Accelerator · San Francisco, California, United States

Y Combinator

A three-month batch held in person in San Francisco, run four times a year. YC invests US$500k in every company it funds: $125k for 7% plus $375k on an uncapped MFN SAFE.

Open · closes 2 Nov 2026

Apply on the programme's site Programme website

Verified 18 October 2026 · From the programme's own pages

Terms

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.

Application dates

Open · closes 2 Nov 2026Winter 2027

Who can apply

Open to startups anywhere in the world
Companies at the idea stage can apply; YC says about 40% of each batch is just an idea
Solo founders are accepted
Founders are expected to work full-time on the company during and after the batch
Late applications are considered, without a promised reply date
Stage: idea, pre-seed, seed

Companies it names as alumni

Airbnb, Stripe, DoorDash, Coinbase, Dropbox, Reddit, Instacart

What founders should check

It takes 7% equity, and its standard offer is US$500,000. Work out what that stake costs you at your next round before you sign.
It charges no programme fee.
It runs in person in San Francisco. Plan to be there for the length of the programme.
Applications are open until 2 November 2026. That is less than a month away, so start the form now.

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