Y Combinator
YC turns builders into formidable founders by providing structured mentorship, funding, and network access during a 12-week batch program. The program transforms early-stage teams into companies capable of achieving extraordinary scale.
Check Size$500K – $2M
StagesSeed, Pre-Seed
LocationUS
Data quality88verified
Investment thesis
YC turns builders into formidable founders by providing structured mentorship, funding, and network access during a 12-week batch program. The program transforms early-stage teams into companies capable of achieving extraordinary scale.
90 confidence · stated by fund
Partners
PG
Paul Graham
Founder
What sets Y Combinator apart
- 12-week intensive batch program model
- Cohort-based peer learning and network effects
- Hands-on mentor access from founder-operators
- Demonstrated track record of 13+ companies exceeding $1B+ valuations
Investment profile
- Stages
- Seed, Pre-Seed
- Sectors
- Fintech, Consumer, Infrastructure, SaaS, Developer tools, AI, Logistics, Crypto
- Cold inbound
- Accepted
Frequently asked questions
- What does Y Combinator invest in?
- Y Combinator is a seed, pre-seed stage Fintech, Consumer, Infrastructure, SaaS, Developer tools, AI, Logistics, Crypto investor, typically writing $500K – $2M checks, primarily investing in US. Their thesis: YC turns builders into formidable founders by providing structured mentorship, funding, and network access during a 12-week batch program. The program transforms early-stage teams into companies capable of achieving extraordinary scale.
- What check size does Y Combinator write?
- Y Combinator typically writes $500K – $2M checks at the Seed, Pre-Seed stage in Fintech, Consumer, Infrastructure, SaaS, Developer tools, AI, Logistics, Crypto.
- Is Y Combinator actively deploying capital?
- Y Combinator is actively deploying capital. What we observed: Active application intake for Summer 2026 batch visible on homepage with May 4 deadline.
- What makes Y Combinator different from other funds?
- Y Combinator stands out on 4 points: 12-week intensive batch program model; Cohort-based peer learning and network effects; Hands-on mentor access from founder-operators; Demonstrated track record of 13+ companies exceeding $1B+ valuations.
- What other funds are similar to Y Combinator?
- Funds with overlapping stage and sector focus include FundersClub, Betaworks, Diagram Ventures. See the full list below, or use DryPowder's AI fund matching to rank all tracked funds by fit with your specific startup.
- How do I reach out to Y Combinator?
- Y Combinator accepts cold outreach — you can apply directly at https://www.ycombinator.com/apply. Use DryPowder's AI fund matching to see how your startup aligns with Y Combinator's thesis and focus areas (Fintech, Consumer, Infrastructure, SaaS, Developer tools, AI, Logistics, Crypto) — it returns a fit score and specific talking points for your outreach.