YC just added one question that quietly changes what it means to be a founder.

And it’s not about your TAM. It’s not about your pitch. It’s about how you use AI to build.

In this episode of Lobster Talks, we break down YC’s newest application change, the rise of coding agents like Claude Code, and what this signals about where startup building, and venture capital is heading next.

We also go deep on YC Roaster, Lobster Capital’s new initiative helping founders improve their YC applications using AI + YC alumni review.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

- Why YC’s new “coding agent session” question is a founder filter

- How vibe coding is becoming table stakes in 2026

- What 20,000 YC applications really signal about global founders

- Why traction keeps rising as the YC acceptance bar

- How smart VCs are building internal tools and why most aren’t

- Why the best founders and funds pivot fast

This is a behind-the-scenes look at how YC evaluates builders today.

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

Chapters:

00:00 Claude Code Is Addictive: Why Everyone’s Vibe Coding Now

00:44 Sponsor Break: YC Roaster - Free, Brutally Honest YC Application Feedback

01:27 Welcome to Lobster Talks: What’s New in the YC World

02:00 How YC Roaster Was Built (Fast) + How the AI→Alumni Review Flow Works

03:37 Launch Results: Hundreds of Apps, MVP Bugs, and the V2 Relaunch Plan

06:23 What Applicants Look Like: Quality Spread, Global Submissions, and Reviewer Time Sinks

11:29 Why Build YC Roaster: Lobster’s “Helpful Fund” Flywheel + VCs Who Ship

14:20 YC’s New Application Question: Submit a Coding Agent Session You’re Proud Of

15:06 What YC Is Really Testing: Technical Bar, AI Fluency, and Advanced Agent Workflows

22:42 Founder vs Idea: Pivot Culture, Proof-of-Work, and How AI Changes Evaluation

27:06 VCs Need Tools Too: Internal Engineering, Interactive Marketing, and Fund Differentiation

29:28 YC Request for Startups: 2026 Themes - Agents, Stablecoins, GovTech, Spatial/Robotics

31:33 Wrap-Up: Subscribe, Reviews, and Next Week’s YC Founder

🎧 Listen on the go:

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

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

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