Ask HN: Does YC Fund Non US StartUps?

8 points·paul9290··10 comments

I was wondering if YC accepts and funds start-up teams from outside the US (UK, Ireland, India, etc)?

If so, do the founders get temporary work visas or use their passports to stay in the US during YC?

I know they have funded Canadians, though I cannot speak to the details of how they legally remain in the US (or even if they all do) during and after the program.

Most use the visa waiver, it's a slightly grey area if doing YC is valid under the visa waiver (business meetings, raising investment, coding for fun are all legal - but coding for money isn't. YC falls in the graze zone between them).

Harj is from the UK I think. At least he sounds very English. I'm fairly certain YC funded something he did.

They accept them and have accepted a lot but it's up to you to sort.

I wonder if any non US YCombinator alums could detail their experience? Did you get a passport or a temporary work visa?

thnx

They accepted Greplin and Daniel is Swiss.

Daniel is Israeli, actually (as was his original YC batch cofounder). But yes, they've funded foreign teams before.

gocardless is based in London

So did the gocardless team come to the US and participate in YCombinator in the Valley? If so did they get visas or just used their passports?

No. But they can help you to get US and start your startup there if your idea great enough.

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