Y Combinator is accepting applications from startups for the Winter 2021 funding cycle. It will take place from January–March 2021.
Due to the COVID-19 situation the Winter 2021 batch will be remote. Please see our announcement for more details.
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If you want to apply, please submit your application online by 8 pm PT on September 23. Startups that submit early have a small advantage because we have more time to read their applications. And you can submit after the deadline - though keep in mind that if you apply late, we can’t guarantee the exact date of when you’ll hear back from us with a decision.
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On October 21 by 11:59PM PST, we’ll invite the startups that seem most promising to talk to us either in late October, November, or early December.
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This batch of Y Combinator will be remote due to COVID-19. It will be much the same as every other batch. We've worked hard to ensure we can provide the same networking, advice, and fundraising help that YC always provides.
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During the 3 month cycle we invite speakers every week to talk about their startup and what they learned.
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Every week or two, you'll have group office hours, where you'll talk with 5-8 companies and your YC partners for an hour. These group office hours are a chance to get to know companies in your batch that are going through similar things and to help each other.
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During and after the 3 months we introduce startups individually to people who could help them. The founders of other YC-funded companies tend to be especially helpful. Today the YC alumni network is probably the most powerful network in the startup world.
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About 11 weeks in, we organize an event called Demo Day at which the startups present to a carefully selected, invite-only audience.
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YC doesn't really end after 3 months; only the talks do. We continue to give advice and make introductions as long as our startups need—-and so does the informal network of YC-funded companies.
Who We Fund
How do we choose which startups to fund?
We'll fund companies from anywhere in the world. We fund companies doing everything from building mobile apps to diagnosing cancer.
We'll happily fund companies that just started and have nothing more than an idea. And we've funded companies that had over $20M in annual revenue and over 50 employees.
International founders, please note: if your company is already incorporated somewhere other than the United States, Canada, Singapore or the Cayman Islands, in order to participate in YC you will need to create a parent company that is in one of those jurisdictions. The existing company will then become a subsidiary of the new United States, Canada, Singapore or Cayman parent company. While lawyers will drive this process, it will require a significant effort on your part.
You must have at least 10% equity in the startup to be considered a founder by Y Combinator. Only founders can come to interviews if invited or attend batch events if accepted.