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Y Combinator

Make something people want. YC is a three month program. We now run YC four times a year, in the winter, spring, summer, and fall.

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Description

Y Combinator (YC) is the world’s most prominent startup accelerator and early-stage investor, known for backing category-defining companies at the earliest possible stage. Founded in 2005, YC combines standardized early capital, a structured accelerator program, and unmatched investor signaling to help founders rapidly build, fundraise, and scale companies globally.

Specific Funding Stage
Pre-Seed / Seed (Exclusive Focus)

  • YC invests at the very beginning of a startup’s life cycle:

    • Idea stage

    • Prototype or MVP

    • Early traction

  • For many startups, YC is their first institutional capital.

Post-YC Follow-On (Selective, via YC Continuity)

  • Through YC Continuity, YC may invest in later rounds (Series A/B and beyond) for top-performing alumni, though this is separate from the core accelerator program.

Investment Amount and Percentage Equity (Company-Level)
Standard YC Deal (Current Structure)

  • $500,000 total investment, split as:

    • $125,000 for 7% equity (post-money)

    • $375,000 via an uncapped SAFE with MFN (no equity percentage set at entry)

Equity Taken

  • The only fixed equity component is the 7% for $125K.

  • The SAFE converts in a future priced round, determining YC’s additional ownership later.

Implied Ownership (Contextual, Not Fixed)

  • Post-conversion, YC’s total ownership commonly ends up in the ~7%–10%+ range, depending on valuation and dilution, but this is not guaranteed or preset beyond the initial 7%.

Equity Structure
  • Investment instruments:

    • Priced equity for the initial $125K

    • Uncapped SAFE (MFN) for the additional $375K

  • Terms are fully standardized — founders do not negotiate economics individually.

  • YC does not take board seats and does not exert control rights typical of later-stage VCs.

Application / Submission Method
Submission Method

  • Founders apply through YC’s online application portal.

  • Applications are open globally and typically run twice per year (Winter and Summer batches).

Interaction

  • Shortlisted teams are invited to live interviews with YC partners.

  • Accepted startups join a 3-month accelerator program culminating in Demo Day.

Eligibility

Sector Focus

  • Broadly industry-agnostic, including:

    • B2B SaaS

    • Consumer tech

    • AI / ML

    • Fintech

    • Healthcare

    • Biotech

    • Climate, robotics, hard tech, EdTech, GovTech, etc.

Geography

  • Global — YC backs founders from nearly every country.

Stage

  • Extremely early:

    • Pre-company or pre-revenue accepted

    • Strong technical or founder insight prioritized over traction

Team Profile

  • Small, committed founding teams (often 2–3 founders)

  • Strong builders with speed, ambition, and technical depth

  • Willingness to move fast and accept intense feedback

Process

  1. Online Application: Founders submit application materials and short answers.

  2. Partner Review: YC partners review for founder quality and idea potential.

  3. Interview: 10-minute live interview with YC partners.

  4. Acceptance: Immediate offer decisions post-interview.

  5. Program Participation: 3-month accelerator + Demo Day

What an Applicant can Obtain

Early Capital: $500K immediately post-acceptance.

Investor Signaling: YC brand dramatically improves fundraising odds.

Mentorship: Direct access to YC partners and elite founder alumni.

Demo Day: Exposure to hundreds of top seed and Series A investors.

Founder Network: One of the strongest startup alumni networks globally.