YC Startup School 🚀 Accelerator
Y Combinator's free, self-paced online course with weekly progress updates and co-founder matching.
| Who qualifies | Anyone at an early stage, from any country. Free; no equity. |
|---|---|
| Open in | Worldwide |
| Partner code needed | No: apply directly |
| Deadline | Rolling, apply any time |
| Terms last checked | 2026-10-11 |
About YC Startup School
What you get
Startup School is Y Combinator's free online course on starting a startup. It is self-paced and takes about seven weeks at 1 to 2 hours a week. You get:
- lessons from YC partners and founders on MVPs, funding and growth;
- a weekly update tool to track your progress;
- access to YC's co-founder matching platform, which YC says has made over 100,000 matches.
There is no investment and no equity.
Who qualifies
Anyone at the early stages of building a startup, including people turning a side project into a company and people who are curious about becoming a founder.
Good to know
- There are no start or end dates; you can join any time.
- It is not an application to YC's batch, but the habits (weekly updates, a clear MVP) carry straight into a YC application.
Verdict
The best free starting point before you apply anywhere, and one of the largest places to find a co-founder.
How to apply
- Sign up at startupschool.org.
- Work through the lessons at your own pace.
- Post weekly updates.
- Create a co-founder matching profile if you need a partner.
Who it is for
Steps YC Startup School helps with
Pros
- Free and open to anyone
- Large co-founder matching pool
- Self-paced
Cons
- No funding or in-person support
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