by Y Combinator
YC Summer Fellows is a program for current students to spend their summer building an AI startup. Fellows receive $20,000 in funding, $90,000 in compute credits, and mentorship from YC partners without giving up any equity.
Apply Now$20,000 + $90,000 compute credits
8 weeks (summer)
United States
Must be a current student at an accredited university. Teams of 1-3 are accepted. At least one team member should have strong technical/engineering skills. US-based students or international students studying at a US university are eligible.
Annual (spring applications)
April 2026
YC Summer Fellows is Y Combinator's program specifically designed for university students who want to spend their summer building an AI-focused startup. Launched as a way to identify and support the next generation of founders before they graduate, the program provides $20,000 in cash and $90,000 in compute credits — all with zero equity taken.
The program runs for 8 weeks during the summer and gives fellows access to YC's partner network, office hours, and community resources. Unlike the main YC batch, Summer Fellows is explicitly designed for students who are still in school and may not be ready to commit full-time to a startup. The goal is to give talented builders the resources and mentorship to explore ambitious AI projects.
Fellows who demonstrate exceptional progress during the summer may be fast-tracked into a future YC batch. The program is particularly focused on AI applications and infrastructure, reflecting YC's current investment thesis that AI represents the largest technological shift since the internet.
A substantial package designed to let students focus entirely on building during the summer.
The program targets current students with strong technical skills and ambitious AI project ideas.
Discover other fellowships and find problems to work on.