# Y Combinator Companies Scraper — Startup Directory (`hipersoft/yc-companies-scraper`) Actor

Scrape the full Y Combinator startup directory: name, batch, status, team size, location, industries, tags, website, description, hiring status and more. Filter by batch, status, industry or keyword. Clean, fast, no API key.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/hipersoft/yc-companies-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [hiper soft](https://apify.com/hipersoft) (community)
- **Categories:** Lead generation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $0.001 / company scraped

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/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
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.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## 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.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## Y Combinator Companies Scraper — Full Startup Directory in Clean JSON

Scrape the complete Y Combinator startup directory and get it back as clean, structured JSON: name, batch, status, team size, location, industries, tags, website, description, hiring status and more. Filter by batch, status, industry, region or free-text keyword, or pull the entire directory in one run. **No account, no API key.** Ideal for VC sourcing, market mapping, recruiting and startup research.

### Features

- 🏢 **Whole directory or targeted** — pull every YC company, or narrow with `query`, `batches`, `statuses`, `industries` and `regions`.
- 📦 **Batch filtering** — accepts full names like `Winter 2024` or short codes like `W24`/`S23`, normalized automatically.
- 🟢 **Status & hiring filters** — keep only `Active`, `Acquired`, `Public` companies, or set `isHiring` for those currently hiring.
- 🧭 **Industry & region targeting** — filter by `Fintech`, `Healthcare`, `B2B`, `United States of America`, `Europe` and more.
- 🔎 **Keyword search** — `query` matches name, description and tags.
- 📇 **Rich company profiles** — one-liner, long description, stage, team size, industries, tags, logo and direct YC URL.
- 🔑 **No key needed** — reads YC's live public search backend, with automatic key rotation handling.

### What you get

One flat JSON record per company:

```json
{
  "name": "Stripe",
  "slug": "stripe",
  "oneLiner": "Economic infrastructure for the internet.",
  "longDescription": "Stripe builds economic infrastructure for the internet...",
  "website": "https://stripe.com",
  "batch": "Summer 2009",
  "status": "Active",
  "stage": "Growth",
  "teamSize": 8000,
  "location": "San Francisco, CA, USA",
  "regions": ["United States of America", "America / Canada"],
  "industry": "Fintech",
  "subindustry": "Fintech -> Payments",
  "industries": ["Fintech", "Payments"],
  "tags": ["Payments", "SaaS"],
  "isHiring": true,
  "topCompany": true,
  "nonprofit": false,
  "launchedAt": "2010-05-01T00:00:00.000Z",
  "logoUrl": "https://bookface-images.s3.amazonaws.com/small_logos/stripe.png",
  "ycUrl": "https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/stripe",
  "objectID": "379"
}
```

### Input

```json
{
  "query": "",
  "batches": ["Winter 2024", "Summer 2023"],
  "statuses": ["Active"],
  "industries": ["Fintech"],
  "regions": [],
  "isHiring": true,
  "maxItems": 1000
}
```

| Field | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `query` | Optional free-text search across name, description and tags. |
| `batches` | Filter by YC batch, e.g. `Winter 2024` or `W24`. Empty = all batches. |
| `statuses` | Filter by status: `Active`, `Inactive`, `Acquired`, `Public`. |
| `industries` | Filter by industry, e.g. `Fintech`, `Healthcare`, `B2B`. |
| `regions` | Filter by region, e.g. `United States of America`, `Europe`. |
| `isHiring` | If true, only return companies currently marked as hiring. |
| `maxItems` | Max companies to scrape (0 = no limit / entire matching set). |

### Use cases

- Build a VC deal-sourcing list of the latest YC batch by industry.
- Map competitors and adjacent startups in a specific vertical.
- Find YC companies currently hiring for recruiting or BD outreach.
- Feed the full startup directory into a CRM, dataset or research model.

### Pricing

Pay-per-event: you're billed a small amount per run and per company scraped — you only pay for what you get. See the **Pricing** tab for current rates.

### FAQ

**Do I need a Y Combinator account or API key?**
No. The Actor reads the public [Y Combinator](https://www.ycombinator.com/companies) companies directory via its live public search backend, with automatic key rotation handled for you — no login and no API key required.

**How many companies can I get per run?**
Use `maxItems` to cap results (0 = the entire matching set). You can pull the whole directory in one run or narrow it with filters to just the companies you need.

**Is scraping Y Combinator's directory legal?**
Only the public company directory that YC publishes at ycombinator.com/companies is read. This is an independent tool, not affiliated with Y Combinator; review YC's terms and applicable regulations for your use case.

**What's the output format?**
One flat JSON record per company with `name`, `batch`, `status`, `stage`, `teamSize`, `location`, `industries`, `tags`, `website`, `oneLiner`, `longDescription`, `isHiring`, `ycUrl` and more. Export as JSON, CSV or Excel.

**Can I filter by batch, industry or region?**
Yes. Filter by `batches` (e.g. `Winter 2024` or `W24`), `statuses`, `industries`, `regions`, `isHiring`, or a free-text `query` across name, description and tags.

### Related Actors

Enrich your company and lead datasets with related scrapers:

- [Company Careers Job Scraper](https://apify.com/hipersoft/company-jobs-scraper) — open roles from Greenhouse, Lever and Ashby career pages, great for spotting which startups are hiring.
- [GitHub Scraper](https://apify.com/hipersoft/github-scraper) — profiles and repositories for developer and company research.
- [Clutch Scraper](https://apify.com/hipersoft/clutch-scraper) — B2B agency and service-provider profiles for lead generation.
- [SEC EDGAR Scraper](https://apify.com/hipersoft/sec-edgar-scraper) — company filings for deeper due diligence.

### Notes

This Actor reads the public Y Combinator companies directory (ycombinator.com/companies) via its public search backend. It is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Y Combinator; all trademarks belong to their respective owners.

# Actor input Schema

## `query` (type: `string`):

Optional free-text search (matches name, description, tags). Leave empty to list companies by filter.

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

Filter by YC batch, e.g. "Winter 2024", "Summer 2023". Leave empty for all batches.

## `statuses` (type: `array`):

Filter by company status: Active, Inactive, Acquired, Public.

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

Filter by industry, e.g. "Fintech", "Healthcare", "B2B".

## `regions` (type: `array`):

Filter by region, e.g. "United States of America", "Europe".

## `isHiring` (type: `boolean`):

If true, only return companies currently marked as hiring.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of companies to scrape (0 = no limit / entire matching set).

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "query": "",
  "batches": [
    "Winter 2024",
    "Summer 2023"
  ],
  "statuses": [
    "Active",
    "Public"
  ],
  "industries": [
    "Fintech"
  ],
  "isHiring": false,
  "maxItems": 1000
}
```

# 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 = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("hipersoft/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 '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("hipersoft/yc-companies-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).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 hipersoft/yc-companies-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=hipersoft/yc-companies-scraper",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/Pex8KHgo3IomOIqir/builds/g6V4SVRjhyhuhULRc/openapi.json