251 startups in this batch
Winter 2024 marked the definitive shift from LLM curiosity to Vertical AI execution, occurring just as the industry moved past simple wrappers into complex workflow automation. YC leaned heavily into B2B AI applications, funding a cohort of founders tasked with proving that generative models could handle high-stakes professional tasks in legal, health, and industrial sectors. It was the first batch where "AI-native" wasn't just a buzzword, but a baseline requirement for survival.
This cohort proved that legacy industries—from roofing (Aether) to litigation (Abel)—were finally ready to pay for AI if it was packaged as a complete workflow replacement rather than a standalone tool. They validated that high-intent B2B niches have a massive appetite for "autonomous" operations that eliminate manual data entry and document synthesis. The batch demonstrated that the most valuable AI applications are those that sit directly in the path of a transactional workflow.
Many W24 startups faced immediate pressure as foundational models rapidly integrated their core features, exposing the fragility of thin-wrapper moats. The primary failure point was assuming that the AI model was the product, rather than the proprietary data loop or the deep integration into the user's existing stack. Builders today must realize that a sophisticated prompt is not a business; workflow entrenchment is the only real defense against model commoditization.
The 2026 opportunity lies in multi-agent orchestration for fragmented service industries that W24 only began to touch. While this batch built the "AI CRM" or the "AI Reviewer," a solo builder today can leverage multimodal agents to create fully autonomous service firms. The wedge is no longer just "AI for X," but building the autonomous middleware that connects disparate legacy systems into a self-executing business unit.
Conversational AI surveys with intelligent follow-up questions
We automate compliance for behavioral health, saving clinicians hours…
The video-first food delivery app. Imagine TikTok meets DoorDash.
AI Business Intelligence agent. Get actionable insights in minutes.
AI assistant that builds complex Excel models and automates spreadsheet tasks in minutes.
The AI-powered deal collaboration platform for high ACV revenue teams
B2B construction marketplace to match contractors and subcontractors.
Modern patient engagement and remote therapeutic monitoring platform
Character AI + Roblox :persistent, sapient AI characters in 3D worlds
Interpretable AI models and agents that are easy to audit and…
All-in-one web application for payroll, HR management, and compliance tailored for French SMBs.
Mobile health platform that empowers patients with chronic conditions to manage their health and medications.
Ultimate AI Math Problem Solver to Revolutionize Personalized Learning
AI platform automating engineering workflows for CAD, CFD, meshing, and simulations using agent-driven engineering.
Deploy hardware accelerated AI models with only one line of code
NowHouse builds software that helps stock brokerages settle trades instantly by reconciling trades and corporate actions using AI-powered ledger API.
Nuanced makes AI coding agents and tools smarter with static analysis.
AI-Native Data Engine for LLMs, Computer Vision, & Enterprise AI
The fastest developer experience for building on open source AI.
PandasAI is an open-source conversational data analysis platform with…
Purple is an AI agent for online local marketplace transactions.
AI-powered API for parsing complex unstructured documents into structured data optimized for LLMs and vector databases.
Starjar automates inbound document processing workflows for hospitals
The open source platform for managing identity in business software
Invoicing that pays you even if your buyer doesn’t
Breakthrough medicines unlocking the biology of heme
Batteries and solar for $0 upfront to help businesses save money