From Hackathon to YC

Summary

This story is being published in the Product Hunt Weekly Newsletter. If you'd like to read more stories like this, subscribe here. 🌟Hey everyone, I’m Neha, the founder of @April — an AI executive assistant that keeps your inbox, calendar, and meeting prep under control so you can finally get your time back. April exists because of a hackathon I almost skipped, my car crashing into a pillar… and a YC interview I never saw coming.The Hackathon That Changed EverythingIt's the end of May 2025. By this point, I’ve applied to Y Combinator loads of times, but have always gotten the same answer: “No.” So when my co-founder, @vedhsaka , and I sign up for the MCP Hackathon, getting into YC is the furthest thing from our minds. We just want to build something we’d actually use, and see what happens.We call the resultant product Inbox Zero. It’s an AI assistant that can answer emails by voice. I’m stuck in traffic most mornings, and so is Akash, so the idea of clearing our inboxes without touching a screen feels like magic. We record a demo and dent Akash’s car while recording, just minutes before the deadline. Judges love the demo. Then they announce the winner… us. And the prize? A direct YC interview.Seven Days to Prove OurselvesWe have one week before the call. No product polish, no user base, nothing. We throw up a landing page, slap a $10 early-access button on it, and cross our fingers. Four days later, 150 users from multiple countries have signed up. We suddenly have proof people want this.From Inbox Zero to AprilInbox Zero works, but we can see the bigger picture. Why stop at email? What if this assistant could run your calendar and give you context before you walk into the room? Thus, April is born.People start telling me April changes how they work because it isn’t about automating life — it’s about making space for it. Parents stay productive while their kids nap. Professionals plan their whole week in the time it takes to cook dinner. No one has to feel guilty abo...