Batch at a glance
- Size: ~230 companies
- Program dates: Jan 6 – Mar 28, 2025
- Demo Day: March 18, 2025
- Standard deal: $500K for 7%
- Format: In-person, San Francisco
- Dominant theme: AI agents, vertical AI, voice AI
What was different about W25
W25 was the batch where YC explicitly leaned into "vibe coding" — Garry Tan publicly noted that ~25% of W25 companies had codebases that were 95% AI-generated. The batch also marked YC's pivot to fully in-person, San Francisco only, with no remote option.
FAQ
When was the YC W25 batch?
The Winter 2025 batch ran from January through March 2025, with Demo Day on March 18, 2025. It was YC's largest batch ever at the time, with over 200 companies.
How many companies were in YC W25?
Roughly 230 companies, with AI dominating ~70% of the cohort. Categories included AI agents, vertical SaaS, dev tools, fintech, biotech, and consumer.
What was the YC W25 acceptance rate?
Estimated at 1–2% of applications. YC does not publish exact figures, but application volume hit record highs driven by the AI wave.
Who were the most notable W25 companies?
AI coding agents, voice AI startups, and several vertical-AI plays in healthcare and legal stood out. Full list rolls out via our Founder Stories database.