Venture capital firm

Y Combinator Management, LLC

Compiled from public sources

Y Combinator (YC) is a leading global technology startup accelerator and venture capital firm that pioneered the "batch" seed-funding model. Founded in March 2005, the firm provides early-stage startups with a standardised investment, intensive three-month mentorship, and access to a vast network of alumni and investors. Based in San Francisco, California, YC’s investment strategy focuses on high-growth technology startups across nearly every industry, with a "founder-first" philosophy that emphasises building products users want. The firm operates two semi-annual batches (Winter and Summer) and has launched more than 5,000 companies to date, including global tech giants like Airbnb, Stripe, Coinbase, and Dropbox. Beyond the initial accelerator program, YC maintains a "Continuity" arm that makes follow-on investments in elite alumni companies as they grow. In January 2026, the firm remains a dominant force in the venture ecosystem, increasingly focusing on AI-native infrastructure and agents, which comprise nearly 50% of its most recent batches.