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Comment by kayhi | Hacker News Reader

With these new details requested, I wonder if it would be possible to request that competitive companies do not see your application.

Now that YC is 1,000+ companies, I can see overlap becoming more common. A snapshot of finances may not be the end of the world for a company, but does give insights to a competitor(s).

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Why do you think other companies see your application?

Unless things have changed recently, YC leverages former YC founders to do the initial application review. The founders that participate are from both currently operating companies and companies that closed or exited. So (if the review process has not changed in the last few years) there is a chance that a senior individual at a startup or an employee at a larger company that competes in the same space will see the details disclosed in the answers to the new questions about an applicant company's financials.

Ok, but 1) I don't think it gives them any advantages knowing a snapshot of three financial numbers and 2) I would hope that they don't let your application be reviewed by a potential competitor company, as there would clearly be a conflict of interest. Even if you didn't disclose any financial information.

It says on the YC website that they do their best to keep things confidential. How does this work with former YC companies? Can you explain or give a link please?

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