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 Education

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.

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.

Brite

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Brite Benefits is an education platform designed for employee benefits, catering to brokers, benefit providers, and HR teams. The platform assists employees in selecting suitable benefits packages by offering relevant health insurance policies and healthcare plans. Brite Benefits promotes self-guidance and learning among employees, facilitating better decision-making regarding their benefits. By enhancing employees' understanding of available options, the platform helps organizations improve retention rates and foster a sense of loyalty among their workforce.

Stepful

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Stepful is a training platform designed to assist individuals without college degrees in entering the healthcare job market. The company offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes online instructor-led classes, electronic textbooks, practice quizzes, and flashcards. Additionally, Stepful provides in-person clinical sessions to develop hands-on skills, particularly in bloodwork. To further support its users, the platform also includes job placement assistance, helping graduates secure entry-level positions in the healthcare industry and facilitating opportunities for career advancement. By focusing on high school graduates, Stepful aims to fill vacancies in the healthcare sector quickly while reducing hiring costs for employers.

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.

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.

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.

Tappity

Seed Round in 2020
Tappity, Inc. designs and develops an education science app that provides fun interactive lessons on science topics. The company's application teaches science topics with fun, experiments, stories, and games to children of age group 4 to 10 years. Tappity, Inc. was founded in 2018 and is based in Palo Alto, California.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CareerTu

Pre Seed Round in 2019
CareerTu is a Y Combinator-backed online school focused on training for the technical jobs on the business side such as digital marketing, data analytics, and UX/UI. Over the years, this school has worked with countless young professionals and helped them land dream jobs with some of the world’s biggest firms, including Amazon, Google, Tencent, and Alibaba. CareerTu's mission is to teach students the industry’s most relevant and in-demand skills, making them the ideal hire at their dream companies, in return providing businesses with experienced and reliable talents to increase their efficiency.

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.

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.

Bridge Academy

Seed Round in 2017
Bridge Academy is a global learning & frontier-tech training community.

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.

OOHLALA Mobile

Series A in 2016
Ready Education's mission is to help higher ed institutions improve the student experience. Their product extends to all aspects of student life, and strives to reduce the complexity of campus life into a simplified user experience that facilitates student success. As an education technology company, their mission is to provide both a valuable product to students and insightful data for administrators to improve efficacy. Their vision is shared by 350+ institutions they partner with across the world, each of whom has worked alongside us and helped us craft the best experience possible for students.

OOHLALA Mobile

Series A in 2016
Ready Education's mission is to help higher ed institutions improve the student experience. Their product extends to all aspects of student life, and strives to reduce the complexity of campus life into a simplified user experience that facilitates student success. As an education technology company, their mission is to provide both a valuable product to students and insightful data for administrators to improve efficacy. Their vision is shared by 350+ institutions they partner with across the world, each of whom has worked alongside us and helped us craft the best experience possible for students.

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.

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.

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.

Panorama Education

Series A in 2015
Panorama Education, based in Boston, Massachusetts, is a data analytics company focused on K-12 education. Founded in 2012, it offers a software-as-a-service platform that enables school districts, charter networks, and state governments to conduct comprehensive surveys of students, parents, teachers, and staff. The platform provides research-based surveys and delivers feedback data, allowing educators and administrators to analyze results across various demographics and school environments. By collecting feedback on individual teachers and overall school conditions, Panorama Education aims to enhance professional development and improve educator evaluation systems. The company also offers implementation consultation, technical assistance, and training to support its clients in effectively utilizing their data.

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.

Panorama Education

Seed Round in 2013
Panorama Education, based in Boston, Massachusetts, is a data analytics company focused on K-12 education. Founded in 2012, it offers a software-as-a-service platform that enables school districts, charter networks, and state governments to conduct comprehensive surveys of students, parents, teachers, and staff. The platform provides research-based surveys and delivers feedback data, allowing educators and administrators to analyze results across various demographics and school environments. By collecting feedback on individual teachers and overall school conditions, Panorama Education aims to enhance professional development and improve educator evaluation systems. The company also offers implementation consultation, technical assistance, and training to support its clients in effectively utilizing their data.

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.

MakeSchool

Seed Round in 2012
MakeSchool is an educational organization that offers a degree program designed to foster a direct connection between education and employment for high school graduates. It operates both online and offline platforms, providing essential services such as instructional support, curriculum development, and admissions assistance. By partnering with established universities, MakeSchool aims to create innovative college programs that remain relevant in today's economy. The organization focuses on enhancing accessibility to higher education for students from diverse backgrounds, ultimately preparing them for careers as software developers or startup founders.