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- Y Combinator (YC) is a seed accelerator that provides seed funding and advice to startups. Some of the most successful, highly valued startups in the world are YC alumni.
- Several consumer retail companies, including Soylent, Le Tote, Goldbelly, and Function of Beauty, count themselves as members in the prestigious group.
- They provide a glimpse into the retail innovations that are about to explode onto the scene.
Seed accelerator Y Combinator (YC) has helped produce and support some of the most successful startups in the world today, including Airbnb, Dropbox, and Stripe.
In addition to providing seed funding ($150,000), it works with founders to develop their ideas, make introductions to investors, and offer advice on everything from hiring to intellectual property issues.
Because of its record of proven success, many people in Silicon Valley keep a close eye on the startups being cultivated in YC. As consumers, you should, too, because they provide a glimpse into the tech, retail, education, and healthcare innovations that are about to explode onto the scene.
In consumer retail, YC is behind cool new services and products such as grocery delivery, clothing rental, personalized personal care, and smart-home goods. Learn about the companies below, some of which you might recognize.
YC funds startups in two batches per year, one in the winter and one in the summer. The startups below are ordered by their YC batch, starting from the earliest:
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