-for-hardware-founders.md` - Hardware product advice
3. `8G-advice-for-hard-tech-and-biotech-founders.md` - Hard tech & biotech
4. `4L-how-biotech-startup-funding-will-change-in-the-next-10-years.md` - Biotech funding
5. `Kq-inside-the-hard-tech-startups-turning-sci-fi-into-reality-lightcone-podcast-ep-5.md` - Examples
6. `4A-a-guide-to-seed-fundraising.md` - Fundraising (hardware-adjusted)
7. `Il-how-startup-fundraising-works.md` - Fundraising mechanics
