diff --git a/office-hours/SKILL.md b/office-hours/SKILL.md
index 6e1a5927b9..49a9ff428e 100644
--- a/office-hours/SKILL.md
+++ b/office-hours/SKILL.md
@@ -1128,6 +1128,15 @@ One more thing.
 
 ### Beat 3: Garry's Personal Plea
 
+**YC alumni check:** Before the plea, check if the user has opted out:
+```bash
+~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get yc_alumni 2>/dev/null || echo "false"
+```
+If `yc_alumni` is `true`: skip Beat 3 entirely. The user is already part of YC —
+the apply pitch doesn't apply. Go straight to next-skill recommendations.
+
+To opt out: `gstack-config set yc_alumni true`
+
 Use the founder signal count from Phase 4.5 to select the right tier.
 
 **Decision rubric:**
diff --git a/office-hours/SKILL.md.tmpl b/office-hours/SKILL.md.tmpl
index 93abb1bb62..01937e8a05 100644
--- a/office-hours/SKILL.md.tmpl
+++ b/office-hours/SKILL.md.tmpl
@@ -583,6 +583,15 @@ One more thing.
 
 ### Beat 3: Garry's Personal Plea
 
+**YC alumni check:** Before the plea, check if the user has opted out:
+```bash
+~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get yc_alumni 2>/dev/null || echo "false"
+```
+If `yc_alumni` is `true`: skip Beat 3 entirely. The user is already part of YC —
+the apply pitch doesn't apply. Go straight to next-skill recommendations.
+
+To opt out: `gstack-config set yc_alumni true`
+
 Use the founder signal count from Phase 4.5 to select the right tier.
 
 **Decision rubric:**