Startup founders worldwide are invited to apply for the Y Combinator Fall 2026 Batch. Running from October to December 2026 in San Francisco, the three-month programme invests $500,000 per company and provides the intensive support, mentorship, and investor access that has helped build some of the world’s most recognised technology companies.
Y Combinator runs four batches per year and accepts startups at all stages — from founders who have not yet launched to companies that have been operating for over a year. The goal is consistent: to help startups be in dramatically better shape three months later — with a stronger product, more users, and more options for raising capital.
The 11 weeks leading up to Demo Day are widely described by founders as the most productive period of their professional lives. The intensity of the YC environment — surrounded by partners, fellow founders, alumni, investors, and speakers all focused on startup success — creates conditions that bring out the best in founders.
YC invests $500,000 per company
What Happens During the Programme:
- Groups and Office Hours — Startups are sorted into small groups led by YC partners who provide one-on-one and group office hours throughout the batch
- Batch Kickoff — A three-day in-person kickoff in the first weeks for founders to connect with partners and fellow founders
- Alumni Talks — Weekly talks from eminent startup founders including alumni of Airbnb, Stripe, DoorDash, and Ginkgo Bioworks
- Public Launches — Support preparing for launches on Product Hunt, Hacker News, and first press pitches
- First Customers — B2B and consumer companies often acquire their first 40 to 50 paying customers from within the YC community
- Demo Day — Founders present to a specially selected audience of top startup investors and press
- Bookface — Access to YC’s internal platform connecting 6,000+ founders and domain experts across every sector