Latest news with #DemoDay
Business Insider
9 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
YC founders are getting younger and feeling the pressure
Y Combinator founders are getting younger and are expected to move faster than ever because of AI, recent participants told Business Insider. Each tenet of the startup incubator's latest requests for startups described companies with AI at their core, and roughly 70 of the 143 startups in the spring batch were focused on agentic AI. AI is "deep within YC," one founder who recently completed the program and asked not to be identified to speak freely told Business Insider. Cohorts are dominated by AI companies, and the accelerator's internal Bookface platform is increasingly recommending AI tools for founders, they said. Akash Sharma, the CEO of AI startup Vellum, who was part of the Winter 2023 class, said YC has incorporated helpful AI tools into its Work at a Startup recruitment platform, including candidate matching and personalized outreach text. Mentors within the program encourage founders to use AI in their workflows and automate rather than hire to keep teams lean, said Cekura founder Sidhant Kabra, who participated in the Fall 2024 cohort. Participants also get early access to beta AI tools from tech giants, such as OpenAI, he said. The startup world's AI obsession is hardly exclusive to YC, but it's accelerated the program's cadence, some participants said. In expediting every step in the startup pipeline from vibe coding to R&D to marketing, AI has also ratcheted up expectations that founders should have fully realized products or more customers with bigger contracts by Demo Day, Kabra said. YC CEO Garry Tan told CNBC earlier this year that revenue for YC batches was growing at an average of 10% week-over-week. In the past, a founder might be pre-product market fit or have a few users or design partners, Kabra said. Now, "within three months, you're able to close enterprise contracts over $100k," he said. "That's a big change." Increasingly younger cohorts Expectations are climbing as the program has become shorter, the first founder who recently completed the program told Business Insider. YC pivoted from a biannual to a quarterly schedule last fall — a move CEO Garry Tan told Bloomberg at the time would result in smaller batches and additional Demo Days. Founders spoke glowingly of YC, calling the experience transformative, but the pace can have drawbacks. In optimizing for Demo Day, some participants may not always be making the best long-term decisions for their companies, Kabra said, such as signing lots of customers too fast or ones at a discounted rate. "If you weren't in YC, you would make different choices," the first founder told Business Insider, saying Demo Day serves as a proof-of-concept. "After Demo Day, there's a classic YC slump — and then you readjust and start building for the long term." "AI is enabling founders to move faster, and we're here to help them harness that momentum not just for Demo Day, but to build enduring, world-changing companies," a YC spokesperson told Business Insider. The AI boom has also resulted in increasingly younger cohorts. YC General Partner Pete Koomen told The New York Times that the median age of YC participants was 24, down from 30 in 2022. Venture capitalist Gabriel Jarrosson wrote on LinkedIn that the number of accepted applicants between ages 18 and 22 was up 110% year-over-year. Younger entrepreneurs are less entrenched in their ideas and have grown up with AI, founders told Business Insider. YC is "actively encouraging younger people to come into the fold," Sharma said. He added that YC's public-facing recruitment materials emphasize being a builder above all else. "All you need to do is be able to build good products, and YC will take care of the rest." Ultimately, the saturation of AI companies within YC has sparked criticism that many of its startups are similar. "You hear the phrase AI agent so much and you're like, my mind is going insane," the first founder said. But the competition is motivating, Kabra said, given that execution is paramount and consolidation amid the AI gold rush is inevitable. While many of its startups "may explore similar areas," the YC spokesperson said, that "encourages open-source progress, which in turn, enriches the competitive landscape, gives consumers more choice, and reflects our abundance-oriented view of the future."
Business News Wales
31-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Labs by Transport for Wales and Media Cymru Names Inclutech as Winner of Accelerator Programme
Labs by Transport for Wales has named accessible incident-reporting platform Inclutech the overall winner of its sixth accelerator programme, securing the start-up a contract to further develop its technology for the Welsh transport network. The announcement was the finale of a Demo Day held at Techniquest which showcased nine pioneering start-ups. The event, run in partnership with Media Cymru, was the culmination of a rigorous 10-week programme where innovators developed solutions to key challenges in transport and media, from AI-driven security to zero-emission regional travel. Before an audience of more than 50 industry leaders, investors, and policymakers, each company pitched the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) they had built. 'Cohort Six proves that Welsh innovation can solve global transport challenges,' said Barry Lloyd, Head of Innovation at Transport for Wales. 'The calibre of ideas we've seen spanning AI, inclusive design and zero-emission aviation shows that the Welsh transport system has a bright future ahead.' Gavin Johnson, Research and Development Producer, said: 'Media Cymru is delighted to partner with Transport for Wales to provide support to drive cutting-edge research and development (R&D) for the transport sector. Collaboration is key to unlocking smarter, more sustainable solutions, and this partnership reflects our shared commitment for innovation not only within the media sector, but across a broader range of sectors.' Three awards were presented to recognise outstanding achievements: Winner of Cohort Six: Inclutech – Founder Becca Hume won the top prize for her non-verbal incident-reporting platform, which empowers vulnerable passengers to flag safety concerns discreetly and in real time, creating a safer and more inclusive public transport environment. – Founder Becca Hume won the top prize for her non-verbal incident-reporting platform, which empowers vulnerable passengers to flag safety concerns discreetly and in real time, creating a safer and more inclusive public transport environment. Best Pitch: Barcud – Dr Ben Gwalchmai was recognised for his compelling pitch for a zero-emission electric seaplane service concept designed to slash Holyhead–Cardiff travel times to under two hours. – Dr Ben Gwalchmai was recognised for his compelling pitch for a zero-emission electric seaplane service concept designed to slash Holyhead–Cardiff travel times to under two hours. Spirit of the Programme: Cavefish AI – Steve Williams received this award for his work on the EchoDepthAI platform, an emotional-intelligence AI engine capable of interpreting 52 distinct emotions from facial expressions, voice, and text to help personalise passenger content and experiences. The winning contract gives Inclutech the opportunity to develop a proof-of-concept for TfW. Inclutech founder and CEO, Becca Hume said: 'We're absolutely thrilled to be selected as the overall cohort winner. Working alongside Transport for Wales over the past 10 weeks has been an invaluable experience — helping us shape a safer, more inclusive future for passengers and staff. This recognition highlights the urgent need for more accessible, streamlined reporting tools across the rail network, and we're excited about the potential to continue this work together.' The cohort also featured a diverse range of other pioneering solutions: Bays Consulting and Createc unveiled CrowdGuardian, a novel AI model that leverages real-time sensing technology to identify behaviours that could potentially become violent or dangerous, with a focus on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). 1 Timetable presented its collaborative platform designed to help the rail industry deliver against timetable objectives, placing vehicle, crew, and schedule data at the core of its software. Proaptus showcased its AI-driven solutions that use Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) to transform existing infrastructure into intelligent networks, enhancing security and efficiency. AfroSheep Animations demonstrated its engaging animated content and interactive media, designed to create compelling educational experiences for museums and tourist attractions. Crash Productions highlighted its focus on creating impactful, youth-oriented digital content and social campaigns in partnership with major social influencers and broadcasters. The event at Techniquest provided a backdrop for networking and discovery, reinforcing the commitment of Labs by TfW to fostering a thriving ecosystem for tech in Wales and delivering on the Welsh Government's vision of a modern, integrated, and sustainable transport network.
Business Insider
25-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Meet the Most Valuable Builder (MVB) Season 10 Cohort
Dubai, UAE, July 25th, 2025, Chainwire BNB Chain, the community-driven blockchain ecosystem, has announced the 15 early-stage projects selected for season 10 of the Most Valuable Builder (MVB) Accelerator Program. The long term accelerator program is jointly run by BNB Chain, YZi Labs, and CMC Labs. MVB continues with its goal of providing early-stage Web3 builders with the resources and support needed to thrive within the BNB Chain ecosystem to align with BNB Chain's mission of onboarding the next billion Web3 users. Season 10 will officially start this week online and conclude with a 2-day offline event in NYC, offering participants the chance to connect with peers, mentors, and guest speakers. Throughout the program, founders and core team members from each project will have access to a curriculum covering key topics to address early-stage Web3 project needs, such as tokenomics design, fundraising strategies, building teams, and talent. The season will conclude with a YZi Labs investment based on Demo Day pitches and project performance throughout MVB. On Aug 15, participants can tune in from anywhere in the world to watch the Demo Day from promising companies in the Web3 space as they showcase their innovative projects. 15 projects were incubated in MVB Season 9, and over 200 projects were incubated since projects launched in 2021, MVB continues to be a highly competitive program, with Season 10 receiving over 500 applicants. In recent months, projects publicly announced as investments by YZi Labs — including Meet48 and Avalon Labs — have both been part of the MVB cohort. A selective process admitted 15 MVB Season 10 Accelerator teams, listed alphabetically by sector: AI RICE AI is building an AI foundry that collects data and trains Robotics Foundation Models (RFM) in a decentralised way. Whitebridge Network is a decentralised people-data intelligence layer that turns scattered public records and online signals into trustable, ready-to-use insights. DeFi is a DeSoc protocol connecting user attention and onchain action by turning X into a fully interactive Web3 interface. is an optimal Web3 application abstraction layer that leverages existing social media platforms, transforming them into dynamic Web3 environments. Opsin is a trading terminal unifying analytics, trading and automated strategies on multiple chains. Sigma Money is a DeFi protocol that segregates yield-bearing assets into a stable tranche, designed for stable and consistent yield, and a volatile tranche, which maintains price exposure and leverage without funding rates DePin Bitring is a smart ring for crypto mining & health monitoring. ShareX is building the Web3 consumer and financial Layer for the sharing economy. DeSci dLife is a decentralized human-layer to bridge life science and Web3. Payment AEON is an omnichain crypto payment framework for AI and real-world use. Pepay Labs is a non-custodial, multichain payment infrastructure powering agentic commerce and next-gen Web3 applications. RWA Asseto is a RWA launchpad that integrates traditional finance assets with DeFi. AXC (RWA) is a programmable protocol that connects TradFi to onchain infrastructure. DMZ Finance is a platform for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and stablecoin infrastructure. R2 is a stablecoin-powered DeFi ETFs backed by real world yields. Sarah S, Head of Business Development at BNB Chain, said, 'We're excited to kick off the 10th season of MVB with YZi Labs and CMC Labs, as we continue to back the next generation of Web3 innovators. This cohort highlights the growing diversity of the BNB Chain ecosystem — while AI and DeFi remain strong, we're now seeing increased momentum from real-world asset (RWA) projects choosing to build on BNB Chain. MVB continues to play a vital role in helping early-stage teams access the mentorship, exposure, and resources they need to thrive.' 'At YZi Labs, we remain committed to backing visionary founders who are building at the frontier of real-world utility and long-term impact. Coming off a strong cycle of in-person engagements in New York — from EASY Residency to builder bunker — we're seeing renewed conviction in supporting high-signal early-stage teams. MVB Season 10 brings together some of the most promising projects in Web3, providing them with hands-on mentorship and the ecosystem support needed to scale. We're focused on identifying teams with strong fundamentals, market timing, and the resilience to build through cycles.' said Alex Odagiu, Investment Director of YZi Labs. 'CMC Labs is proud to continue our partnership with BNB Chain and YZi Labs for Season 10 of the MVB Accelerator Program. With CoinMarketCap's deep market insights and global user base, we're excited to help these projects sharpen their positioning, gain visibility, and scale with lasting impact.' - Rush, CEO of CoinMarketCap. At the end of the accelerator, the 15 project teams will showcase and pitch their projects to investors at Demo Day. YZi Labs will make an investment decision on selected top-performing project teams. Users can follow YZi Labs, BNB Chain, and CoinMarketCap on X for the latest news on MVB 10. *Please note, admission into the MVB Accelerator Program does not equate to any investment in the projects. YZi Labs will make a final investment decision at the end of the MVB program. About BNB Chain BNB Chain is a community-driven blockchain ecosystem that is removing barriers to Web3 adoption. It is composed of: BNB Smart Chain (BSC): A secure DeFi hub with the lowest gas fees of any EVM-compatible L1; serves as the ecosystem's governance chain. opBNB: A scalability L2 that delivers some of the lowest gas fees of any L2 and rapid processing speeds. BNB Greenfield: Meets decentralized storage needs for the ecosystem and lets users establish their own data marketplaces. Setting a high bar for security, the AvengerDAO community protects BNB Chain users while Red Alarm provides a real-time risk-scanner for Dapps. The ecosystem also offers a range of monetary and ecosystem rewards as part of its Builder Support Program. For more, users can follow BNB Chain on X or start exploring via our Dapp library. About YZi Labs YZi Labs manages over $10 billion assets globally. Our investment philosophy emphasizes impact first— we believe that meaningful returns will naturally follow. We invest in ventures at every stage, prioritizing those with solid fundamentals in Web3, AI, and biotech. YZi Labs' portfolio covers over 250 projects from over 25 countries across six continents. More than 65 of YZi Labs' portfolio companies have gone through our incubation programs. For more information, users can followYZi Labs on X. About CMC Labs CMC Labs is CoinMarketCap's selective accelerator program for startups, supporting Web3 entrepreneurs with a range of expert services, including awareness raising, social amplification, bespoke content, and networking opportunities with top-tier ecosystems, VCs, market makers and mentors. To learn more, users can visit CMC Labs.
New Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Applications open for MIFC Global Impact Challenge 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Applications are now open for the Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre (MIFC) Global Impact Challenge 2025, organised by Bank Negara Malaysia in collaboration with the MIFC Leadership Council. The global competition invites innovators to propose financial solutions that strengthen social resilience and address climate-related challenges, with a focus on fintech and impact-driven startups. Bank Negara said shortlisted applicants will join an accelerator programme to refine the commercial viability and measurable impact of their solutions. "Up to four winners will be selected on Demo Day on Oct 12 and announced at the Global Islamic Finance Forum 2025 on Oct 13 in Kuala Lumpur. "In addition to cash prizes, winners will receive extensive support from programme partners for up to 12 months," it said, adding that applications close on Aug 18. Held in partnership with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Islamic Finance Council UK, the Islamic Development Bank, and the World Bank Group Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Finance Hub in Malaysia, the programme is supported by a robust international network. The Asia School of Business' Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center serves as the knowledge and accelerator partner, while the Fintech Association of Malaysia is the ecosystem partner.
The Wire
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Wire
Chandigarh University in Collaboration with India's leading Job Portal 'Apna' & Investment Firm 'Venture Catalysts' Launch 'Campus Tank' – India's First University-Led Startup Launchpad for Young Innovators
'Campus Tank' to Nurture and Empower Next Generation of Entrepreneurs for a Viksit Bharat by 2047, says MP & CU Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu CHANDIGARH, India , July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chandigarh University, India's leading private university, in collaboration with job platform Apna and investment firm Venture Catalysts (VCats) have launched 'Campus Tank', India's first university-led Startup launch-pad for young innovators below the age of 30 to pitch their ideas and get funding of $1 Million to launch their startups along with expert venture guidance, strategic ecosystem alliances and immersive startup incubation. 'APNA' which is India's largest early talent platform, trusted by over 6 Crore users and AICTE while Venture Catalyst is India's leading early-stage investment firm. The registrations for 'Campus Tank' are now open for Campus Tank, an exclusive startup challenge designed to empower India's next generation of founders, till 14 August through the portal ( which was launched in the presence of Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chancellor of Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu, Apna's Vice President Dr Preet Deep Singh, Founding Member and Managing Partner at Venture Catalysts, Rishabh Golchha in Chandigarh. By registering for Campus Tank, founders and co-founders under the age of 30 will compete for investment from a pledged fund of $1 Million to grow their startups. Startups will get the opportunity present their ideas to top investors from Venture Catalysts on Demo Day to be held at Chandigarh University. Selected teams will also get incubation support from Cube Founders Space by Chandigarh University and learn from founders and experts through training and master classes. Speaking at the launch of 'Campus Tank', Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chancellor of Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu said, "Universities and colleges are not just places for the students to earn degrees but they are places where ideas are born and transformed into great innovations. For instance, Universities and colleges are the biggest breeding ground in the United States which remains the top startup nation globally. In fact, 76 % of Fortune 500 companies in US, including major tech companies like Facebook, Google, Apple and Microsoft, were born in universities and colleges. In fact, US has over 10 lakh Startups, which make up approximately 50% of global VC investment, contribute in creating about 70 % of new jobs by providing services across the world." "It is commendable that India too is moving forward on innovations ever since the launch of Startup India initiative by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016 which has helped the country become the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world with over 1.76 lakh startups in the last decade as compared to 384 startups in 2014. As number of Unicorns has gone up to 118 in India with $1 billion valuation, our youth are now becoming job providers than job seekers as over 18 lakh direct jobs have been created by start-ups in the past 10 years with smaller cities contributing over 51% of these startups. So through 'Campus Tank', our aim is to play a role in nurturing this growth," he added. Sandhu further said, "With this dynamic collaboration between Chandigarh University, Apna and Venture Catalysts, I am sure Campus Tank will act as a catalytic force for igniting the entrepreneurial spirit among young innovators and help achieve the Union government's ambitious target of transforming the nation into 2nd largest start-up ecosystem in the world by surpassing China and create 1,000 Unicorns by 2047." He said as Chandigarh University encourages its students for innovating new technologies, CU students have created over 150 Start-Ups ever since its inception in 2012. "Spread across 17 cities in India and four foreign countries in 27 domains including agriculture, EdTech, Medtech, Healthcare, FinTech, Cleantech, Blockchain and Waste Management, eight of these CU startups are women-led. Chandigarh University's Technology Business Incubator (CU-TBI), which secured number 1 rank among all scientific research and development organizations in India by filing highest 1126 patent applications in 2023-24, is mobilizing Rs 5 Crore to catalyze growth in the startup ecosystem at CU. Chandigarh University was ranked among the top 5 institutions in filing the highest number of patents in the last 5 years and secured 3rd Rank amongst all private and government universities in India by filing 2581 patents in the last 3 years alone," Sandhu added. The Vice President of Apna, India's largest early talent platform, trusted by over 6 Crore users and AICTE, Dr Preet Deep Singh said, "At Apna, building livelihoods has always been at the heart of our mission. We are not just a jobs platform; we are an opportunities platform. With Campus Tank, we are launching a powerful stage for India's youngest and brightest entrepreneurs. This is where ideas from college dorms, canteens, and jamming sessions get the chance to be seen, heard, and funded. Each startup creates direct employment for 11 people on average and 4 times more of it indirectly. Supporting these ventures is not just about innovation; it is about nation-building. We believe India grows when Indians grow. Our job is to hand-hold these young founders and help take their ideas from chair to charts. With Campus Tank, we aim to unlock a generation of problem-solvers, dreamers, and doers." Founding Member and Managing Partner at Venture Catalysts, India's leading early-stage investment firm and the country's first integrated incubator, Rishabh Golchha said, "At Venture Catalysts, we believe India's next breakout founders are already building in hostels, co-working spaces, cafés, and garages. Campus Tank is our way of finding and backing them early. This platform is for young founders under 30 who are solving real problems with bold ideas. With up to $1 million in pledged investment pool on the table, we are bringing capital, mentorship, and access to help them scale. Some may be students, others recent grads, or early professionals. What matters is their hunger to build. We see Campus Tank as the start of long-term founder journeys. And as ecosystem catalysts, we are ready to roll up our sleeves and help make those ideas come to life." About Chandigarh University Chandigarh University is a NAAC A Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC. Website address: Photo: (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.).
