Browse every YC cohort from 2005 to 2026. Find pre-AI startups with proven product-market fit — and discover which ideas are worth relaunching with AI.
From a small Cambridge experiment to the world's most influential accelerator
Founded in March 2005 by Paul Graham, Jessica Livingston, Robert Tappan Morris, and Trevor Blackwell with $200,000 in initial capital. Their radical idea: standardize early-stage funding with small investments, identical terms, and a focus on hackers and builders.
YC ran synchronous "batch" programs — unusual at the time, since fundraising was normally individual and asynchronous. The first batch had just 8 startups, including Reddit. Programs ran across Cambridge, MA and Mountain View, CA.
In January 2009, YC centralized in Silicon Valley. That year, Sequoia Capital invested $2M, followed by $8.25M in 2010 — enabling a sharp increase in startups funded per year.
YC developed its legendary format: a 3-month intensive program, regular office hours with partners, and a Demo Day presenting to top investors. This structure inspired hundreds of accelerators worldwide.
In 2014, Sam Altman became President. YC standardized its deal: $150K for ~7% equityvia convertible notes and SAFEs — a template adopted globally. Batches grew to cover SaaS, marketplaces, hardware, biotech, and non-profits.
YC launched Startup School (free online program for thousands of founders) and reached a portfolio valuation of $100B+ by 2018.
During COVID-19, YC went fully remote — making the program accessible to founders worldwide without relocating. YC had already moved HQ from Mountain View to San Francisco in 2019.
The rise of generative AI has reshaped recent batches. CEO Garry Tan notes that in many startups, a significant share of the codebase is now AI-generated. Yet YC's core formula — small bets, intense batches, strong product culture — keeps it at the center of the AI wave.
Click a cohort to explore its startups