VCs take Y Combinator cue for AI bets

The number of Indian startups entering famed US accelerator and investor Y Combinator’s startup programme might have dwindled to just one in 2025, down from the high of 2021, when 64 were selected. But not so for Indian investors, who are queuing up to find the next big thing in AI by relying on shortlists made by YC to help them filter their investments.

In 2025, Indian investors have invested in close to 10 Y Combinator (YC) AI startups in the US. These include Tesora AI, CodeAnt, Alter AI and Frizzle, all with Indian-origin founders but based in…