Application Now Open for Y Combinator Summer Fellows Grants

Admin,


Deadline: March 28, 2025

Y Combinator (YC) is launching the Summer Fellows Grants, a unique program designed for college students eager to work on their own technical projects. Instead of spending the summer doing routine internship tasks, selected students will receive funding and resources to explore their ideas, experiment with AI, and push their programming skills to new heights.

With AI evolving rapidly, this is the perfect time for students to build something groundbreaking. YC is offering $20,000 in cash and $90,000 in compute credits to support these projects, along with exclusive access to YC events and mentorship.

What You Get

Selected fellows will receive:

  • $20,000 in cash to fund their summer project
  • $90,000 in compute credits from Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google GCP
  • Access to YC’s AI Startup School on June 16–17
  • Invitations to exclusive YC events:
    • June 15: Kickoff dinner with other fellows and guests
    • June 18–20: Co-working sessions at the YC office
    • August 20–22: Final co-working sessions at the YC office
    • August 22: Demo Day – showcase your project to the YC community

In addition, fellows will receive extra credits from YC-backed companies:

  • Fly.io – $50,000
  • Supabase – $10,000
  • Replicate – $10,000
  • Resend – $3,000

Who Should Apply?

YC is looking for undergraduate students in computer science or engineering who want to build something innovative instead of spending their summer doing routine intern work.

The grants are open to:

  • College students, including freshmen and international students
  • Individuals (if working with a friend, both must apply separately and indicate their partnership)
  • Students working on AI projects or any other technical idea that impresses smart programmers

YC isn’t looking for commercial products—though if your project turns into something profitable, that’s great. The focus is on experimentation, learning, and innovation.

What Makes a Strong Project?

A successful project doesn’t have to be a startup or have paying users. It could be:

  • A developer tool you created for yourself
  • A new open-source contribution
  • An AI-powered innovation
  • Any project that pushes your technical abilities and impresses fellow programmers

YC’s goal is to let you work independently, without structured classes or assignments. You’ll have access to YC partners for guidance and an online workspace to collaborate with other fellows.

Program Details & Logistics

YC expects to award between 20 and 50 grants, though the exact number is still undecided.

Location:

  • You can work from anywhere, but YC strongly encourages relocating to the Bay Area for the summer.
  • If relocation isn’t possible, YC will fly you out for co-working sessions.

Work Expectations:

  • Full-time commitment is preferred, but students with part-time internships may still be considered.
  • The most ambitious participants will benefit most from dedicating their summer to their project.

No Business Setup Required:

  • You don’t need a company to receive the grant—the money goes directly to you.

How to Apply

Applications are now open. The process includes a 15-minute online video interview in late March, after which final decisions will be made.

This is a rare opportunity to build something innovative with YC’s support, network with talented peers, and gain exposure in one of the world’s top startup ecosystems.

For more information and to apply, Click Here

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