Applications for Y combinator Fall 2026 batch (October–December, San Francisco) close July 27 at 8pm PT — get in before the deadline and you'll hear back by August 28. Standard terms, up to $500K, three months of forced velocity with a room full of other founders doing the same sprint.
Worth it for: a founder with a working wedge who needs the pressure and the network more than the cash itself. Not worth it for: a team still hoping the batch will hand them the idea. Honest caveat — the brand carries real fundraising weight after, but the batch itself is genuinely brutal, not a residency.