What you get in 2026
- Curriculum — 30+ video lectures from PG, Sam Altman, Michael Seibel, Dalton Caldwell on building, fundraising, hiring, and growth.
- Weekly group office hours — small cohorts of 6–8 founders, facilitated by YC alumni, accountability check-ins.
- Deals & perks — $1M+ in startup deals (AWS, Stripe, Google Cloud, HubSpot, etc.) for active participants.
- Co-founder matching — access to YC's co-founder matching platform.
- Bookface preview — limited read-only access to a subset of YC alumni discussions.
2026 cohort schedule
Winter cohort: Kicks off mid-January 2026
Spring cohort: Kicks off early April 2026
Summer cohort: Kicks off mid-July 2026
Fall cohort: Kicks off early October 2026
You can also self-enroll any time and complete the curriculum at your own pace.
Startup School vs YC batch
| Feature | Startup School | YC Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | $500K for 7% equity |
| Application | None — sign up | Required, ~2% accept rate |
| Format | Online, async | In-person SF, 3 months |
| Partner access | Recorded only | Weekly 1:1 office hours |
| Demo Day | No | Yes — ~1,500 investors |
FAQ
Is YC Startup School 2026 free?
Yes. Startup School is 100% free. It's YC's open online program — anyone can sign up at startupschool.org, no application, no equity, no cost.
When does YC Startup School 2026 start?
Startup School runs continuously — you can join any time. YC also runs scheduled cohorts (typically 6–8 weeks) several times a year. The 2026 calendar lists kickoffs in January, April, July, and October.
How is Startup School different from the YC batch?
Startup School is free online curriculum + weekly group office hours with other founders. The YC batch is a 3-month in-person accelerator with $500K investment, partner mentorship, and Demo Day — accepted via separate application.
Does completing Startup School help you get into YC?
Indirectly. It doesn't fast-track your application, but founders who ship something while in Startup School often have better traction to show when they apply to the main batch.
Who teaches Startup School?
Recorded lectures by Sam Altman, Paul Graham, Michael Seibel, Dalton Caldwell, Aaron Epstein, and other YC partners. Weekly live sessions are facilitated by alumni group leaders.