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 Space Industry

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.

Wyvern

Convertible Note in 2022
Wyvern Incorporated manufactures hyperspectral satellites. The company was founded in 2018 and is based in Edmonton, Canada.

Turion Space

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Turion Space provides a spacecraft to remove orbital debris and services to existing satellites. The spacecraft will rendezvous and dock with current satellites and large debris objects using vision sensors and robotic arms. Utilizing the onboard propulsion system, the spacecraft will either deorbit or change the orbit of the debris object or satellite.

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.

Moonshot Brands

Series A in 2021
Moonshot Brands acquires, operates, and grows profitable e-commerce businesses.

Alba Orbital

Seed Round in 2021
Pioneers in PicoSat technology, Traditionally satellites have been very expensive, even the smallest commercial satellites like Cubesats cost six-figure amounts to build and launch. Alba Orbital develop pico-Satellites which weigh <1kg, and cost significantly less. While, offering almost all of the advantages of a CubeSat. Being leaders in this niche, they are closely partnered with ESA and provide research in this area to them. AlbaOrbital aims to 'democratise' space, allowing affordable access to anyone. They are currently working on 2 platforms - Unicorn-1 and Unicorn-2 and will be launching Unicorn-1 in Q2 2017. AlbaOrbital also provide technical support and parts for those launching, designing and building picoSatellites.

CrowdAI

Series A in 2021
CrowdAI, Inc. is a company that specializes in providing an artificial intelligence-as-a-service platform, focusing on the analysis of imagery and video from various sources, including autonomous vehicles, satellites, and drones. Founded in 2016 and based in Mountain View, California, CrowdAI empowers users to create custom machine learning models tailored to their specific needs without requiring a data science background or coding skills. Its comprehensive platform simplifies the transition from raw data to actionable insights, allowing enterprises to efficiently deploy machine learning models in production environments. This capability enables users to leverage real-time data for informed operational decision-making, enhancing the effectiveness of their projects and applications.

Moonshot Brands

Seed Round in 2021
Moonshot Brands acquires, operates, and grows profitable e-commerce businesses.

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.

Astranis

Series B in 2020
Astranis is a developer of a new satellite technology that aims to transmit data down to specific terrestrial locations with each satellite it launches. The company's mission is to help get online the 4 billion people who are without internet access.

JetPack Aviation

Seed Round in 2019
JetPack Aviation dedicated to building world's first true jetpack, that is capable of getting from SF to Mountain View in ten minutes. Its mission is to build a vehicle that that will disrupt the way people and "things" are transported.

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.

EPIC AEROSPACE

Pre Seed Round in 2019
EPIC is building the physical layer to the internet of satellites. We are connecting every point in space with the first reusable space-tug.

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.

SpaceRyde

Seed Round in 2019
SpaceRyde is a Canadian company founded in 2018 and headquartered in Toronto that specializes in providing on-demand launch services for small satellites. The company has developed an innovative launch platform where a high-performing ultra-light rocket is carried by a balloon to the edge of the atmosphere. Once at this altitude, the rocket is ignited to deliver microsatellites into Low Earth Orbit. SpaceRyde aims to simplify access to space for microsatellite operators, positioning itself as a key player in the emerging satellite launch market. The company has also established a strategic partnership with Solar Ship Inc. to enhance its operational capabilities.

JetPack Aviation

Seed Round in 2019
JetPack Aviation dedicated to building world's first true jetpack, that is capable of getting from SF to Mountain View in ten minutes. Its mission is to build a vehicle that that will disrupt the way people and "things" are transported.

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.

Astranis

Series A in 2018
Astranis is a developer of a new satellite technology that aims to transmit data down to specific terrestrial locations with each satellite it launches. The company's mission is to help get online the 4 billion people who are without internet access.

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.

Skyways

Pre Seed Round in 2017
Skyways is creating a new form of transportation to advance our civilization. The company's focus in the immediate future is on cargo transportation with the idea to then fund a new personal air transportation vehicle that will be operated as a service. Skyways has a big focus on software to enable full autonomy and large scale fleet operations. Skyways was founded in 2017, is YC-backed and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

CrowdAI

Seed Round in 2016
CrowdAI, Inc. is a company that specializes in providing an artificial intelligence-as-a-service platform, focusing on the analysis of imagery and video from various sources, including autonomous vehicles, satellites, and drones. Founded in 2016 and based in Mountain View, California, CrowdAI empowers users to create custom machine learning models tailored to their specific needs without requiring a data science background or coding skills. Its comprehensive platform simplifies the transition from raw data to actionable insights, allowing enterprises to efficiently deploy machine learning models in production environments. This capability enables users to leverage real-time data for informed operational decision-making, enhancing the effectiveness of their projects and applications.

Prime Lightworks

Seed Round in 2016
Prime Lightworks Inc. manufactures electric propulsion systems for space satellites.Their goal is to engineer new possibilities in space while drastically reducing cost and waste.

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.

Astranis

Seed Round in 2016
Astranis is a developer of a new satellite technology that aims to transmit data down to specific terrestrial locations with each satellite it launches. The company's mission is to help get online the 4 billion people who are without internet access.

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.

Innerspace

Seed Round in 2015
InnerSpace develops and distributes sensors that enables its users to create 3D maps of the area around them. The sensors can be used to create a range of applications, including wayfinding, marketing, and tracking apps. InnerSpace was founded in 2014 by Matt MacGillivray, Jason Gamblen, and James Wu and is based in Toronto.

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.

Helion Energy

Seed Round in 2014
Helion is developing the Fusion Engine, a near term and low-cost solution for clean, safe energy. The Fusion Engine's patented reactor technology is based on award-winning and peer-reviewed research. Recent technology breakthroughs enable clean fusion energy now.

SpinPunch

Seed Round in 2012
SpinPunch makes infrastructure for high performance browser games to rival PC and consoles. Our first titles, Mars Frontier, Thunder Run, and War Star Empire are massively multi-player real time strategy game built in HTML5. Our backgrounds range from creating Emmy-winning computer graphics and working with Disney, IMAX and NASA, to building world class software in Microsoft Office. In our spare time, we contribute to the open source community (Linux kernel, ffmpeg video compression), develop visual effects software (used in BattleStar Galactica and Firefly) and avidly play games. We’re founded by alumni from Stanford, Cornell and Waterloo.