YC’s First AI Startup School to Feature Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Fei-Fei Li

Y Combinator (YC), the renowned startup accelerator based in San Francisco, is set to launch its first-ever AI Startup School on June 16-17, 2025. This exclusive event will bring together 2,000 top AI students, researchers, and industry experts for an inspiring and insightful experience.

YC's First AI Startup School: A Gateway to the Future of AI Innovation

"I’m thrilled to announce YC’s inaugural AI Startup School," said Garry Tan, YC’s CEO and president, on LinkedIn. "This is a completely free conference designed to bring together the brightest minds in computer science and artificial intelligence from around the world."

The AI Startup School will feature prominent figures in the AI world, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy, and World Labs CEO Fei-Fei Li, among others. These thought leaders will share their expertise on shaping the future of AI, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Who Can Attend the YC AI Startup School?

The event is open to final-year undergraduates, master’s and PhD candidates specializing in AI, computer science, applied mathematics, robotics, and AI research, as well as recent graduates from these fields.

YC will also support attendees by offering up to $500 for airfare and helping to connect them with San Francisco-based founders for accommodation options.

Y Combinator's Spring 2025 Batch: Apply by February 11

In addition to the AI Startup School, Y Combinator has announced the Spring 2025 application cycle for its startup accelerator. The deadline to apply is February 11, 2025, at 8 pm PT, with applicants receiving responses by March 12.

YC's Expansion to Four Annual Batches

In September 2024, Garry Tan announced that YC would expand to four batches per year, adding Spring and Fall sessions to the traditional Summer and Winter batches. This change allows YC to further support entrepreneurs year-round with its unparalleled resources and network.

Y Combinator’s Legacy of Innovation

Founded in 2005, Y Combinator is one of the most prestigious startup accelerators globally. It has helped launch over 4,500 companies, including notable names like Airbnb, Meesho, Zepto, Dropbox, Stripe, and Reddit.

Since 2022, YC’s standard deal has been to invest $500,000 in each selected startup, providing the financial backing and guidance entrepreneurs need to succeed.