Y Combinator Winter 2027 Batch: ₹4.2Cr Seed Investment — Frequently Asked Questions

Every accepted company receives a total of $500,000, which works out to roughly ₹4.2Cr. That figure is made up of $125,000 on a post-money SAFE for a fixed 7%, and $375,000 on an uncapped MFN SAFE. The investment is released as soon as you are accepted, before the batch starts. On top of the cash, companies get over $12M in free credits and deals from partners such as OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS, Google Cloud, Azure and Stripe.

Yes — this is an equity investment rather than a grant or a loan. The $125,000 portion is invested on a post-money SAFE for a fixed 7% stake. The remaining $375,000 goes in on an uncapped MFN SAFE. YC also keeps a pro rata right to invest in your later rounds. There is no fee to join the programme.

The on-time deadline is November 2 at 8pm PT, which is 9:30am IST on November 3, 2026. If you submit by then, YC promises to give you a decision by December 11.

Yes. Late applications are still considered and read by YC, but there is no set date by which you will hear back. If you want a guaranteed reply timeline, aim for the on-time deadline.

YC's batch is open to early-stage startups worldwide, including teams that are still at the idea stage. There are no stated limits on sector, company age or prior funding, so a company that has already raised money is not excluded. The key practical condition is that founders must be able to attend the programme in person in San Francisco.

The Winter 2027 batch is an in-person programme held at YC's campus in San Francisco, running from January to March. Participants are expected to attend the regular meetups on campus, so you should be able to be physically present for the duration.

No. YC does not list DPIIT recognition, MSME registration, any particular entity type or Indian incorporation as a requirement for the Winter 2027 batch. The application is made directly through YC's own website rather than a government scheme portal.

You apply online, and promising applicants are invited to interview — mostly by video call — during November and December. YC typically decides on the same day as the interview, and every founder who is interviewed gets detailed feedback. Accepted companies receive their investment immediately, before the batch begins.

Each company is guided by a dedicated YC General Partner, who works closely with only a small group of startups. The batch includes regular meetups, talks by prominent startup founders and networking within the YC alumni community. Towards the end of the programme, YC introduces companies to its investor network to help them raise a follow-on round. Alumni also continue to be supported for the lifetime of their company.

Applications are submitted online through the YC website at https://www.ycombinator.com/apply. Fill in the written application and submit it before the on-time deadline of November 2 at 8pm PT (9:30am IST on November 3) if you want a decision by December 11.

Y Combinator Winter 2027 Batch: ₹4.2Cr Seed Investment is offered by Y Combinator, a startup accelerator. It is provided as an investment.

Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.