Frequently asked questions
Is YC Co-Founder Matching free?
Yes. Matching is free to join, and the Startup School FAQ calls Startup School “completely free.” The real cost is time, including approval that can take up to a week. [2] [1]
Who can join?
Anyone who is seriously looking for a co-founder can join, whether solo or with a co-founder, and with or without an idea or company. [1]
How many invitations can I send?
Fifteen a week. The FAQ says the cap is there to prevent spam. Over four weeks, that is 60 at most. [1]
How long does approval take?
Up to a week. YC doesn’t publish its approval criteria, so you can’t prepare for a specific standard. [1] [2]
Does matching improve my chance of getting into YC?
No. The Startup School FAQ says joining does not automatically improve your chances of getting into YC. [1]
When is a match made?
Only when both people accept. You invite someone, and nothing forms until they say yes. Then you arrange a call. [2]
How long should we work together before deciding?
YC recommends 2 to 4 weeks of close work to judge fit. Its own April 2023 blog post says full compatibility “usually takes several months to know for sure.” [1] [4]
How many co-founders has it produced?
YC says its homepage shows over 100K matches, but the page doesn’t say what counts as a match or how many became teams. The 2021 launch figure was 9,000 matches across 4,500 founders. [2] [5]
Who can see my profile?
The matching page says only approved members. The privacy policy says some identifiers and professional data may go to YC-funded companies and other users, and Startup School data goes to affiliates. The two statements conflict, and only YC can settle the scope in writing. [2] [3]
How do I delete my data?
Send a written request to the privacy address named in YC’s privacy policy. The policy gives no turnaround time, and it keeps data until deletion or unless business or legal reasons require otherwise. [3]
Can I use it to find someone to hire or work with?
No. The FAQ says the platform is for finding a co-founder only, including hiring and selling goods or services. [1]