YC Request for Startups: Winter 2025
YC RFSThe Y Combinator Request for Startups, from Winter 2025: 9 ideas YC’s partners want founders to build. Each links to a problem page with more detail, related problems and people working on it.
Public Safety Technology
YC argues everyone deserves to be safe at home and on the street. It wants technology that helps police, emergency responders and communities.
New Space Companies
Launch costs have fallen more than 10x since 2006, and a startup can now launch a satellite on a seed round. YC asks what businesses cheap, routine space access unlocks.
One Million Jobs 2.0
YC wants startups that need to employ a million people in work that truly requires humans, as one answer to what careers look like in an AI-driven world.
AI-Aided Engineering Tools
CAD, EDA and CFD tools still rely on slow physics solvers and expert operators. YC wants AI-powered engineering tools that let engineers design physical systems faster.
Fintech 2.0
After a hard stretch for fintech following Silicon Valley Bank's collapse, YC argued the window was reopening and called for a new generation of financial startups.
LLMs for Chip Design
Custom chips can run specialized tasks far faster and with less energy than CPUs, but are costly to design. YC wants LLMs that cut the cost of designing ASICs and FPGAs.
Stablecoins 2.0
In a follow-up to its earlier stablecoin request, YC said conditions had improved, with rising volumes and better regulatory prospects. It wants stablecoin tools for businesses and developers.
Manufacture in the USA
YC wants to bring manufacturing back to America, arguing that ML-based robotics and a generation of SpaceX- and Tesla-trained engineers make it newly possible.
Government Software
Selling to government is hard, but YC argues AI can now automate much of its admin work. It wants startups that cut spending and make public services faster.