YC Companies Map

Product Introduction

1. YC Companies Map is an interactive global mapping platform that visualizes Y Combinator (YC)-backed startups across geographic locations, batches, and industries. It aggregates data from over 5,310 YC companies into a searchable interface powered by Mapbox and OpenStreetMap. The product serves as a white-label solution for organizations seeking to replicate its functionality for their own ecosystems.
2. The core value lies in its ability to streamline discovery of YC startups through spatial, temporal, and categorical filters, enabling users to identify investment targets, research competitors, or explore partnership opportunities efficiently. It reduces manual data aggregation by centralizing verified YC company information in a single geospatial interface.

Main Features

1. Users can filter companies by city, batch (e.g., W24, S23), and industry verticals (e.g., AI, fintech), with dynamic map updates reflecting selected parameters. This enables granular analysis of YC's geographic expansion and sector-specific trends across 200+ batches.
2. The platform integrates Mapbox's geospatial rendering engine with OpenStreetMap base layers, providing high-performance visualization of clustered company markers and detailed location context. Map interactions include zoom-to-batch and clickable company pins with instant details.
3. Organizations can request white-label versions through FoundersAround, allowing customization of the map's branding, data sources, and filtering logic for private accelerators, universities, or VC portfolios. The sponsored section highlights featured companies like Resend and Customer.io through prioritized placement.

Problems Solved

1. It addresses the fragmentation of YC company data across multiple directories and batch-specific lists by providing a unified geospatial database updated in real-time. Users avoid manually cross-referencing Crunchbase, YC Directory, and LinkedIn profiles.
2. The product primarily serves venture capitalists scouting early-stage startups, founders researching YC's presence in target markets, and academic researchers analyzing startup ecosystem patterns. Corporate development teams also use it to identify acquisition targets.
3. Typical scenarios include investors filtering for all Series A-ready AI startups in Berlin from the 2023 batches, or founders benchmarking YC-backed competitors in their city before applying to the accelerator program.

Unique Advantages

1. Unlike static YC directories, this map combines temporal (batch year), spatial (city/country), and categorical (industry) filters in one interface with drill-down capabilities. Competitors like YCDB.info lack the geospatial visualization layer.
2. The white-label infrastructure allows enterprise clients to deploy branded versions within 72 hours using FoundersAround's API, which handles data ingestion, map rendering, and user access controls. Custom layers can integrate internal portfolio data alongside YC companies.
3. Competitive advantages include exclusive partnerships with YC alumni for data verification, Mapbox-powered performance handling 10,000+ data points, and sponsored placement features that generate revenue while keeping base access free for users.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How can I add my YC company to the map? Submit your company details through the "Add your YC company here" form with verification of your YC batch credentials. The team manually reviews and updates listings within 5 business days.
2. What data sources power the map? Primary data comes from YC's public directory, augmented with Crunchbase funding details, LinkedIn employee counts, and direct submissions from companies. Map layers use OpenStreetMap for roads and Mapbox for custom markers.
3. Can I license this technology for my accelerator's portfolio? Yes, FoundersAround provides white-label versions with custom branding, data import APIs, and adjustable filters. Pricing scales based on the number of companies and required integrations.
4. How often is company data updated? Batch information updates quarterly after YC demo days, while funding rounds and locations refresh weekly through automated Crunchbase API pulls and manual submissions.
5. What are the sponsorship options for featured listings? Companies like Resend pay for pinned map markers, priority search ranking, and profile badges. Sponsorship packages start at $2,500/month with impression-based performance tracking.