YC (Y Combinator) is a startup accelerator that helps early-stage companies grow. It provides:
- Funding: Typically $500,000 in exchange for equity
- Mentorship: Guidance from experienced founders and investors
- Network: Access to a large community of founders, alumni, and investors
- Demo Day: An opportunity to pitch to top investors
YC has funded companies like Airbnb, Stripe, Dropbox, and Reddit. Its goal is to help startups launch, scale, and raise additional investment.