Y Combinator

Y Combinator is a startup accelerator based in Mountain View, California, founded in 2005. It has pioneered a new funding model for early-stage startups by investing a modest amount of capital, typically around $150,000, in a large number of companies twice a year. Over a three-month program, Y Combinator collaborates closely with these startups to prepare them for investor pitches and enhance their business strategies. Each funding cycle concludes with Demo Day, where startups present to an exclusive audience of investors. Y Combinator focuses on various sectors, including business software, education, healthcare, and financial technology, among others. In addition to initial funding, it offers ongoing support through its extensive alumni network. Since its inception, Y Combinator has funded over 630 startups, contributing significantly to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Silicon Valley and beyond.

Gustaf Alstromer

Group Partner

Matt Bogrand

Associate, YC Continuity Fund

Timothy Brady

Partner

Craig R. Cannon

Director of Marketing

Adora Cheung

Partner

Nic Dardenne

Principal

Aaron Epstein

Group Partner

Brad Flora

Group Partner

Jared Friedman

Managing Director, Software and Group Partner

Aaron Harris

Partner

Carolynn Levy

Partner

Bradford (Brad) Lightcap

Associate, YC Continuity

Kat Manalac

Managing Partner

Eric Migicovsky

Partner

Kirsty Nathoo

Partner

Verena Prescher

Director of Finance

Geoff Ralston

president

Ali Rowghani

Managing Partner

Arnav Sahu

Principal

Michael Seibel

Managing Director

Harj Taggar

Partner

Past deals in Video on Demand

PideDirecto

Seed Round in 2021
PideDirecto is a powerful digital ordering and delivery platform that enables any buisness to offer a branded on-demand delivery service to their own clients. We empower local buisness such as restaurants, pharmacies, local grocery stores, flower shops, clothing stores, cake shops and many more by building out their own branded website, integrating phone and social media orders and helping them deliver their products in less than 30 minutes. While also providing our partners key customer insights and marketing support. All for a reasonable fixed monthly fee, without eating up margins with hefty commissions and service charges.

DocVita

Pre Seed Round in 2021
DocVita scales telehealth in India further with a platform that connects consumers with generalists and specialists across a wide network.

Goodkind

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Goodkind specializes in video messaging solutions for business-to-consumer revenue teams, focusing on creating authentic connections between brands and their customers. The company offers a marketing platform that utilizes artificial intelligence to deliver personalized video content, enhancing product displays and value demonstrations. This approach aims to engage audiences effectively and foster meaningful interactions throughout the customer journey, ultimately enabling clients to enhance their marketing efforts and drive consumer intent.

Tavus

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Tavus is an AI video cloning platform that specializes in creating personalized videos for sales outreach. The platform utilizes advanced artificial intelligence technology to generate realistic videos that mimic the gestures and voices of customers. This allows sales teams to produce hundreds of unique videos quickly, enhancing their outreach efforts. By enabling clients to record a single video and automatically generate personalized versions with one click, Tavus streamlines the video creation process, making it more efficient and effective for businesses looking to engage their audience.

Byte

Seed Round in 2020
Byte is focused on creating a cashless infrastructure to modernize cash-based transactions in Africa. The company aims to facilitate seamless digital payments, thereby enhancing the efficiency of financial exchanges across the region. In addition to its efforts in Africa, Byte is also engaged in the on-demand food delivery sector through virtual kitchens in Pakistan, providing a contemporary solution to the growing demand for convenient meal options. By leveraging technology, Byte seeks to address the challenges of traditional payment methods and improve access to services in both markets.

Tella

Seed Round in 2020
Tella HQ Inc. is a company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, that operates a collaborative online video editing platform focused on screen and camera recordings. Founded in 2020, Tella provides tools for remote teams to record, edit, and share video presentations directly from their web browsers. The platform is designed to facilitate the creation of engaging content, including product demos, video blogs, and newsletters, allowing users to produce informative recordings that captivate their audience.

Khabri

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Khabri, Inc. is a digital audio platform that specializes in vernacular content, enabling users to access short news clips in various languages. Founded in 2016 by Aankit Roy, Pulkit Sharma, and Sandeep Singh, the company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Its application allows content creators to develop personalized channels and programs, thereby reaching millions of listeners both in India and internationally. Khabri's platform supports offline listening, allowing users to download news content from their local areas without requiring an internet connection. This focus on vernacular audio content positions Khabri as a unique player in the digital media landscape, catering specifically to the diverse linguistic needs of its audience.

Mux

Series B in 2019
Mux is a company focused on enhancing online video infrastructure through advanced performance monitoring and analytics. Initially, it developed Mux Data, a leading tool for performance analytics that is widely used by developers at prominent organizations such as Vimeo, Robinhood, and PBS. Following this, Mux introduced Mux Video, a straightforward API designed for video hosting, encoding, and streaming. This service enables seamless playback of video files and live streams across various devices, incorporating features such as automatic thumbnails and data-driven encoding. Mux emphasizes critical performance metrics relevant to viewer experience, including rebuffering, startup time, and video quality. Its user-friendly dashboard provides insights that help users identify issues and implement improvements, supported by features like A/B testing and detailed analytics for each video view.

Arrow

Pre Seed Round in 2018
Arrow is a platform for augmented reality video sharing.

Bitmovin

Series B in 2018
Bitmovin Inc specializes in online streaming solutions and server encoding systems, offering a range of products designed to enhance video delivery and user experience. The company's key offerings include a cloud-based transcoding platform known as bitcodin, which supports adaptive streaming for MPEG-DASH and Apple HLS, as well as BITDASH, a suite of optimized clients for various devices. Additionally, Bitmovin provides an Encoding API for real-time content encoding, a Player for delivering video to streaming devices, and analytics tools that help increase viewer engagement through actionable insights. Founded in 2012 and based in San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Klagenfurt, Austria, Bitmovin emerged from the Alpen-Adria-University Klagenfurt and continues to engage in research and standardization efforts in the multimedia sector. The company maintains a strategic partnership with Intertrust Technologies Corporation and has attracted investment from notable firms such as Atomico and YCombinator.

Peer5

Seed Round in 2017
Peer5, Inc. operates a peer-to-peer content delivery network worldwide. It uses WebRTC to create a peer-to-peer mesh network that helps users load video content from each other. The company enables limitless video delivery by unifying the existing server infrastructure with an elastic computing layer. It also offers optimal content delivery solution for broadcasters. Peer5, Inc. was founded in 2011 and is based in Palo Alto, California with a location in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Bitmovin

Series A in 2016
Bitmovin Inc specializes in online streaming solutions and server encoding systems, offering a range of products designed to enhance video delivery and user experience. The company's key offerings include a cloud-based transcoding platform known as bitcodin, which supports adaptive streaming for MPEG-DASH and Apple HLS, as well as BITDASH, a suite of optimized clients for various devices. Additionally, Bitmovin provides an Encoding API for real-time content encoding, a Player for delivering video to streaming devices, and analytics tools that help increase viewer engagement through actionable insights. Founded in 2012 and based in San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Klagenfurt, Austria, Bitmovin emerged from the Alpen-Adria-University Klagenfurt and continues to engage in research and standardization efforts in the multimedia sector. The company maintains a strategic partnership with Intertrust Technologies Corporation and has attracted investment from notable firms such as Atomico and YCombinator.

Mux

Seed Round in 2016
Mux is a company focused on enhancing online video infrastructure through advanced performance monitoring and analytics. Initially, it developed Mux Data, a leading tool for performance analytics that is widely used by developers at prominent organizations such as Vimeo, Robinhood, and PBS. Following this, Mux introduced Mux Video, a straightforward API designed for video hosting, encoding, and streaming. This service enables seamless playback of video files and live streams across various devices, incorporating features such as automatic thumbnails and data-driven encoding. Mux emphasizes critical performance metrics relevant to viewer experience, including rebuffering, startup time, and video quality. Its user-friendly dashboard provides insights that help users identify issues and implement improvements, supported by features like A/B testing and detailed analytics for each video view.

Looklive

Venture Round in 2016
LookLive BV provides an application for online shopping. The company offers LookLive, an application that allows users to view their favorite celebrities/shows/characters/actors and find out what they are wearing; and locate and shop those products. It also serves content producers, content distributors, OTT and cable operators, brands, and online retailers. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Vidcode

Seed Round in 2016
Vidcode is an award-winning software that teaches students computer programming through their favorite hobby: video-making. Project-oriented lessons allow students to create memes, video filters, interactive games, virtual reality and beyond with real programming languages. Vidcode offers full semester coding courses that prepare students for AP CS. Voted Best Learning Site 2015 by Common Sense Media

Daily

Convertible Note in 2016
Pluot is the easiest way to video conference. A complete hardware + software solution for video conferencing and screen sharing. Dedicated hardware that easily connects to your TV. Free software so anyone can join your meetings.

Mux

Seed Round in 2016
Mux is a company focused on enhancing online video infrastructure through advanced performance monitoring and analytics. Initially, it developed Mux Data, a leading tool for performance analytics that is widely used by developers at prominent organizations such as Vimeo, Robinhood, and PBS. Following this, Mux introduced Mux Video, a straightforward API designed for video hosting, encoding, and streaming. This service enables seamless playback of video files and live streams across various devices, incorporating features such as automatic thumbnails and data-driven encoding. Mux emphasizes critical performance metrics relevant to viewer experience, including rebuffering, startup time, and video quality. Its user-friendly dashboard provides insights that help users identify issues and implement improvements, supported by features like A/B testing and detailed analytics for each video view.

Streamup

Seed Round in 2016
Streamup, Inc. operates a live video streaming platform. Its platform enables to browse various television channels; notifies when favorite channels go live; allows chatting/interacting together with broadcasters and viewers; and facilitates to share on Facebook, Twitter, and more. The company was incorporated in 2011 and is based in Miami, Florida.

Bitmovin

Seed Round in 2015
Bitmovin Inc specializes in online streaming solutions and server encoding systems, offering a range of products designed to enhance video delivery and user experience. The company's key offerings include a cloud-based transcoding platform known as bitcodin, which supports adaptive streaming for MPEG-DASH and Apple HLS, as well as BITDASH, a suite of optimized clients for various devices. Additionally, Bitmovin provides an Encoding API for real-time content encoding, a Player for delivering video to streaming devices, and analytics tools that help increase viewer engagement through actionable insights. Founded in 2012 and based in San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Klagenfurt, Austria, Bitmovin emerged from the Alpen-Adria-University Klagenfurt and continues to engage in research and standardization efforts in the multimedia sector. The company maintains a strategic partnership with Intertrust Technologies Corporation and has attracted investment from notable firms such as Atomico and YCombinator.

Afrostream

Seed Round in 2015
Afrostream Inc is a video-on-demand service that specializes in African and African-American content, offering subscribers unlimited access to a diverse catalog of movies and TV series. Founded in 2014 and based in Ivry-sur-Seine, France, Afrostream addresses the significant demand for black entertainment globally, particularly in Africa, where broadband access is rapidly expanding. The platform provides a range of offerings, including feature films, independent films, TV series, and stand-up comedies, catering to millions of fans who appreciate black culture. By delivering content across multiple devices such as PCs, smartphones, and tablets, Afrostream aims to bridge the gap in available entertainment for the African diaspora and beyond.

breakout room

Seed Round in 2015
Start broadcasting in one click. Screen sharing and video streaming for presenters. Chat and Q&A for attendees.

Tablo Publishing

Seed Round in 2014
Tablo is a new generation of publishing company that lets authors publish an eBook, Paperback and Hardcover book to every bookshop in the world with the click of a button. Publishing a book with Tablo is as easy as publishing a blog post, with gorgeous book templates and a one-click publishing experience, with on-demand print and distribution to over 40,000 retailers, live sales an insights, and the fairest royalties and terms available to authors.

Videopixie

Venture Round in 2014
Videopixie is a marketplace for video production that allows users to have great video on the website, such as promotional videos and etc. Videopixie is a marketplace where you can hire the world’s best video professionals at a range of price points, to fit any budget. Retailers use Videopixie to make weekly product videos. Game companies use Videopixie to make trailers, using in-game footage, to air on national TV. Newly-weds use Videopixie to edit their five hours of ‘big-day’ footage into a five minute keepsake for life.

Shopagram

Seed Round in 2014
Next Generation Home Shopping Network

Awesometalk

Seed Round in 2014
Free video calling without the hassle.

Vidpresso

Seed Round in 2014
Vidpresso is the simplest way to use social media in live productions. Their long-term goal is to make it simple for anyone to create broadcast quality media without spending millions on broadcast quality hardware.

Reelsurfer

Seed Round in 2012
Reelsurfer is a web-based community that allows users to clip and share videos from various websites. By entering a video URL or using a bookmarklet, users can combine clips into organized collections known as reels, which can then be shared with friends. The platform caters to diverse uses, such as friends exchanging memorable movie lines on social media, brides sharing wedding moments with distant family, and colleagues discussing notable quotes from TED talks. Reelsurfer offers a wide range of video categories, including animals, education, entertainment, music, news, science and technology, and sports. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, Reelsurfer aims to create a valuable content network through personal libraries of short, relevant videos that users can save, watch, and share.

Dubjoy

Seed Round in 2012
Dubjoy makes it easy for anyone to translate and voice-over any video

Virool

Seed Round in 2012
Virool, Inc. develops and offers a native video advertising platform for brand marketers. Its platform enables brands to host their video, design the campaign, target audience, and analyze results on the Web. The platform for publishers is a supply-side platform for video and customizable layout and design to maximize revenue; and for advertisers to maximize brand impact with programmatic video distribution platform, advertainment, eIQ emotional insights, and real-time analytics. The company serves advertisers and publishers. Virool, Inc. was founded in 2011 and is based in San Francisco, California with additional offices in New York, New York; St. Petersburg, Russia; Toronto, Canada; and Los Angeles, California.

Can'tWait

Seed Round in 2011
Be the first to hear about movies that you will love!

Videopixie

Seed Round in 2011
Videopixie is a marketplace for video production that allows users to have great video on the website, such as promotional videos and etc. Videopixie is a marketplace where you can hire the world’s best video professionals at a range of price points, to fit any budget. Retailers use Videopixie to make weekly product videos. Game companies use Videopixie to make trailers, using in-game footage, to air on national TV. Newly-weds use Videopixie to edit their five hours of ‘big-day’ footage into a five minute keepsake for life.

Moki.tv

Seed Round in 2011
Moki.TV is a directory of all paid and free content included on Amazon's streaming service, Netlfix, Hulu, iTunes, and others.

Teevox

Seed Round in 2010
Teevox is the company behind teevoxRemote, an app that allows an iPhone/iPad Touch to be used as a remote control for Hulu and Netflix. The app allows one-touch show selection, synchronized shared viewing with a friend, and play/pause/volume control.

NOWBOX

Angel Round in 2010
Nowmov is an endless stream of videos recommended to users based on their interests, friends and what's trending around the world.

Nowmov

Seed Round in 2010
Nowmov solving the video discovery problem.

NOWBOX

Seed Round in 2010
Nowmov is an endless stream of videos recommended to users based on their interests, friends and what's trending around the world.

Justin.TV

Seed Round in 2007
Founded in October 2006, Justin.tv is an online community that enables users to create, share, and broadcast live videos. The platform allows individuals to stream events, classes, and gatherings to audiences in over 250 countries, facilitating real-time communication among viewers. With a robust infrastructure, Justin.tv supports over 428,000 channels and attracts more than 41 million unique visitors each month, with users watching over 300 million videos monthly. The platform is engineered to handle significant traffic by dynamically adjusting to demand, ensuring seamless streaming experiences. Headquartered in San Francisco, Justin.tv was developed by a team of graduates from MIT and Yale, and it is backed by notable investors such as Y Combinator and Draper Associates.

SlapVid

Seed Round in 2007
SlapVid was a video site built on peer-to-peer technology that allows you to browse, search and watch video pulled from top video sites. When you find something you like you can "Slap It", which adds it to your own video channel called a SlapStrip. SlapStrips can be shared with friends and added to blogs, websites and social networks like MySpace and Facebook. SlapVid was reinvented as Cloudant at Y Combinator.