Published on October 3, 2023

Does your university impact your chances of getting into Y Combinator?

In the highly competitive world of startup accelerators, does the university you attend really make a difference when applying to Y Combinator?

In the recent YC S23 batch, 317 founders were fortunate enough to secure a spot. Here's a breakdown of where some of these founders earned their degrees:

Stanford: 27 founders

UC Berkeley: 22 founders

Imperial College London: 11 founders

Harvard University: 8 founders

University of Waterloo: 8 founders

MIT: 7 founders

These numbers spark an intriguing question: do these universities produce exceptional founders, or does Y Combinator selectively admit individuals from these institutions due to their track record of nurturing entrepreneurial talent?

While this question may not have a definitive answer, it underscores the complex interplay between education, innovation, and opportunity.

Y Combinator undoubtedly values diversity and unique perspectives, yet the data suggests that certain institutions continue to excel in the world of entrepreneurship.

Aspiring founders should use these insights not as a barrier, but as motivation to demonstrate their own potential, regardless of their educational background. Ultimately, Y Combinator seeks visionary leaders with groundbreaking ideas, and that can come from anywhere