Y Combinator vs 500 Global
How Y Combinator and 500 Global compare on investment, equity, format, stage and timing. Every figure comes from the programs' own sites, verified November 4, 2026.
| Y Combinator | 500 Global | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $500K | $50K |
| Equity | 7% | Not published |
| Deal terms | $500K: $125K post-money SAFE for 7% + $375K uncapped MFN SAFE; pro rata rights; no fees | 500 Fellowship: up to $50K right away, with potential for up to $1M more; equity not disclosed; $35,000 Phase 1 program fee (excluding travel) |
| Format | In-person | In-person |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, United States | San Francisco, United States |
| Stage | pre-seed, seed | pre-seed, seed |
| Sectors | general, ai, b2b saas | general |
| Duration | 3 months | 4 months |
| Application cycle | 4 batches a year (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) | Cohort-based; the current Fellowship runs Nov 30, 2026 to Apr 9, 2027 |
Investment is the full standard package; where part of it is an uncapped SAFE, the equity stake covers only the fixed part (see deal terms). Terms change; confirm on each official site before applying.
About
Y Combinator
The largest and best-known startup accelerator, founded in 2005, which now runs four batches a year (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) in person at its San Francisco campus. It funds very early founders in any sector, increasingly AI companies, with the same standard deal for every company and no fees, and ends each batch with a Demo Day for investors.
Notable alumni: Airbnb, Stripe, DoorDash, Coinbase, Dropbox
About
500 Global
Global early-stage VC firm (formerly 500 Startups) whose flagship program is now the 500 Fellowship, a four-month in-person program in San Francisco. It also runs regional and partner programs worldwide, such as the Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global in Saudi Arabia.
Key differences
Y Combinator or 500 Global?
- Does Y Combinator or 500 Global invest more?
- Y Combinator invests more: $500K against $50K from 500 Global.
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