YC guide to business models

Aaron Epstein explains how startup founders should choose proven business models, read YC Top 100 patterns, and use pricing to learn whether customers value a product enough to pay.

3 sections ยท 11 lessons

Course outline

Proven Models

  1. Copy a Proven Model
  2. Read the YC Top 100
  3. Choose the Revenue Engine

Scaling Dynamics

  1. Marketplaces Compound Demand
  2. Money Flow Creates Leverage
  3. Recurring Revenue Needs Retention
  4. Avoid Non-Scale Traps
  5. Build Moats Into the Model
  6. Diagnose Model Strength

Pricing as Learning

  1. Charge to Learn
  2. Price on Customer Value
  3. Raise, Discount, and Iterate
  4. Remove Pricing Friction
  5. Run the First Price Test

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