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Y Combinator vs Berkeley SkyDeck
What Y Combinator and Berkeley SkyDeck each invest, the equity they take, who they suit and when applications close, from each programme's own pages.
Y Combinator vs Berkeley SkyDeck
Y Combinator
- Funding
- US$500,000 US$500k as two SAFEs signed together: $125k on a post-money SAFE for 7% and $375k on an uncapped MFN SAFE
- Instrument
- SAFE
- Equity taken
- 7% 7% from the $125k post-money SAFE; the $375k uncapped MFN SAFE converts on the most favourable terms of SAFEs issued from around the start of the batch until the priced round
- Programme fee
- No fee YC says it charges companies no fees to take part
- Duration
- not published
- Cohort size
- not published
- Cohorts
- 4 a year
- Delivery
- In person
- Stages
- Idea, pre-seed, seed
- Sectors
- Sector-agnostic
- Open to founders from
- Anywhere
- Perks
-
- Help with visas and incorporation for founders from outside the US
- Access to Bookface, YC's founder platform, and alumni events
The batch lasts three months and opens with a three-day in-person retreat. YC also takes a pro rata right to invest in later rounds.
Berkeley SkyDeck
- Funding
- US$210,000 US$210k from the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund for Cohort teams. Pad-13 teams get no guaranteed investment; the fund may invest up to 10% of a later institutional round on the same terms
- Instrument
- not published
- Equity taken
- not published
- Programme fee
- not published
- Duration
- not published
- Cohort size
- not published
- Cohorts
- 2 a year
- Delivery
- In person
- Stages
- not published
- Sectors
- Sector-agnostic
- Open to founders from
- Anywhere
- Perks
-
- Designated work space at SkyDeck for Cohort teams
- Workshops and a network of about 900 advisors
Runs for six months. Roughly 20 Cohort teams are selected every six months, alongside 60 to 80 Pad-13 teams with lighter support.
Where they differ
| Term | Y Combinator | Berkeley SkyDeck |
|---|---|---|
| Funding | US$500,000 | US$210,000 |
| Equity taken | 7% | not published |
| Instrument | SAFE | not published |
| Programme fee | No fee | not published |
| Duration | not published | not published |
| Cohorts | 4 a year | 2 a year |
| Delivery | In person | In person |
| Stages | Idea, pre-seed, seed | not published |
| Sectors | Sector-agnostic | Sector-agnostic |
| Based in | San Francisco, United States | Berkeley, United States |
| Next deadline | 2 November 2026 | not published |
Which fits whom
Y Combinator fits founders
- At the idea, pre-seed or seed stage
- Who can be in San Francisco for the programme
- In any sector
- Willing to give up 7% equity; the standard offer is US$500,000
Berkeley SkyDeck fits founders
- At any stage: the programme does not name one
- Who can be in Berkeley for the programme
- In any sector
- Who will ask about equity first: the terms are not published
Application dates
Y Combinator
Winter 2027: applications close 2 November 2026.
Berkeley SkyDeck
Batch 23: applications opened 20 July 2026 and closed 21 August 2026; the programme starts 2 November 2026.
Y Combinator vs Berkeley SkyDeck: questions founders ask
Which invests more, Y Combinator or Berkeley SkyDeck?
Y Combinator publishes the larger standard offer: Y Combinator US$500,000, Berkeley SkyDeck US$210,000.
Which takes less equity, Y Combinator or Berkeley SkyDeck?
Y Combinator takes 7%; Berkeley SkyDeck does not publish its equity terms.
Which closes first, Y Combinator or Berkeley SkyDeck?
Y Combinator closes on 2 November 2026; Berkeley SkyDeck has no published deadline ahead.
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