The Macro

In plain words

The Macro is a web app that curates and shares stories from the Y Combinator startup ecosystem. It serves people interested in learning about entrepreneurship, startup culture, and the experiences of founders and companies within the YC network. The app aggregates narratives and insights that give readers an inside look at how startups in the YC world develop, succeed, and navigate challenges.

written from the facts on this page · September 2026

• 
  YC Library2023 · ycombinator.com · ▲810

  The new hub for YC's startup videos, essays, podcasts & more

• 
  The Y Combinator Database2017 · ycdb.co · ▲866

  The definitive database of YC companies with all the metrics

• 
  Y Combinator Podcast2017 · ycombinator.com · ▲531

  Y Combinators new podcast on starting a startup

• IW
  I wrote a guidebook on everything I know about applying to Y Combinator2012 · guidetoyc.com · ▲177
• 
  Apply to YC (Y Combinator)2017 · ▲386

  Curated collection of resources for founders applying to YC.

• 
  YC World2017 · world.ycombinator.com · ▲396

  Explore Y Combinator companies by country

• 
  SimCity, but with Permits▲909

  A free city-building game in your browser. You are the mayor. You know what the city needs. Now get it past the zoning board, the neighbors, the appeals court and the next election.

  Life & fun · 1d ago · permit.petercai.com

• IV
  I've been paying for a rural Tanzanian's education for 10 years▲778

  Life & fun · 14d ago · tanzaniaeducationproject.org

• 
  Bigwords.page – Turn any screen into a sign. The URL is the app▲728

  Turn a phone, tablet or TV into a sign. Type a message and it fills the screen: welcome signs, timers, Wi-Fi passwords and more. No app, no account, free.

  Life & fun · 14d ago · bigwords.page

• 
  Guitoro, a virtual guitar you strum with your keyboard▲573

  Play a free virtual guitar online with your keyboard or by touch. Slow songs down and see every chord, string and strum. Acoustic, classic, electric and bass.

  Life & fun · 8d ago · guitoro.com

• 
  See *almost* any carriers phone settings▲432

  Carrier settings from iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy firmware, decoded and compared: APNs, VoLTE, 5G and Wi-Fi Calling per carrier, and what each build changed.

  Life & fun · 12d ago · carrierexplode.com

• 
  The whole Solar System and every tracked satellite, live in the browser▲407

  Life & fun · 22d ago · space.bl2.net

• 
  Brain.fm▲957

  Music for the brain to improve focus, meditation & sleep

  AI · 2015 · brain.fm

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  Something pointless I made▲747

  Life & fun · 2015 · dn.ht

• PA
  Parinfer – a simpler way to write Lisp▲674

  Parinfer - simpler Lisp editing

  Life & fun · 2015 · shaunlebron.github.io

• 
  Motion AI▲634

  Easily build chatbots to do anything, on any platform!

  AI · 2015 · motion.ai

• 
  f.lux for iOS▲596

  Auto adjust your iOS display based on the time of day

  Dev tools · 2015 · justgetflux.com

• 
  Fieldbook▲592

  Create a database, as easily as a spreadsheet

  Dev tools · 2015 · fieldbook.com