Y Combinator's standard deal comes in two parts: USD 125,000 for 7% of the company, and a further USD 375,000 on an uncapped SAFE, for USD 500,000 in total. Seven per cent is a large stake by accelerator standards and is the real price of admission.
The batch runs three months in San Francisco, from January to March 2027, and relocation is part of the commitment. European founders apply on the same footing as everyone else.
Applications for Winter 2027 close on 2 November 2026 at 8pm PT. Later applications are still read, but without a guaranteed decision date.
What it actually costs you
The valuation is the cheque divided by the equity - our arithmetic, not the programme's claim.
Y Combinator’s three-month programme is based in San Francisco and takes European founders alongside those from elsewhere. The standard deal is USD 500,000: USD 125,000 for 7% of the company plus a further USD 375,000 on an uncapped SAFE. Relocation is part of the commitment, and the equity taken is substantial by accelerator standards.