Y Combinator 🚀 Accelerator

What you get

Y Combinator invests $500,000 in every company it accepts, on its standard deal: a $125,000 post-money SAFE for 7% of the company and a $375,000 uncapped SAFE with a Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause. The MFN SAFE converts on the terms of the lowest-cap SAFE you issue between roughly the start of the batch and your priced round (YC's own example: at a $15M post-money cap it converts to about 2.5%). YC also gets a pro rata right in later rounds. YC says it charges no fees, and the money is not tied to milestones: it commits on the day you are accepted.

The Winter 2027 batch runs from January to March, in person on YC's San Francisco campus, starting with a three-day kick-off. You also join the YC alumni network and demo day.

Who qualifies

YC says its application is open to any startup anywhere in the world. It regularly accepts solo founders, and on average about 40% of each batch is "just an idea". It says it can help any startup that has not yet raised a Series A from VCs.

Good to know

• The on-time deadline for Winter 2027 is 2 November 2026, 8pm PT, with decisions by 11 December. Later applications are still read, without a firm decision date. You can also apply early for future Spring, Summer and Fall batches.
• The 7% is fixed; the MFN SAFE means your real dilution depends on the caps you set later, so model it before you raise.
• You need to be in San Francisco for the batch.

Verdict

Still the reference deal for early-stage founders: large cheque, clear public terms, no fees and an open application. The trade is at least 7% plus whatever the MFN SAFE becomes.

1. Read the standard deal at ycombinator.com/deal.
2. Submit the online application at ycombinator.com/apply before the batch deadline (Winter 2027: 2 November 2026, 8pm PT).
3. If invited, do the interview.
4. Decisions for on-time applications arrive by the date on the apply page (11 December 2026 for Winter 2027).
5. Questions go to [email protected].