What are the odds of getting into Y Combinator?

YC accepts roughly 1.5-2% of applicants. Each batch receives 10,000-15,000 applications and accepts ~200 companies. The acceptance rate is similar to Harvard, but the application is much simpler.

Is giving up 7% equity to YC worth it?

For most startups, yes. The YC brand, network, and Demo Day access significantly increase your chances of raising follow-on funding. The median YC company raises $2.5M+ post-Demo Day. The network effect alone is worth more than 7% for most founders.

San Francisco, CA

Y Combinator

Y Combinator is the most prestigious startup accelerator in the world. Founded in 2005, it has funded over 4,000 companies including Airbnb, Stripe, Dropbox, Reddit, and DoorDash. The combined valuation of YC companies exceeds $600 billion.

Program details

YC runs two 3-month batches per year (Winter and Summer). Each batch accepts ~200 companies. The program includes weekly dinners with speakers, office hours with partners, and culminates in Demo Day where startups pitch to a room of investors.

Investment terms

$500K investment: $125K for 7% equity via a SAFE, plus $375K on an uncapped SAFE with MFN.

Application tips

1. The application video matters more than the written application - be authentic, not polished

2. Show traction if you have it: revenue, users, growth rate

3. Explain the problem clearly in one sentence before jumping to the solution

4. Demonstrate founder-market fit: why are YOU the right person to solve this?

5. Apply even if you think you are too early - YC has funded many pre-product companies

Notable portfolio companies

Airbnb, Stripe, Dropbox, Reddit, DoorDash, Coinbase, Instacart, Twitch

Frequently asked questions

Related accelerators

Techstars

Multiple cities worldwide

→

500 Global

San Francisco, CA (with global programs)

→

Validate before you apply

Accelerators want to see traction. Foundra helps you validate your idea and build the evidence that gets you accepted.

Start your free trial

3-day free trial. No credit card required.

← All accelerators