Y Combinator Summer Fellows Grants 2026

The Y Combinator Summer Fellows Grants program offers individuals a chance to work full-time on ambitious technical projects, often with a focus on AI or software engineering, by providing a $20,000 cash award and $90,000 in compute credits. Participants are invited to attend YC’s AI Startup School and enjoy co-working sessions at YC’s office, culminating in a demo day to showcase progress. The goal is to encourage students to push their technical capabilities and build impactful projects over the summer.

• $20,000 cash grant to support independent technical projects
• $90,000 in cloud computing credits from major providers (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Invitations to YC’s AI Startup School and special events
• Co-working sessions at Y Combinator’s office during the summer
• Opportunity to present your project at a group demo day
• Access to advice and informal mentorship from YC partners
• Additional credits from participating YC-linked platforms (e.g., Fly.io, Supabase)

Undergraduate students in computer science, engineering, or related technical fields; exceptionally technical applicants from other majors or with impressive technical experience are also welcome.