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Global Challenges
Tackle the world's biggest challenges aligned with the UN Global Goals Learn more ↗
Carbon Capture Marketplace
Platform connecting businesses with verified carbon offset projects and tracking their environmental impact
- Climate
- B2B
- Marketplace
Food Waste Redistribution App
Connect restaurants and grocery stores with surplus food to food banks and shelters in real-time
- Food
- Social Impact
- Logistics
Clean Water Access Platform
Crowdfunding and project management for clean water initiatives in developing regions
- Water
- Nonprofit Tech
- Crowdfunding
Refugee Job Matching
AI-powered platform matching refugees with job opportunities based on skills and language capabilities
- Employment
- AI
- Social Impact
Ocean Plastic Tracking
IoT sensors and blockchain to track and verify ocean plastic cleanup efforts
- Environment
- IoT
- Blockchain
Affordable Housing Finder
Aggregator for income-based housing with application assistance and waitlist management
- Housing
- Social Impact
- Government Tech
Disaster Response Coordination
Platform for coordinating volunteer efforts and resource distribution during natural disasters
- Emergency
- Logistics
- Volunteer
Agricultural Climate Adaptation
AI recommendations for farmers to adapt crops and techniques to changing climate conditions
- Agriculture
- AI
- Climate
YC Request for Startups
Summer 2026 ideas from Y Combinator's most-wanted startup categories
AI for Low-Pesticide Agriculture
AI and robotics that identify weeds and pests in real time, enabling precision treatment so farmers can slash pesticide use while boosting yields
- AgTech
- AI
- Climate
AI-Native Discovery Engines
Intelligent systems that run closed scientific discovery loops — proposing hypotheses, running experiments, and iterating — in drug discovery, materials science, and beyond
- Deep Tech
- AI
- BioTech
AI-Native Service Companies
Companies that sell the service itself rather than software — AI does the work in areas like insurance brokerage, accounting, compliance, and healthcare administration
- AI
- Services
- B2B
AI Personalized Medicine
AI agents that analyze genomes, wearables, EHR data, and diagnostics to deliver highly accurate, patient-specific medical recommendations and treatments
- Healthcare
- AI
- BioTech
Company Brain
A living knowledge system that pulls a company's fragmented know-how from Slack, email, tickets, and databases into an executable skills file AI agents can act on
- AI
- Enterprise
- SaaS
Counter-Swarm Defense
Software and hardware for neutralizing coordinated drone swarms — high-capacity interceptors, sensor fusion, non-kinetic defenses, and autonomy-stack attacks
- Defense
- Deep Tech
- Hardware
Dynamic Software Interfaces
Platforms that let users become their own forward-deployed engineers, using coding agents to radically customize software interfaces for their specific workflows
- AI
- Developer Tools
- SaaS
Electronics in Space
Purpose-built inference chips optimized for mass, thermal conditions, and radiation tolerance to meet the surge in compute demand as reusable rockets drop launch costs
- Space
- Hardware
- Deep Tech
Hardware Supply Chain
Tools that compress the US hardware iteration loop — rapid part production, tight design-to-manufacturing coordination — to match the speed of China's Shenzhen ecosystem
- Hardware
- Manufacturing
- B2B
Industrial Capabilities in Space
Startups developing industrial capabilities on the moon and in orbit — extracting raw materials and 3D printing structures from lunar regolith
- Space
- Deep Tech
- Hardware
Inference Chips for Agent Workflows
Purpose-built silicon for agentic AI — fast context switching, native speculative decoding, and persistent KV caches that match how agents actually loop and branch
- AI
- Hardware
- Deep Tech
SaaS Challengers
AI-native startups attacking legacy SaaS incumbents — rebuilding from scratch at a fraction of the cost, from project management tools to chip design software and ERPs
- AI
- SaaS
- B2B
Software for Agents
Machine-readable interfaces — APIs, MCPs, CLIs — built explicitly for AI agents as first-class users, covering every major software category humans use today
- AI
- Developer Tools
- Infrastructure
Startups Selling to Huge Companies
Teams leveraging AI to land pilots and multi-million dollar deals with Fortune 100 companies — the buyers are awake, and small teams can now ship what large orgs need
- Enterprise
- B2B
- AI
Supply Chain 2.0 for Semiconductors
Real-time allocation tracking, multi-tier risk monitoring, and export compliance tooling for the 1,400-step, multi-country chip supply chain currently managed by spreadsheets
- Semiconductors
- Supply Chain
- B2B
The AI Operating System for Companies
A connective layer that makes every meeting, ticket, and customer interaction queryable — turning a company from an open loop into a self-improving closed loop powered by AI
- AI
- Enterprise
- Infrastructure
Popular College Ideas
Startup ideas that resonate with student life and campus culture
Campus Ride Sharing
Uber-style app specifically for college campuses with verified student drivers
- Transportation
- Campus
- Marketplace
Textbook Exchange Platform
Peer-to-peer marketplace for buying, selling, and renting textbooks within your campus
- Education
- Marketplace
- Campus
Study Group Finder
Match with students in your classes based on schedule, location, and study preferences
- Education
- Social
- Campus
Campus Event Discovery
Aggregator for all campus events with personalized recommendations and friend activity
- Events
- Social
- Campus
Student Freelance Marketplace
Connect students with quick gigs - tutoring, moving help, tech support, design work
- Gig Economy
- Campus
- Marketplace
Meal Swipe Trading
Platform for trading unused meal swipes between students
- Food
- Campus
- Marketplace
Roommate Matching 2.0
AI-powered roommate matching based on lifestyle, habits, and personality compatibility
- Housing
- AI
- Campus
College Town Deals
Exclusive discounts at local businesses for verified students
- Local
- Deals
- Campus
Health & Wellness
Improve people's physical and mental well-being
Personalized Nutrition AI
AI nutritionist that creates meal plans based on health goals, allergies, and preferences
- Health
- AI
- Consumer
Virtual Physical Therapy
At-home PT with computer vision to ensure proper form and track recovery progress
- Healthcare
- AI
- Telehealth
Sleep Optimization Coach
Wearable data analysis with personalized recommendations for better sleep
- Wellness
- Wearables
- AI
Medication Adherence App
Smart reminders with pharmacy integration and family caregiver notifications
- Healthcare
- Consumer
- Senior Tech
Corporate Wellness Platform
Employee wellness programs with challenges, rewards, and health metrics dashboard
- B2B
- Wellness
- HR Tech
Chronic Pain Management
Holistic tracking and management for chronic pain with treatment recommendations
- Healthcare
- Consumer
- Wellness
Sustainability & Environment
Build a more sustainable future for our planet
Sustainable Product Scanner
Scan products to see environmental impact scores and sustainable alternatives
- Consumer
- Sustainability
- Mobile
Home Energy Audit
Smart home integration to identify energy waste and recommend improvements
- Smart Home
- Energy
- Consumer
Electric Vehicle Charging Network
Platform for sharing private EV chargers with other EV owners
- EV
- Sharing Economy
- Energy
Sustainable Fashion Marketplace
Curated marketplace for verified sustainable and ethical fashion brands
- E-commerce
- Fashion
- Sustainability
Corporate Sustainability Reporting
Automated ESG reporting and tracking for businesses
- B2B
- SaaS
- Sustainability
Zero-Waste Grocery
Grocery delivery with reusable packaging and plastic-free options
- E-commerce
- Food
- Sustainability
B2B & SaaS
Software solutions for businesses of all sizes
Employee Onboarding Automation
Automate the entire new hire experience - paperwork, training, introductions
- HR Tech
- Automation
- SaaS
Customer Success Platform
Predict churn and automate retention workflows for SaaS companies
- SaaS
- AI
- Analytics
Meeting Cost Calculator
Track the true cost of meetings and suggest optimizations for team efficiency
- Productivity
- Analytics
- SaaS
Vendor Management System
Centralize vendor contracts, renewals, and spending analytics
- Procurement
- SaaS
- Finance
API Monetization Platform
Help developers monetize their APIs with usage tracking and billing
- Developer Tools
- FinTech
- SaaS
Competitive Intelligence
AI-powered tracking of competitor pricing, features, and market positioning
- Sales
- AI
- Analytics
Consumer & Mobile
Apps and services that improve everyday life
AI Personal Shopper
Get personalized outfit recommendations based on your style, body, and budget
- Fashion
- AI
- Consumer
Local Experience Discovery
Discover hidden gems and unique experiences in your city curated by locals
- Travel
- Social
- Consumer
Smart Grocery Lists
AI-powered shopping lists that learn your preferences and suggest recipes
- Food
- AI
- Consumer
Skill Exchange Platform
Trade skills with others - teach guitar, learn coding, exchange photography for design
- Education
- Marketplace
- Social
Personal Finance for Gen Z
Financial education and tools designed specifically for young adults
- FinTech
- Education
- Consumer
Neighborhood Safety Network
Community-powered safety alerts and resource sharing
- Community
- Safety
- Social
AI & Emerging Tech
Leverage cutting-edge technology to solve new problems
AI Content Authenticity
Detect AI-generated content and verify authenticity of images and videos
- AI
- Security
- Media
Voice AI for Elderly
Voice-first assistant designed specifically for seniors - medication, appointments, family connection
- AI
- Senior Tech
- Voice
AI Legal Document Review
Review contracts and legal documents for potential issues and unfavorable terms
- Legal Tech
- AI
- B2B
Personalized Learning AI
AI tutor that adapts to each student's learning style and pace
- Education
- AI
- Consumer
AI Meeting Summarizer
Automatically summarize meetings, extract action items, and track follow-ups
- Productivity
- AI
- SaaS
3D Printing Marketplace
Connect designers with 3D printing services and sell digital designs
- Manufacturing
- Marketplace
- 3D Printing
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