Investor directory

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.

Focus

Seed RoundPre Seed RoundSeries AEarly VentureScale StageShow more
http://ycombinator.com
https://angel.co/company/y-combinator
https://crunchbase.com/organization/y-combinator
https://facebook.com/ycombinator
https://linkedin.com/company/y-combinator
https://pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/40420-36
https://signal.nfx.com/firms/y-combinator
https://twitter.com/ycombinator
https://www.capitaliq.com/CIQDotNet/company.aspx?companyId=32514318
https://www.privateequityinternational.com/database/#/profile?id=14195

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 Aerospace

Epsilon3

Series A in 2022
Epsilon3 is building the future of spacecraft operations software.

Epsilon3

Seed Round in 2022
Epsilon3 is building the future of spacecraft operations software.

High Earth Orbit Robotics

Pre Seed Round in 2021
HEO Robotics provides Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and asteroid prospecting services using nanosatellites deployed in high Earth orbit.

Buoyant Aero

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Buoyant Aero builds unmanned airships that move middle-mile air freight at half the cost of a small plane. The company was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Atomic Industries

Seed Round in 2021
Atomic Industries is a hard-tech product manufacturer that is currently in stealth mode. The company is based in Los Angeles, California.

Epsilon3

Seed Round in 2021
Epsilon3 is building the future of spacecraft operations software.

TransAstra

Pre Seed Round in 2021
TransAstra is developing breakthrough technologies in the areas of space resources and in-space transportation to enable massive growth to existing space industries and whole new space industries. We lead the world in the technologies to find, prospect, harvest and use space resources. Space resources include water and other valuable materials to be found on asteroids and lunar poles. We know how to extract these resources and use them as rocket propellant to for use in today's commercial satellites and whole new industries including space tourism.

Avion School

Seed Round in 2021
Avion School is a provider of software coaching services.

AirBoard

Seed Round in 2020
AirBoard is building the world’s most powerful AgTech drone (220 pounds) focusing on the $25.5bn automated aerial AgTech pesticide spraying market. The team, including the fastest drone racing pilot in the world (FAI 2018), a pioneer in the electric car industry and an agriculture expert has developed a vertically integrated solution that decreases the pesticide use by 70% and have signed agreements with customers to replace existing helicopter spraying and are running active pilot tests in Europe vineyards.

Avion

Seed Round in 2020
Avion is an autonomous aerial network that delivers medicals and vaccine supplies via drones. It designs, builds, and operates hybrid, autonomous, vertical takeoff, and landing UAVs for the provision of medium and long-range aerial logistics services.

Relativity Space

Series C in 2019
Relativity Space, based in Long Beach, California, is a manufacturer of orbital rockets and provides production, testing, and launch services for satellites in the United States. Founded in 2015, the company is pioneering a new approach to aerospace with the development of Terran 1, the world’s first entirely 3D printed rocket. By integrating 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and autonomous robotics, Relativity Space aims to revolutionize the manufacturing process, significantly reducing the number of components required and shortening production time. This vertically integrated platform seeks to simplify the aerospace supply chain and is focused on enabling a multiplanetary future for humanity. The company is supported by prominent investors, reflecting its innovative vision for expanding human presence beyond Earth.

AirX

Seed Round in 2019
AirX is a management service company specializing in air transportation agency business and travel arrangement business. The company leverages technology to transform the notion of mobility into an unprecedented experience. It also provides services such as CodeShare, AIROS Skyview, and AIROS Air Loss. AirX will create the movement of the future society, sightseeing and the way of life of helicopter, Empty MaaS, Flying taxi, eVTOL, and Next-generation traffic. AirX was established on February 23, 2015, and is based in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Momentus

Series A in 2019
Momentus Inc. is a company based in Santa Clara, California, that specializes in water-powered transportation services for spacecraft. Founded in 2017, it is a pioneer in developing in-space transportation and infrastructure technology, focusing on the commercialization of space. The company employs a team of experienced aerospace, propulsion, and robotics engineers who have created an energy-efficient transport system utilizing plasma water propulsion technology. Momentus has established service agreements with notable entities, including Lockheed Martin and NASA, as well as various private satellite companies and government agencies. Its inaugural Vigoride™ transport system launch was scheduled for December 2020, marking a significant step in its mission to enhance space logistics.

Momentus

Series A in 2019
Momentus Inc. is a company based in Santa Clara, California, that specializes in water-powered transportation services for spacecraft. Founded in 2017, it is a pioneer in developing in-space transportation and infrastructure technology, focusing on the commercialization of space. The company employs a team of experienced aerospace, propulsion, and robotics engineers who have created an energy-efficient transport system utilizing plasma water propulsion technology. Momentus has established service agreements with notable entities, including Lockheed Martin and NASA, as well as various private satellite companies and government agencies. Its inaugural Vigoride™ transport system launch was scheduled for December 2020, marking a significant step in its mission to enhance space logistics.

Momentus

Seed Round in 2018
Momentus Inc. is a company based in Santa Clara, California, that specializes in water-powered transportation services for spacecraft. Founded in 2017, it is a pioneer in developing in-space transportation and infrastructure technology, focusing on the commercialization of space. The company employs a team of experienced aerospace, propulsion, and robotics engineers who have created an energy-efficient transport system utilizing plasma water propulsion technology. Momentus has established service agreements with notable entities, including Lockheed Martin and NASA, as well as various private satellite companies and government agencies. Its inaugural Vigoride™ transport system launch was scheduled for December 2020, marking a significant step in its mission to enhance space logistics.

Momentus

Seed Round in 2018
Momentus Inc. is a company based in Santa Clara, California, that specializes in water-powered transportation services for spacecraft. Founded in 2017, it is a pioneer in developing in-space transportation and infrastructure technology, focusing on the commercialization of space. The company employs a team of experienced aerospace, propulsion, and robotics engineers who have created an energy-efficient transport system utilizing plasma water propulsion technology. Momentus has established service agreements with notable entities, including Lockheed Martin and NASA, as well as various private satellite companies and government agencies. Its inaugural Vigoride™ transport system launch was scheduled for December 2020, marking a significant step in its mission to enhance space logistics.

Relativity Space

Series B in 2018
Relativity Space, based in Long Beach, California, is a manufacturer of orbital rockets and provides production, testing, and launch services for satellites in the United States. Founded in 2015, the company is pioneering a new approach to aerospace with the development of Terran 1, the world’s first entirely 3D printed rocket. By integrating 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and autonomous robotics, Relativity Space aims to revolutionize the manufacturing process, significantly reducing the number of components required and shortening production time. This vertically integrated platform seeks to simplify the aerospace supply chain and is focused on enabling a multiplanetary future for humanity. The company is supported by prominent investors, reflecting its innovative vision for expanding human presence beyond Earth.

Passerine Aircraft Corporation

Seed Round in 2018
Passerine Aircraft develops electric-powered aircraft that can attain flight speed using a jumping mechanism.

AesculaTech

Seed Round in 2018
AesculaTech, Inc., founded in 2016 and based in Berkeley, California, specializes in developing innovative smart materials for medical devices. The company focuses on creating thermally responsive materials aimed at sustained and localized drug delivery therapies. One of its key products, AesculaGel, is a hydrogel designed for the continuous release of prostaglandin analogs to treat glaucoma. This technology addresses the challenge of patient compliance with traditional glaucoma treatments, which typically require daily eye drop applications. By providing a non-invasive solution that delivers medication continuously for up to 90 days, AesculaGel seeks to improve treatment outcomes for the millions of glaucoma patients worldwide. The company is advancing this technology through rigorous preclinical studies and clinical trials in pursuit of FDA market approval.

Tesseract

Seed Round in 2017
Tesseract Space Inc. designs and builds spacecraft propulsion hardware. The company offers off the shelf thrusters which can be integrated into multi-thruster modules, or incorporated into a complete turn-key propulsion system as required. Its products include Lyra 1, a green bipropellant rocket thruster; Lyra 22, a green bipropellant rocket thruster; and Rigel 450, a green bipropellant rocket engine. It also offers custom green turn-key systems and hardware development services. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in North Hills, California.

Passerine Aircraft Corporation

Pre Seed Round in 2017
Passerine Aircraft develops electric-powered aircraft that can attain flight speed using a jumping mechanism.

SkyLights

Seed Round in 2017
SkyLights Inc. specializes in developing cinematic virtual reality (VR) solutions aimed at enhancing passenger entertainment during flights, in lounges, on trains, and aboard cruises. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional offices in Paris and Toulouse, the company operates as a subsidiary of Skylights SAS, which was established in 2014. SkyLights designs VR headsets and software that allow passengers to enjoy both 2D and 3D movies, effectively creating an immersive experience that helps them disengage from their travel environment. The company offers a subscription service to airlines, which includes content licensing, software development, and headset integration, ensuring a comprehensive in-flight entertainment solution. By providing multilingual audio and subtitles, SkyLights aims to deliver an engaging cinematic experience tailored for diverse audiences.

Relativity Space

Series A in 2016
Relativity Space, based in Long Beach, California, is a manufacturer of orbital rockets and provides production, testing, and launch services for satellites in the United States. Founded in 2015, the company is pioneering a new approach to aerospace with the development of Terran 1, the world’s first entirely 3D printed rocket. By integrating 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and autonomous robotics, Relativity Space aims to revolutionize the manufacturing process, significantly reducing the number of components required and shortening production time. This vertically integrated platform seeks to simplify the aerospace supply chain and is focused on enabling a multiplanetary future for humanity. The company is supported by prominent investors, reflecting its innovative vision for expanding human presence beyond Earth.

Relativity Space

Seed Round in 2016
Relativity Space, based in Long Beach, California, is a manufacturer of orbital rockets and provides production, testing, and launch services for satellites in the United States. Founded in 2015, the company is pioneering a new approach to aerospace with the development of Terran 1, the world’s first entirely 3D printed rocket. By integrating 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and autonomous robotics, Relativity Space aims to revolutionize the manufacturing process, significantly reducing the number of components required and shortening production time. This vertically integrated platform seeks to simplify the aerospace supply chain and is focused on enabling a multiplanetary future for humanity. The company is supported by prominent investors, reflecting its innovative vision for expanding human presence beyond Earth.

Apollo Health

Seed Round in 2015
Apollo Health

Bagaveev Corporation

Seed Round in 2014
Bagaveev Corporation is a nanosatellite launcher company based in Half Moon Bay, California, incorporated in 2013. The company specializes in designing, developing, and testing pressure-fed, 3D-printed rocket engines, including aerospike engines intended for both the lower and upper stages of its rocket system. This rocket, measuring 35 feet in height, is engineered to deliver 10-12 kg nanosatellites to low Earth orbit and Sun-synchronous orbit. Backed by Adam Draper's Boost accelerator and advised by Tim Draper, Bagaveev Corporation aims to advance the capabilities of nanosatellite launches through innovative rocket technology.

Delair

Seed Round in 2013
Airware is an enterprise drone analytics company enabling enterprises to harness aerial data and turn it into valuable business insights that can be shared and acted on across sites, teams, and geographies. Our solutions enable enterprises to reinvent their organizations for the digital era by translating aerial data into business impact. Drones are enabling companies to more efficiently and effectively capture data, and Airware allows enterprises to integrate this data with existing information and workflows to improve efficiency, productivity, and safety. Airware provides aerial insights drone solutions for insurance, mining, construction, and aggregates.

Arc

Seed Round in 2012
Arc is an autonomous drone company.

AeroFS

Seed Round in 2010
AeroFS is an enterprise file sync and share solution. It changes the way creative agencies, consultants, freelancers, and work teams collaborate with their co-workers and clients. The company’s flagship collaboration platform, Amium, makes sharing information and ideas more intuitive and efficient, and dramatically improves and simplifies collaboration with users outside the organization. The service, which stores files in a private cloud-like platform, stores data on the devices designated by the client. AeroFS desktop and server software can run entirely behind a firewall, including authentication. Their vision is to redefine the current view of the ‘cloud’ with better controls, privacy and scalability, whether for administrators, end-users or anyone else.