Startup incubator Y Combinator's latest list of startup requests announced on Wednesday includes applications of spatial computing, climate technology and AI technology. In a blog post written by YC Managing Director Dalton Caldwell, the organization announced that the latest update to RFS, in the tradition of “Requests to Startups” that began in 2009, now offers funding. We're looking for the type of startup you want to do. .
The company has not updated its startup request list since 2018. However, in the midst of the pandemic, we sought out startups that could have an impact on the trends of the new coronavirus infection, and made one-off requests to specific types of startups. 2019 saw the rise of Government 2.0 startups, and 2022 will see even more demand for climate technology.
Climate change technology also made the new list. And while COVID-19 is no longer the focus, the medical field is focused on how to eradicate cancer, fundamental models of biological systems, managed service organization models for healthcare, and eliminating middlemen in healthcare. There is still demand for startups that hit the mark.
Unsurprisingly, AI technologies are also mentioned several times throughout the new list, including machine learning (ML applied to robotics, ML for simulating the physical world), “explainable” These include areas such as 'AI', fine-tuned small models, and LLM (large size). language models) to power manual back-office processes in traditional enterprises and AI to build enterprise software. Along with new enterprise resource planning software (ERP), we've also added better “enterprise glue.”
Other candidates of interest include defense technology, new space companies, and startups focused on bringing manufacturing back to the United States.
With the launch of Apple's Vision Pro, YC may also be looking at “spatial computing,” a startup building for the mixed reality environments introduced by AR/VR headsets like the Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3. I'm betting on.
Digital currencies and cryptography were largely absent from the new list, with the exception of one request for stablecoin finance, which refers to digital currencies pegged to fiat currencies such as the US dollar.
While YC accepts other startups that don't fit into any of these categories, RFS helps entrepreneurs zero in on areas that are likely to receive attention and funding from investors.
“The world is full of founders with the expertise to create new and great things. Our hope is that this list will inspire some of those people to do the same, or are already building. We encourage everyone to apply to YC,” Dalton wrote.
Applications for YC's summer 2024 batch are currently being accepted, and the deadline for early admission is February 20, the organization said. The deadline for all other applications is April 22nd.