Y Combinator has opened applications for the Winter 2027 batch

Y Combinator is accepting applications from startups for the Winter 2027 batch. The program will take place from January to March in San Francisco. Applications can be submitted until November 2, 8:00 PM Pacific Time. Startups that submit their applications before the deadline will receive a decision by December 11. Applications submitted after the deadline will also be reviewed, but response times in this case are not guaranteed.

You can apply online on the Y Combinator website.

How the selection process works

If the Y Combinator team is interested in your application, the founders will be invited for an interview. Most interviews will take place via video call in November and December.

Decisions are typically made on the same day as the interview. All interviewees also receive detailed feedback.

Y Combinator invests in the startup immediately upon acceptance into the program — there is no need to wait for the start of the batch.

What startups receive

The Winter batch will take place in person at the Y Combinator campus in San Francisco. The program begins with a three-day in-person event, followed by regular meetings with participants.

During the program, founders engage with prominent entrepreneurs from the tech industry. Speakers often include the founders of OpenAI, Airbnb, Stripe, and DoorDash, who share insights about the early stages of their companies. Each company is assigned a General Partner at Y Combinator. This partner works with a small group of startups, helps founders navigate business challenges, and remains in touch with the team throughout the program.

Participants also form small groups that meet regularly for dinners. This helps founders build professional connections and often leads to lasting friendships after the program concludes.

Post-program support

Y Combinator supports founders not only during the three-month batch. Participants gain access to the alumni community, where YC company founders help each other solve business problems and find relevant contacts.

Additionally, each company receives access to over $12 million in free credits and special offers from Y Combinator partners, including OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Stripe, and other companies.

Toward the end of the program, Y Combinator helps startups raise additional funding by introducing them to investors from its network.

Support does not end after three months — Y Combinator continues to work with founders throughout the entire lifecycle of the company.