Y Combinator startup directory scraper

What this robot does

Y Combinator has funded over 5,000 companies since 2005, and their startup directory is one of the most valuable datasets in the tech ecosystem. Venture capitalists use it for deal sourcing. Sales teams use it for prospecting.

Researchers use it for ecosystem analysis. But the directory itself is not designed for bulk export - you are meant to browse, not download.

This robot changes that. Point it at any YC directory URL - filtered by batch, industry, location, or any combination - and it extracts every company listing into a structured dataset: name, logo, description, location, batch year, tags, and a direct link to the company profile.

Structured YC directory data enables you to:

• ✓ Build targeted lists of YC-backed startups filtered by industry, batch year, or location.
• ✓ Track new YC batches as they are published - know which companies just got funded before the press covers them.
• ✓ Feed startup data into your CRM, deal flow tools, or prospecting platforms through built-in integrations.
• ✓ Analyze macro trends in the startup ecosystem - which industries are getting more YC companies over time.

How to scrape the YC startup directory in 4 steps

No YC API, no web scraping scripts, and nothing to install. Filter the directory in your browser, copy the URL, and let the robot handle the extraction.

• A free Browse AI account.
• A Y Combinator directory URL - use the filters on ycombinator.com to narrow results, then copy the URL.
• Optionally, a maximum company count to limit extraction.

How investors and sales teams use YC directory data

The YC directory is a goldmine for anyone who sells to startups, invests in them, or studies them. Here are the primary use cases:

• VC analysts build sourcing pipelines by extracting entire YC batches, then filtering by industry and location to find companies in their investment thesis.
• Sales development reps build prospecting lists of YC startups that match their ideal customer profile - filtering by industry, size, and recency of funding.
• Ecosystem researchers analyze how the YC portfolio has shifted over time. Which industries are gaining share? Where are companies headquartered?
• Corporate development teams identify potential acquisition targets or partnership opportunities among recent YC graduates.
• Accelerator programs benchmark their portfolios against YC batches - comparing industry mix, geographic distribution, and company descriptions.
• Journalists and bloggers covering the startup ecosystem use YC directory data to identify trends and build lists for batch-day coverage.

Data fields extracted from the YC directory

Each company listing produces a structured record with seven fields:

Descriptions and tags are maintained by YC and the companies themselves. They may be updated over time as companies pivot or grow.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Y Combinator startup directory?
A public listing of all companies that have gone through the YC accelerator. It includes names, descriptions, batch years, locations, and industry tags for thousands of startups - from early-stage to publicly traded companies.

Can I filter by industry or batch before scraping?
Yes. Use the YC directory's built-in filters on their website, then paste the filtered URL into the robot. The extraction only captures companies matching your current filter.

Is this free to start?
Yes. Browse AI's free plan includes credits to run this robot. Test it on a filtered YC directory search and see the output before upgrading.

How often is the YC directory updated?
YC updates the directory after each batch - typically twice a year in January and June. The robot captures whatever is in the directory at the time of extraction.

Can I get more details about each company?
This robot extracts the directory listing data. For deeper company details (team, jobs, detailed description), you would visit the individual company profile links included in the extraction.

How do I push this to my CRM?
Use the Google Sheets or Airtable integration as a staging area, then sync to your CRM. Or connect directly through Zapier, Make, or the Browse AI API.

Get more data by pairing with these robots

YC directory data becomes richer when you enrich it with data from other platforms. These robots help:

• LinkedIn company scraper - Enrich YC startup data with LinkedIn profiles. Get employee counts, industry details, and growth signals for the companies you extracted.
• Trustpilot review scraper - Add customer sentiment data to your YC startup research. Check how customers rate the startups you are evaluating.
• Google search results scraper - Research the online presence of YC companies. See how visible they are in Google search and what content they publish.