How does YC evaluate B2G startups without traction?
Hi everyone,
I'm a first-time founder from LatAm building a startup focused primarily on selling to governments (B2G).
One of my biggest concerns about applying to YC is traction. Government sales cycles are notoriously long, procurement processes can be complex, and even getting a government agency to agree to a pilot or trial can be difficult.
Looking at recent YC batches, I've noticed that many startups already have meaningful traction, and even some B2G companies seem to have secured government customers or pilots before joining.
This makes me wonder how does YC evaluate pre-revenue B2G startups, especially those based outside the US?
Can a strong product, technical execution and domain expertise compensate for the lack of paying customers? What would YC consider meaningful traction when landing the first government contract can take a year or more?
I'd love to hear from anyone who has experience applying to YC or building a B2G startup.
I'm particularly interested in understanding what early-stage founders should prioritize to demonstrate progress before securing their first government customer.