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 E-Learning

Go1

Venture Round in 2022
GO1 provides a platform that allows companies to upscale their workforce with on-demand training and a dynamic content-driven platform for companies that are Open to Learn. The funding follows an integration with Microsoft Teams, which enables organizations using Teams to learn directly within their workplace ecosystem. Individuals can now find, consume, share, and discuss learning resources from its library of online learning resources.

KaiPod Learning

Seed Round in 2021
KaiPod Learning delivers a deeply personal education for each child with an experiential curriculum tailored to their interests, a learning platform that allows them to move at their own pace, and 1:1 support from an on-site Coach.

Codingal

Seed Round in 2021
Codingal Education Private Limited, founded in 2020 and based in Bengaluru, India, specializes in providing online coding education for children in the K-12 segment. The company aims to enhance logical thinking and problem-solving abilities among young learners, which can significantly improve their performance in other academic subjects. Recognizing the growing demand for coding skills in the job market, Codingal seeks to equip students with essential coding knowledge, positioning them for future success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers. The organization addresses the gap in traditional education systems that often lack sufficient coding curricula, offering an array of live coding classes and resources to inspire creativity and foster a greater interest in computer science, particularly among young girls. Through its mission, Codingal aspires to empower students with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Pandai

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Pandai is an educational application aimed at enhancing students' academic performance through personalized learning experiences. The app offers a variety of curriculum-based resources, including daily quizzes, tests, exams, and instructional videos. By providing gamified quizzes that align with specific school curricula, Pandai facilitates effective learning and practice. The platform allows students to receive feedback and identify their weaknesses, ultimately helping them to improve their grades and understanding of various subjects.

KaiPod Learning

Pre Seed Round in 2021
KaiPod Learning delivers a deeply personal education for each child with an experiential curriculum tailored to their interests, a learning platform that allows them to move at their own pace, and 1:1 support from an on-site Coach.

Spark Studio

Seed Round in 2021
Spark Studio is an ed-tech startup focused on providing extracurricular online courses for children in the fields of visual arts, music, and communications. The company aims to foster creativity and confidence in young learners through its carefully designed programs. Courses are developed by experts and delivered by experienced teachers in small group settings, ensuring personalized attention. This approach allows students to engage in fun and interactive learning experiences that promote both creativity and skill development.

Skill Lync

Series A in 2021
Skill Lync is an e-learning company focussed on providing mechanical engineering courses. Leveraging technology, the firm equips students with the technical skill set they require, to start and succeed in their respective career paths. Skill Lync was founded in 2015 and is based in Chennai, India.

Go1

Series D in 2021
GO1 provides a platform that allows companies to upscale their workforce with on-demand training and a dynamic content-driven platform for companies that are Open to Learn. The funding follows an integration with Microsoft Teams, which enables organizations using Teams to learn directly within their workplace ecosystem. Individuals can now find, consume, share, and discuss learning resources from its library of online learning resources.

HelloGuru

Pre Seed Round in 2021
HelloGuru, an online University, is closing the gap between people that knows how to build software and those who don't. Its focus on teaching people how to use No-Code tools leads to more people being able to create software solutions without the need of having to learn to code.

Questbook

Seed Round in 2021
Build an engaging community-driven course using a new course construct that drives course completion. What DuoLingo did to language learning, we do to your course.

Turing College

Pre Seed Round in 2021
It is a remote-first college that replicates the way IT teams work in real tech companies, developing learners’ hard and soft skills so they get hired or promoted on graduation.

Kiwify

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Kiwify enables anyone to create and sell their online course as well as provide payment processing, video streaming, and student management.

Awari

Seed Round in 2021
Awari is an e-learning startup. Our project-driven, remote courses are self-paced, and students receive feedback and one-on-one mentorship from mentors who work at companies like Disney, Booking.com, Accenture, Wunderman and other top companies.

Codingal

Seed Round in 2021
Codingal Education Private Limited, founded in 2020 and based in Bengaluru, India, specializes in providing online coding education for children in the K-12 segment. The company aims to enhance logical thinking and problem-solving abilities among young learners, which can significantly improve their performance in other academic subjects. Recognizing the growing demand for coding skills in the job market, Codingal seeks to equip students with essential coding knowledge, positioning them for future success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers. The organization addresses the gap in traditional education systems that often lack sufficient coding curricula, offering an array of live coding classes and resources to inspire creativity and foster a greater interest in computer science, particularly among young girls. Through its mission, Codingal aspires to empower students with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Avion School

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

Unschool

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Unschool is an ed-tech company that creates an online learning ecosystem for students and professionals. The company allows students, graduates, young professionals, entrepreneurs and anyone with the curiosity to learn to create an online learning ecosystem that fits their needs and industry demands. Correspondingly, Unschool is a marketplace where learned individuals or subject matter experts are able to coach younger, inspired minds in their own fields. Unschool was founded in 2019 and is headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

Edlyft

Seed Round in 2020
Edlyft, founded in 2019 and based in San Francisco, California, is a paid support platform designed to assist college students and adult learners in computer science courses. The company connects students with inclusive mentors and provides online group tutoring, alongside resources to help navigate challenging subjects. Edlyft focuses on creating a supportive learning environment through a network of tutors and peer support, enhancing the educational experience for those studying computer science.

StayQrious

Seed Round in 2020
StayQrious India Private Limited is an ed-tech startup based in Bengaluru, India, that specializes in live online coding classes for students. Founded in 2020, the company aims to enhance students' skills in computer applications, including coding, mobile app development, artificial intelligence, web development, and programming. StayQrious emphasizes collaborative learning, critical thinking, and creativity within its virtual classrooms, providing a platform that combines discussions, group activities, and instructional videos. Through its innovative approach, StayQrious seeks to equip students with essential coding knowledge and skills necessary for the digital age.

Outschool

Series B in 2020
Outschool operates an online platform that facilitates live, interactive learning experiences for children through classes taught by independent teachers. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, the platform connects parents, motivated learners, and educators, allowing families to discover and book a variety of online classes tailored to their interests. The platform caters to a diverse range of educators, including certified teachers and individuals with expertise in various fields. Outschool's model enables parents to select classes and teachers based on their children’s needs, thereby expanding educational opportunities in a cost-effective manner compared to traditional tutoring. The platform emphasizes community building by allowing parents to collaborate on activities and share experiences.

Virtually

Seed Round in 2020
Virtually, Inc. is an online education platform based in Thomasville, North Carolina, founded in 2018. The company provides a comprehensive suite of services that facilitate online teaching, including admissions, live conferencing, student management, payment processing, and communication tools. Its platform allows users to host various educational programs such as online classes, boot camps, membership programs, and group coaching sessions. By integrating these functions into a single platform, Virtually aims to streamline the online learning experience for educators and students alike.

Epihub

Seed Round in 2020
Epihub, Inc. designs and develops an application software that offers online education services. The company provides services such as, schedule, meet, and bill for tutors and trainers. It offers users to schedule sessions, virtual classes, teach online or in-person, and monetize own services. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in New York, New York.

Hellosaurus

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Hellosaurus is an e-learning platform that offers creative programs, fun activities, and video classes for kids. It offers an interactive video platform for children and specializes in the fields of online portals and the internet.

ZipSchool

Seed Round in 2020
ZipSchool develops an online learning platform for students and teachers. The company offers a platform, ZipSchool.com, which allows the teachers to connect with primary-aged students for art, photography, space, weather, yoga, and coding classes. The company is based in Florida.

StayQrious

Seed Round in 2020
StayQrious India Private Limited is an ed-tech startup based in Bengaluru, India, that specializes in live online coding classes for students. Founded in 2020, the company aims to enhance students' skills in computer applications, including coding, mobile app development, artificial intelligence, web development, and programming. StayQrious emphasizes collaborative learning, critical thinking, and creativity within its virtual classrooms, providing a platform that combines discussions, group activities, and instructional videos. Through its innovative approach, StayQrious seeks to equip students with essential coding knowledge and skills necessary for the digital age.

Edlyft

Seed Round in 2020
Edlyft, founded in 2019 and based in San Francisco, California, is a paid support platform designed to assist college students and adult learners in computer science courses. The company connects students with inclusive mentors and provides online group tutoring, alongside resources to help navigate challenging subjects. Edlyft focuses on creating a supportive learning environment through a network of tutors and peer support, enhancing the educational experience for those studying computer science.

Pahamify

Seed Round in 2020
Pahamify is a leading EdTech Startup with a vision to create education super app that provides high quality content backed by rigorous research and cutting edge technology, combined with the art of film making, animation, gamification, and super intuitive UI/UX.

EduRev

Pre Seed Round in 2020
EduRev is an e-learning platform based in Gurugram, India, that facilitates a collaborative environment for students, teachers, and professors. The website enables users to share, study, and upload educational resources such as notes, video lectures, and eBooks, all free of charge. It addresses the challenges faced by students, particularly in competitive environments like engineering colleges, by providing comprehensive study materials that enhance learning and preparation. EduRev features interactive capabilities, allowing users to connect with peers and educators, fostering a network for knowledge exchange. This platform aims to support learners in achieving academic success by offering a centralized resource hub tailored to their needs.

Ello

Seed Round in 2020
Ello is an innovative company that transforms the reading experience for children by integrating real books with artificial intelligence technology. Founded in 2019 and based in the United States, Ello provides personalized learning experiences, offering each child access to a virtual expert teacher. The company employs evidence-based reading instruction to assist children when they encounter difficulties, while also utilizing behavioral psychology to encourage persistence and motivation. By fostering a personal connection with physical books, Ello aims to ignite children's natural curiosity and promote lifelong learning.

Smol Coach

Seed Round in 2020
This is a new world. A remote-first world. Businesses and professionals are already feeling this change. You, reading this, are living this change. There's a growing realization that online sessions are here to stay - either as a complement to in-person sessions or as an online-only experience. This change opens up a million new possibilities - and we want to help you embrace it. Our powerful yet easy-to-use software makes it easy for fitness, yoga, and wellness professionals and businesses to transform their growth. We help you start, streamline, and manage your online sessions with your clients. But that's not all. Alongside offering bookings and payments, Smol Coach will offer best-in-class infrastructure, analytics, and community support to help you manage your day to day administration, understand your revenues and grow your clients. All this, so that you can focus your time and effort on what's most important to you. Oh, and we're committed to helping you do all this anywhere, anytime, globally, on mobile and web. Smol Coach is built out of the United States, and India. We are a small, passionate, and diverse team backed by some of the world's leading investors and mentors.

Vahan

Seed Round in 2019
Vahan Inc. develops a mobile education platform for low-income populations. The company offers Vahan, an application for feature phones and smartphones that enables students to practice what they’re learning in the classroom, outside it. Its application helps students maximize learning outcomes; and Web-based learning management system allows instructors to track their students' scores and progress, review students' responses, and send them feedback via SMS or voice messages. The company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

Flockjay

Seed Round in 2019
Flockjay, Inc. is an online sales academy based in San Francisco, California, that focuses on empowering diverse jobseekers, particularly those from underrepresented communities, to enter the tech industry. Founded in 2018, Flockjay offers hands-on training in various sales techniques, including inbound qualification, outbound prospecting, and mastering modern sales tools. The academy provides comprehensive support that includes resume workshops, interview coaching, and networking opportunities. Additionally, it guarantees final round interviews with top companies, ensuring students have access to high-paying job opportunities. By removing financial barriers, Flockjay aims to make tech careers accessible to individuals from all backgrounds and locations.

Skill Lync

Seed Round in 2019
Skill Lync is an e-learning company focussed on providing mechanical engineering courses. Leveraging technology, the firm equips students with the technical skill set they require, to start and succeed in their respective career paths. Skill Lync was founded in 2015 and is based in Chennai, India.

Go1

Series B in 2019
GO1 provides a platform that allows companies to upscale their workforce with on-demand training and a dynamic content-driven platform for companies that are Open to Learn. The funding follows an integration with Microsoft Teams, which enables organizations using Teams to learn directly within their workplace ecosystem. Individuals can now find, consume, share, and discuss learning resources from its library of online learning resources.

Edyst

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Edyst is an early stage online learning & employability startup for aspiring software developers. Their solutions aim to make students learn the most in-demand technical skills needed by the industry, keep them immersed and addicted to the learning process and connect them to prospective employers. Edyst was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Hyderabad, India.

Flockjay

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Flockjay, Inc. is an online sales academy based in San Francisco, California, that focuses on empowering diverse jobseekers, particularly those from underrepresented communities, to enter the tech industry. Founded in 2018, Flockjay offers hands-on training in various sales techniques, including inbound qualification, outbound prospecting, and mastering modern sales tools. The academy provides comprehensive support that includes resume workshops, interview coaching, and networking opportunities. Additionally, it guarantees final round interviews with top companies, ensuring students have access to high-paying job opportunities. By removing financial barriers, Flockjay aims to make tech careers accessible to individuals from all backgrounds and locations.

Skill Lync

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Skill Lync is an e-learning company focussed on providing mechanical engineering courses. Leveraging technology, the firm equips students with the technical skill set they require, to start and succeed in their respective career paths. Skill Lync was founded in 2015 and is based in Chennai, India.

UBITS

Seed Round in 2018
UBITS is an online learning platform for skilling employees in Latin America. Through education we empower every person and every organization in Latin America

Education Ecosystem

Seed Round in 2018
Education Ecosystem (LEDU) is a project-based learning platform that teaches students how to build real products in areas such as programming, game development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, and blockchain. Content is available either as a live stream, archived or uploaded video. Over 1,000,000 persons have already used Education Ecosystem to watch and learn from peers how to build real projects. It also operates as an app blockchain company which uses ERC20 smart contracts.

UBITS

Seed Round in 2018
UBITS is an online learning platform for skilling employees in Latin America. Through education we empower every person and every organization in Latin America

ErudiFi

Seed Round in 2018
ErudiFi is a mission-driven technology company focused on making education affordable in Southeast Asia. Operating as Danacita in Indonesia and Bukas in the Philippines, ErudiFi has helped secure funding for thousands of students through tech-enabled partnerships with leading universities and vocational schools. By improving access to education, we believe we can drive generational transformation and build a better tomorrow.

Outschool

Seed Round in 2017
Outschool operates an online platform that facilitates live, interactive learning experiences for children through classes taught by independent teachers. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, the platform connects parents, motivated learners, and educators, allowing families to discover and book a variety of online classes tailored to their interests. The platform caters to a diverse range of educators, including certified teachers and individuals with expertise in various fields. Outschool's model enables parents to select classes and teachers based on their children’s needs, thereby expanding educational opportunities in a cost-effective manner compared to traditional tutoring. The platform emphasizes community building by allowing parents to collaborate on activities and share experiences.

extern

Seed Round in 2017
Extern is a developer of a remote externship platform that connects students with companies, allowing them to gain professional experience in various industries from any location. The platform transforms corporate work projects into scalable online learning opportunities, enabling students to explore career paths flexibly while enhancing their employability. For companies, this approach acts as an effective talent identification and training program, reaching diverse and underserved student populations. By facilitating collaboration between employees and students on real-world projects, Extern fosters meaningful engagement and supports companies in building their employer brand through impactful educational experiences.

Go1

Seed Round in 2016
GO1 provides a platform that allows companies to upscale their workforce with on-demand training and a dynamic content-driven platform for companies that are Open to Learn. The funding follows an integration with Microsoft Teams, which enables organizations using Teams to learn directly within their workplace ecosystem. Individuals can now find, consume, share, and discuss learning resources from its library of online learning resources.

Quero Bolsa

Seed Round in 2016
Quero Bolsa is an online platform based in São José dos Campos, Brazil, that assists students in finding discounts and scholarships for their desired universities. Founded in 2010 by Bernardo de Pádua, Lucas Gomes, and Thiago Brandão, the company operates an online marketplace that connects students with educational institutions. This platform enables users to compare over 1,000 colleges, explore various courses, and access information on tuition prices and available scholarships. By facilitating the enrollment process, Quero Bolsa aims to simplify the path for students seeking affordable higher education options in Brazil.

Rocketlit

Seed Round in 2016
An Adaptive Learning Platform for Science and Social Studies. Rocketlit serves adaptive reading from the 3rd-12th grade reading levels to students in Science and Social Studies, to help both struggling readers and challenge advanced students.

Outschool

Seed Round in 2016
Outschool operates an online platform that facilitates live, interactive learning experiences for children through classes taught by independent teachers. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, the platform connects parents, motivated learners, and educators, allowing families to discover and book a variety of online classes tailored to their interests. The platform caters to a diverse range of educators, including certified teachers and individuals with expertise in various fields. Outschool's model enables parents to select classes and teachers based on their children’s needs, thereby expanding educational opportunities in a cost-effective manner compared to traditional tutoring. The platform emphasizes community building by allowing parents to collaborate on activities and share experiences.

EduRev

Seed Round in 2015
EduRev is an e-learning platform based in Gurugram, India, that facilitates a collaborative environment for students, teachers, and professors. The website enables users to share, study, and upload educational resources such as notes, video lectures, and eBooks, all free of charge. It addresses the challenges faced by students, particularly in competitive environments like engineering colleges, by providing comprehensive study materials that enhance learning and preparation. EduRev features interactive capabilities, allowing users to connect with peers and educators, fostering a network for knowledge exchange. This platform aims to support learners in achieving academic success by offering a centralized resource hub tailored to their needs.

Education Ecosystem

Venture Round in 2015
Education Ecosystem (LEDU) is a project-based learning platform that teaches students how to build real products in areas such as programming, game development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, and blockchain. Content is available either as a live stream, archived or uploaded video. Over 1,000,000 persons have already used Education Ecosystem to watch and learn from peers how to build real projects. It also operates as an app blockchain company which uses ERC20 smart contracts.

Leada

Seed Round in 2015
Leada provides online courses in data science and analytics. Our courses are differentiated by industry based projects and virtual instructor support. By educating your business professionals with Leada's online data training program. Reliance on the data team causes costly delays in decision making. Analysis that drives business value stops while repetitive tasks deleverage your data scientists. Data pulls are not a two persons task, and should take one person one hour instead of two people one week.

Go1

Seed Round in 2015
GO1 provides a platform that allows companies to upscale their workforce with on-demand training and a dynamic content-driven platform for companies that are Open to Learn. The funding follows an integration with Microsoft Teams, which enables organizations using Teams to learn directly within their workplace ecosystem. Individuals can now find, consume, share, and discuss learning resources from its library of online learning resources.

Education Ecosystem

Seed Round in 2014
Education Ecosystem (LEDU) is a project-based learning platform that teaches students how to build real products in areas such as programming, game development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, and blockchain. Content is available either as a live stream, archived or uploaded video. Over 1,000,000 persons have already used Education Ecosystem to watch and learn from peers how to build real projects. It also operates as an app blockchain company which uses ERC20 smart contracts.

OpenCurriculum

Seed Round in 2014
OpenCurriculum is an online platform to create, access and share K-12 learning material.

Study Edge

Seed Round in 2012
Study Edge is a leading education company that develops and distributes customized content for courses at the middle-school, high-school, and collegiate levels, in partnership with universities, state education agencies, and other institutions. Study Edge has contracts with top colleges and universities and with education agencies in Florida, Alabama, New York City, Mississippi, Michigan, South Carolina, and Texas on various educational initiatives.

Knowmia

Seed Round in 2012
Knowmia is a destination for learning that features short video lessons from great teachers everywhere. We help you to find what you need to succeed in school in a personal, affordable, and time-efficient way. By bringing together a wide range of video lessons and making it easy to find what you need, we help you with challenging topics, prepare you for an upcoming test or new course, and find the right teacher for your style of learning.

Codecademy

Series A in 2011
Codecademy helps millions of learners around the world obtain the skills they need to succeed in today’s digital world -- all in a way that’s fun, free, and accessible anywhere. Codecademy is different from any other learning experience; it’s designed to complement the way people want to learn in the twenty-first century. Through Codecademy's web- and mobile-based platforms, learners discover concepts such as HTML/CSS, Javascript/jQuery, Python, Ruby, PHP, and APIs by actually building things and getting constant feedback from peers. Codecademy is an entirely new, networked approach to learning in which you interact with students across the globe, build amazing projects, and - most importantly - apply your skills to improve your life.

Verbling

Seed Round in 2011
Verbling, Inc. is an online platform that connects language learners with professional teachers through video chat, facilitating personalized language lessons. Founded in 2011 and based in Palo Alto, California, Verbling's mission is to empower individuals worldwide to achieve fluency in foreign languages. The platform allows users to interact directly with vetted teachers, who are available around the clock across various time zones. Verbling maintains high standards for its educators, resulting in an average student rating of 4.9 out of 5. As of January 2020, Verbling operates as a subsidiary of Busuu Limited, enhancing its reach in the e-learning space.

Lingt

Seed Round in 2009
Lingt empowers teachers to speak more with their students. Create and manage online speaking assignments for use in the classroom.
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