# YC Founder Contacts: Y Combinator Founders, LinkedIn & X (`datagleaner/yc-founder-contacts`) Actor

Y Combinator founders by company, batch or industry: names, titles, LinkedIn, X, plus company website and emails. $0.003 per company with founders. Companies without founder data are free. No login, no API key.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/datagleaner/yc-founder-contacts.md
- **Developed by:** [Data Gleaner](https://apify.com/datagleaner) (community)
- **Categories:** Lead generation, Business
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$3.00 / 1,000 company with founders

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## YC Founder Contacts: Y Combinator Founders, LinkedIn & X

**Get the founders of Y Combinator companies with their LinkedIn, X, title and bio, by company, batch or industry.** Answers "yc founder contacts", "yc company founders", "yc founders", "founder linkedin twitter" and "startup founders emails", and agent requests like *"get me the founders of YC W25 fintech companies with their LinkedIn"*. Each row is one YC company with its **founders (name, title, LinkedIn, X, bio)**, its website, LinkedIn, X and GitHub, batch, status, team size, location and hiring flag. Turn on `findEmails` to add the **public emails and phones from the company's own website**. **You pay $0.003 for a company with at least one named founder; a company with no founder data is returned free.** No login, no API key, no CAPTCHA, no browser.

Built for AI agents, lead-generation pipelines and spreadsheets: one row per company, the same fields every time, and the first two founders also flattened into plain columns.

### What it returns

For every company, from its public page on ycombinator.com:

- **Founders:** full name, title (Founder/CEO, CTO, ...), LinkedIn profile, X profile, YC bio, and whether they are still at the company.
- **Company:** name, YC batch (`Winter 2025` and `W25`), status (Active, Acquired, Public, Inactive), website and domain, one-liner, description, industries and sub-industry, tags, team size, year founded, location, city, country, regions, hiring now, stage, YC Top Company flag, logo, YC group partner.
- **Company socials:** LinkedIn, X, GitHub, Facebook and Crunchbase, when YC lists them.
- **Emails (optional):** with `findEmails` on, the company's home, contact and about pages are read for the emails and phone numbers the company publishes, with the page the first email was found on.

### Use cases

- **B2B SaaS sales to startups:** every founder of a batch or industry with LinkedIn and X, ready for outreach sequences.
- **Investors and scouts:** track new batches the day they launch, filter by industry, location and status.
- **Recruiters:** companies hiring now (`hiringOnly`), with the founders to contact directly.
- **Agencies and service providers:** a list of funded early-stage companies in your niche, with website and public email.
- **AI agents:** "List the founders of YC S24 AI companies in New York with their LinkedIn" becomes one tool call.

### How it works

1. Companies are picked from the open [yc-oss](https://github.com/yc-oss/api) directory of YC's launched companies, refreshed daily, and filtered locally by batch, industry, tag, status, location and hiring.
2. Each company's public page at `ycombinator.com/companies/<slug>` is read once, about one per second, for the founders and company details.
3. With `findEmails` on, up to 4 pages of the company's website (home, contact, about) are read with the same engine as our [Website Contact Details Scraper](https://apify.com/datagleaner/website-contact-details-scraper), honouring robots.txt.

It never calls YC's search pages or search API (YC's robots.txt asks crawlers to stay off them), and it never signs in.

### Input

| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| `companies` | Company names, slugs or ycombinator.com URLs: `Airbnb`, `stripe`, `https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/doordash`. |
| `batches` | `W25`, `S24`, `X25` (Spring 2025), `F24` (Fall 2024), or `Winter 2025`, `Summer 2024`. |
| `industries`, `tags` | `Fintech`, `B2B`, `Healthcare`, `Artificial Intelligence`, `SaaS`, `Developer Tools`... A company matches when any one of them matches. |
| `status` | `Any` (default), `Active`, `Acquired`, `Public` or `Inactive`. |
| `locations` | `San Francisco`, `New York`, `United Kingdom`, `US`, `India`, `Europe`, `Remote`... |
| `hiringOnly` | Only companies with open jobs on Work at a Startup. |
| `findEmails` | Also read the company website for public emails and phones (default off; same price). |
| `maxCompanies` | Stop after this many companies (default 50). |
| `requestDelaySecs`, `proxyConfiguration` | Pacing (default 1 second between YC pages) and an optional proxy (default none). |

Filters combine: `batches` + `industries` + `locations` gives, for example, W25 fintech companies in New York. Without `batches`, filters search every YC company, newest batch first. Leave everything empty to get 5 companies from the latest batch as a sample.

```json
{
  "batches": ["W25"],
  "industries": ["Fintech"],
  "maxCompanies": 50
}
```

### Output

One row per company. Fields YC does not list are `null`, never guessed.

```json
{
  "companyName": "Greptile",
  "slug": "greptile",
  "ycUrl": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/greptile",
  "batch": "Winter 2024",
  "batchCode": "W24",
  "status": "Active",
  "website": "https://www.greptile.com",
  "domain": "greptile.com",
  "oneLiner": "AI code review agent with complete context of your codebase",
  "description": "Greptile reviews pull requests with full context of the codebase. ...",
  "industries": ["B2B", "Engineering, Product and Design"],
  "subindustry": "B2B -> Engineering, Product and Design",
  "tags": ["Artificial Intelligence", "Developer Tools", "AI"],
  "teamSize": 35,
  "yearFounded": 2023,
  "location": "San Francisco, CA, USA",
  "city": "San Francisco",
  "country": "US",
  "isHiring": false,
  "stage": "Growth",
  "companyLinkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/greptile/",
  "companyX": "https://x.com/greptileai",
  "companyGithub": "https://github.com/greptileai",
  "ycPartner": "Brad Flora",
  "founders": [
    {"name": "Daksh Gupta", "title": "Founder", "linkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/dakshg/",
     "x": "https://x.com/dakshgup", "bio": "Co-founder of Greptile - the AI code reviewer ...", "isActive": true},
    {"name": "Soohoon Choi", "title": "Founder", "linkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/soohoonchoi/",
     "x": "https://x.com/soohoonchoi", "bio": "cto/cofounder @ greptile (w24)", "isActive": true},
    {"name": "Vaishant Kameswaran", "title": "Founder", "linkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaishant/",
     "x": "https://x.com/vaishaaant", "bio": "Founder @ Greptile. CS from Georgia Tech, minor in Linguistics.", "isActive": true}
  ],
  "founderCount": 3,
  "founder1Name": "Daksh Gupta",
  "founder1Title": "Founder",
  "founder1Linkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/dakshg/",
  "founder1X": "https://x.com/dakshgup",
  "founder2Name": "Soohoon Choi",
  "founder2Title": "Founder",
  "founder2Linkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/soohoonchoi/",
  "founder2X": "https://x.com/soohoonchoi",
  "emails": ["support@greptile.com", "security@greptile.com"],
  "phones": ["+18665140605"],
  "emailSource": "https://www.greptile.com/security/privacy",
  "websiteStatus": "ok",
  "pageStatus": "ok",
  "input": "greptile",
  "scrapedAt": "2026-10-09T15:31:54+00:00"
}
```

The dataset has two views: **Companies and founders** (one row per company, first two founders as columns) and **All founders** (one row per founder). `emails`, `phones` and `emailSource` are filled only when `findEmails` is on.

### Pricing

Pay per result, one event:

- **`company-with-founders`: $0.003** for each YC company returned with at least one named founder.
- A company whose page lists **no founders is free**. It is still returned with its company details.
- `findEmails` costs nothing extra.

**Worked example.** A whole batch of 200 companies, of which about 95% list their founders: 190 x $0.003 = **$0.57**. The same with `findEmails` on costs the same $0.57. The 50-company default run costs at most $0.15.

Set a maximum total charge on the run and the Actor stops cleanly when it is reached.

### What to expect

Measured on a 20-company Winter 2024 run: 19 of 20 companies listed founders (38 founders). **LinkedIn was filled for 100% of founders and X for 50%**; title for 100%, bio for 97%. Company LinkedIn was filled for 95% of companies and company X for 65%. A run reads about one company per second; `findEmails` adds a few seconds per company, run in parallel.

### Limits

- Covers companies that have a public page in YC's directory (launched companies, about 6,300). Stealth companies without a page are not listed.
- Founders' personal emails are not on YC's public pages and are not returned; `findEmails` returns only the addresses each company publishes on its own website.
- Social profiles are returned as YC lists them; they are not visited.
- The company list follows the yc-oss directory, which is refreshed daily; a company launched today may appear tomorrow.

### Use with Python

```python
## pip install apify-client
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("datagleaner/yc-founder-contacts").call(run_input={
    "batches": ["W25"],
    "industries": ["Fintech"],
    "maxCompanies": 20,  # at most 20 x $0.003 = $0.06
})
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    for f in item.get("founders", []):
        print(item["companyName"], f["name"], f["title"], f["linkedin"], f["x"])
```

### Use with JavaScript / Node.js

```js
// npm install apify-client
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: process.env.APIFY_TOKEN });
const run = await client.actor('datagleaner/yc-founder-contacts').call({
    companies: ['Airbnb', 'stripe'],
    findEmails: true,
});
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
for (const item of items) {
    console.log(item.companyName, item.founders.map((f) => `${f.name} ${f.linkedin}`), item.emails);
}
```

### Use it from n8n, Make, Zapier or an AI agent

Actor ID: `datagleaner/yc-founder-contacts`

Minimal input:

```
{"batches": ["W25"], "industries": ["Fintech"]}
```

Each tool below runs this Actor with your own Apify API token.

- **n8n:** add the **Apify** node (`@apify/n8n-nodes-apify`). On n8n Cloud you install it from the community node registry. Choose **Run an Actor and get dataset**, set Actor to `datagleaner/yc-founder-contacts` and paste the input above.

- **Make:** use the Apify app's **Run an Actor** module, then **Get Dataset Items** to read the results. **Watch Actor Runs** can trigger a scenario when a run finishes.

- **Zapier:** use the Apify action **Run Actor**, then the search **Fetch dataset items**. The trigger **Finished Actor run** starts a Zap when a run ends.

- **AI agents (MCP):** connect to `https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=datagleaner/yc-founder-contacts`. In Claude Code:

  ```
  claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=datagleaner/yc-founder-contacts"
  ```

  Then run `/mcp` to sign in to Apify in your browser. Other clients can sign in with OAuth or send the header `Authorization: Bearer YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN`. Clients that run local MCP servers can use Apify's package (`@apify/actors-mcp-server`, run with `npx -y` and `APIFY_TOKEN` set) instead. Then ask the agent in plain words, for example:

  > Get me the founders of YC W25 fintech companies with their LinkedIn and X, as a table.

- **LangChain (Python):**

```python
## pip install langchain-apify, then set APIFY_TOKEN in your environment
import json
from langchain_apify import ApifyActorsTool
tool = ApifyActorsTool("datagleaner/yc-founder-contacts")
result = tool.invoke({"run_input": json.loads('{"batches": ["W25"], "industries": ["Fintech"]}')})
```

### FAQ

**How do I get the founders of a Y Combinator batch?** Put the batch in `batches` (`W25` or `Winter 2025`) and run. Each company comes back with every founder's name, title, LinkedIn and X.

**Can I filter YC companies by industry, location or status?** Yes: `industries`, `tags`, `locations`, `status` and `hiringOnly`, alone or with `batches`.

**Does it return founders' emails?** It returns the public emails a company shows on its own website when `findEmails` is on. YC does not publish founders' personal emails, and this Actor does not guess them.

**What batch formats work?** `W25`, `S24`, `X25` (Spring), `F24` (Fall), `Winter 2025`, `summer-2024` and `2024 Fall`.

**Do I need a YC account or an API key?** No. It reads public pages only.

**How fresh is the data?** Founder data is read live from YC's company page on every run. The list of companies comes from a directory refreshed daily.

### Responsible use

This Actor reads public pages only. Founder names, profiles and email addresses can be personal data. You are responsible for lawful use, including consent and opt-out rules for outreach (GDPR, CAN-SPAM and local law) and for respecting the terms of the platforms you use the data on.

# Actor input Schema

## `companies` (type: `array`):

YC company names, slugs or ycombinator.com/companies URLs, one per line, for example `Airbnb`, `stripe` or `https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/doordash`. Leave empty and use the filters below to pick companies by batch, industry or location.

## `batches` (type: `array`):

YC batches, short or long form: `W25`, `S24`, `X25` (Spring 2025), `F24` (Fall 2024), or `Winter 2025`, `Summer 2024`.

## `industries` (type: `array`):

YC industries such as `Fintech`, `B2B`, `Healthcare`, `Consumer`, `Developer Tools` or a sub-industry like `Engineering, Product and Design`. A company matches when any industry or tag you list matches. Case does not matter.

## `tags` (type: `array`):

YC tags such as `Artificial Intelligence`, `SaaS`, `Generative AI`, `Open Source`. Combined with Industries: a company matches when any of them matches.

## `status` (type: `string`):

Keep only companies with this YC status.

## `locations` (type: `array`):

Cities, countries or regions, for example `San Francisco`, `New York`, `United Kingdom`, `US`, `India`, `Europe`, `Remote`. A company matches any one of them.

## `hiringOnly` (type: `boolean`):

Keep only companies with open jobs on YC's Work at a Startup.

## `findEmails` (type: `boolean`):

Also visit the company's own website (home, contact and about pages, up to 4 pages) and return the public emails and phones shown there. Slower; the price stays the same.

## `maxCompanies` (type: `integer`):

Stop after this many companies.

## `requestDelaySecs` (type: `number`):

Pause between company page requests to ycombinator.com. About 1 second keeps the run polite.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Optional. Defaults to no proxy, which works from Apify's servers.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "batches": [
    "W25"
  ],
  "industries": [
    "Fintech"
  ],
  "status": "Any",
  "hiringOnly": false,
  "findEmails": false,
  "maxCompanies": 50,
  "requestDelaySecs": 1
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "batches": [
        "W25"
    ],
    "industries": [
        "Fintech"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("datagleaner/yc-founder-contacts").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "batches": ["W25"],
    "industries": ["Fintech"],
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("datagleaner/yc-founder-contacts").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "batches": [
    "W25"
  ],
  "industries": [
    "Fintech"
  ]
}' |
apify call datagleaner/yc-founder-contacts --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,datagleaner/yc-founder-contacts"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/QWRL18UGQdmxgNSP0/builds/udqhzuvcH9Yt7kexb/openapi.json