# YC Companies Scraper — Y Combinator Portfolio Directory (`spotless_studios/yc-companies-scraper`) Actor Scrape all 6,300+ Y Combinator alumni companies: batch, industry, tags, team size, location, hiring status, website, and one-liner. Filter by batch, tag, region, and hiring. Monitor for new batches. - **URL**: https://apify.com/spotless_studios/yc-companies-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Spotless Studios](https://apify.com/spotless_studios) (community) - **Categories:** Lead generation, Business - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $3.00 / 1,000 company saveds 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 Companies Scraper — Y Combinator Portfolio Directory Scrape the complete **Y Combinator alumni directory** — all 6,300+ portfolio companies — in under 30 seconds. Get batch, industry tags, team size, location, hiring status, funding stage, and website for every company YC has ever funded. Built for BD teams prospecting into the YC ecosystem, investors tracking new batches, recruiters sourcing YC-backed startups, and analysts mapping the YC portfolio by sector. > **Trial cost:** 25 companies ≈ **$0.08** · full directory (6,300+) ≈ **$19** · single batch (W24, ~200 cos) ≈ **$0.60**. ### What you get | Field | Example | |-------|---------| | `name`, `slug`, `ycUrl` | Stripe · stripe · ycombinator.com/companies/stripe | | `oneLiner`, `longDescription` | "Economic infrastructure for the internet." · … | | `website`, `logoUrl` | stripe.com · bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/… | | `batch`, `batchYear`, `batchSeason` | Winter 2011 · 2011 · Winter | | `stage`, `status` | Growth · Active | | `isTopCompany`, `isHiring`, `isNonprofit` | true · true · false | | `teamSize` | 8,000 | | `industry`, `subindustry` | Fintech · Payments | | `industries`, `tags` | \["Fintech","Developer Tools"] · \["B2B","SaaS","Developer Tools"] | | `regions`, `allLocations` | \["United States of America"] · San Francisco, CA, USA | | `launchedAt`, `launchedAtIso` | 1296518400 · 2011-02-01T00:00:00.000Z | | `formerNames` | \["DevPayments"] | ### Why this scraper - ⚡ **Full directory in ~5 HTTP requests** — the Algolia index returns 200 companies per page; the full 6,300+ load in ~15 seconds. - 🎯 **Deep filter stack** — batch, tags, region, top company, hiring, team size, status, nonprofit, and keyword filters all on the client before billing. - 🔔 **Monitoring mode** — schedule per-batch runs (e.g. every W25 announcement) and receive only newly added companies. - 🪶 **No browser** — reads the public Algolia key embedded in the YC companies page on every request; no auth, no scraping friction. - 💸 **Pay only for saved results** — filters run before any charge; rejected companies are free. ### Quick start **AI companies currently hiring (for BD outreach)** ```json { "tags": ["AI", "Generative AI"], "hiringOnly": true, "maxResults": 500 } ``` **Top companies in the latest batch** ```json { "batches": ["W25"], "topCompaniesOnly": true, "maxResults": 200 } ``` **Small dev-tools companies (team < 50)** ```json { "tags": ["Developer Tools"], "maxTeamSize": 50, "maxResults": 300 } ``` **Alert when new companies are added to a batch** ```json { "batches": ["S25"], "onlyNewItems": true, "stateKey": "s25-monitor", "maxResults": 1000 } ``` **European B2B SaaS companies** ```json { "tags": ["B2B", "SaaS"], "regions": ["Europe"], "maxResults": 300 } ``` ### Input reference | Parameter | Default | What it does | |-----------|---------|--------------| | `batches` | all | Filter by batch — e.g. `["W24", "S23"]` | | `tags` | — | Company tags — e.g. `["AI", "B2B", "SaaS"]`. Any-match, case-insensitive. | | `regions` | — | e.g. `["United States of America", "Europe"]`. Any-match. | | `topCompaniesOnly` | `false` | YC-designated top companies only | | `hiringOnly` | `false` | Currently hiring only | | `nonprofitOnly` | `false` | Non-profits only | | `status` | all | `Active`, `Inactive`, `Acquired`, `Public` | | `minTeamSize` / `maxTeamSize` | — | Team size range | | `includeKeywords` / `excludeKeywords` / `keywordMatch` | — | Keyword/regex filters on name + description | | `onlyNewItems` + `stateKey` | `false` | Monitoring mode — emit only newly added companies | | `maxResults` | `100` | Cap on saved companies (0 = unlimited) | | `outputPreset` | `full` | `full` · `lean` (identity + tags + hiring) · `contacts` (name + website + location) | | `outputFields` | all | Keep only listed fields, in order | ### Pricing | Event | Cost | |-------|------| | Each saved company | $0.003 | > Filters run before charging — companies excluded by your filters are free. ### FAQ **How current is the data?** The scraper reads the live Algolia index that powers `ycombinator.com/companies`. It's the same data users see on the website, refreshed whenever YC updates their directory (typically within hours of a new batch announcement). **Does it include stealth companies?** No. Only companies marked `ycdc_public` in the YC index are accessible. Stealth-mode startups are hidden. **Can I get all batches at once?** Yes — omit the `batches` filter to scrape all 6,300+ companies across every batch from 2005 to present. **What are "top companies"?** `isTopCompany: true` is a YC designation for their highest-impact alumni — roughly the top 5–10% by outcome. Includes companies like Airbnb, Stripe, DoorDash, Coinbase, etc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### More from Spotless Studios **[All actors on Apify](https://apify.com/spotless_studios)** · Support: spotless.studios.info@gmail.com | Actor | Best for | |-------|----------| | [SLED Government Bids](https://apify.com/spotless_studios/sled-procurement-scraper) | Daily US gov RFP / bid alerts | | [Webflow Experts](https://apify.com/spotless_studios/webflow-experts-scraper) | Webflow agency & freelancer leads | | [Stripe Partners](https://apify.com/spotless_studios/stripe-partners-scraper) | Stripe implementation partner lists | | [UK Planning Applications](https://apify.com/spotless_studios/uk-planning-applications-scraper) | UK planning leads + agent contacts | | [Product Hunt](https://apify.com/spotless_studios/product-hunt-scraper) | Every PH launch + makers / websites | | [Duunitori Jobs](https://apify.com/spotless_studios/duunitori-jobs-scraper) | Finland job listings | | [Clutch Agencies](https://apify.com/spotless_studios/clutch-agencies-scraper) | Clutch agency prospecting | | [Skool Communities](https://apify.com/spotless_studios/skool-communities-scraper) | Skool community & creator leads | # Actor input Schema ## `batches` (type: `array`): Filter by YC batch — e.g. \["W24", "S23"]. Omit to include all batches. ## `tags` (type: `array`): Filter by company tag — e.g. \["AI", "B2B", "SaaS"]. Case-insensitive, any-match. ## `regions` (type: `array`): Filter by region — e.g. \["United States of America", "Europe"]. Any-match. ## `topCompaniesOnly` (type: `boolean`): If true, return only companies flagged as top companies by YC. ## `hiringOnly` (type: `boolean`): If true, return only companies that are currently hiring. ## `nonprofitOnly` (type: `boolean`): If true, return only non-profit companies. ## `status` (type: `array`): Filter by status — Active, Inactive, Acquired, Public. Omit to include all. ## `minTeamSize` (type: `integer`): Minimum team size. ## `maxTeamSize` (type: `integer`): Maximum team size. ## `includeKeywords` (type: `array`): Only keep companies whose name or one-liner match ALL (keywordMatch=all) or ANY (keywordMatch=any) of these words or /regexes/. ## `excludeKeywords` (type: `array`): Drop companies whose name or one-liner match any of these words or /regexes/. ## `keywordMatch` (type: `string`): "any" = at least one includeKeyword must match; "all" = every keyword must match. ## `onlyNewItems` (type: `boolean`): If true, only emit companies not seen in previous runs (requires stateKey). ## `stateKey` (type: `string`): Key-value store key for monitoring state. Required when onlyNewItems is true. ## `maxResults` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of companies to save. Use 0 for unlimited. ## `outputPreset` (type: `string`): "full" = all fields; "lean" = identity + key metrics only; "contacts" = name + website + location. ## `outputFields` (type: `array`): Keep only these fields in output, in order. Overrides outputPreset. ## Actor input object example ```json { "batches": [ "W24", "S24" ], "tags": [ "AI", "Developer Tools" ], "topCompaniesOnly": false, "hiringOnly": false, "nonprofitOnly": false, "keywordMatch": "any", "onlyNewItems": false, "maxResults": 100, "outputPreset": "full" } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `companies` (type: `string`): Extracted Y Combinator companies and founders # 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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = {}; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("spotless_studios/yc-companies-scraper").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 '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = {} # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("spotless_studios/yc-companies-scraper").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 '{}' | apify call spotless_studios/yc-companies-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "type": "http", "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,spotless_studios/yc-companies-scraper" } } } ``` 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 ` 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/jEdo27sZ1fDZbHdqs/builds/OhFq1UQS1KASNEdSt/openapi.json