Work at a Startup
Y Combinator's job platform where YC-funded startups hire engineers and other staff from one shared candidate pool.
Free
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Bottom line
Work at a Startup is Y Combinator's own job platform for the companies it has funded. YC publishes no employer price and lists it as a founder benefit. It only fits YC portfolio companies hiring engineers and early team members.
Stands out for: Every employer on the site is a YC company, and listings show salary and equity ranges alongside the YC batch. Candidates use one profile across hundreds of startups, and founders can reach out to them directly. YC also promotes roles through its own events and expos.
Watch out for: You must be a YC-funded company to post, so it is not an option for most employers. YC publishes no employer pricing page or feature list, so details of the recruiter tools are not public.
Overview
Work at a Startup is run by Y Combinator and lists jobs only at YC-funded companies.
YC describes it as a benefit that helps YC founders build their team, from first employees to VPs of product and operations.
Candidates sign up free with one profile, apply to roles, and can let founders contact them.
Job listings show the company's YC batch, salary range, equity range, required experience, and visa terms.
YC alumni can also post engineering, product, and design jobs on Hacker News.
Who it's for
Best for
- YC-funded startups
- Founders hiring early engineers
- Startups willing to show salary and equity
- Teams hiring founding or first employees
Not ideal for
- Companies outside the YC portfolio
- Enterprise or high-volume hiring
- Non-startup employers
Key features
YC companies only. The platform is limited to startups funded by Y Combinator, which keeps the employer list tied to the YC portfolio.
Single candidate profile. Candidates build one profile and use it to apply across hundreds of YC startups.
Founders contact candidates. Candidates can let YC founders reach out to them, and people who already work at a YC startup can browse privately.
Salary and equity on listings. Roles show the salary range, equity range, experience level, and visa requirements next to the YC batch.
Hiring events and expos. YC runs events such as a tech jobs expo and talks on joining startups to bring candidates to the platform.
Pricing
Y Combinator does not publish a price for employers. Work at a Startup is listed among the benefits YC founders receive, and access is limited to YC-funded companies, so there is no plan a non-YC company can buy. Candidates join for free. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.
Checked 26 Sep 2026. Vendors change prices without notice.
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Is Work at a Startup expensive?
Work at a Startup starts at Free. We list 55 job boards tools in total. 7 have a free tier, and those with a public price typically start around $299 a month.
- 24 quote-based
- 7 free tier
- 23 public price
Worked out automatically from every job boards listing, so it updates as the directory changes.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No published cost for YC companies
- Salary and equity shown on listings
- Candidates choose startups on purpose
Cons
- Closed to non-YC companies
- No public employer feature or pricing page
- Audience skews to startup-minded candidates
How Work at a Startup compares
See all Work at a Startup alternatives, with what each one does differently and a head to head for every pairing.
| Tool | Free tier | From | MCP | API | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | ✓ | Free | – | – | |
| | ✓ | Free + paid seats | – | – | Compare |
| | ✓ | $1,000/mo | – | ✓ | Compare |
| | – | 12%/hire | – | – | Compare |
Free + paid seats Free tier
Startup job board open to any startup, not just YC portfolio companies.
$1,000/mo Free tier API
Free job posts for any company plus paid promotion, aimed at senior tech workers comparing pay.
12%/hire
Tech job marketplace with warm intros that any hiring team can use, regardless of investor.