← Back to all providers

Y Combinator

Y Combinator claims extremely broad rights to use your content forever and for any purpose, forces binding arbitration with no class actions, and can terminate your account at any time without notice or appeal. They do provide detailed privacy controls and don't sell your data to third parties.

Holding Steadywhy?Concerning
TOS reviewed:November 2026
View Original TOS
Latest changeWorth a lookOct 23, 2026

They're clarifying that they don't use your Google Workspace data (like emails or docs) to train AI models that aren't personalized to you. The policy date got updated to September 2026, so they're basically saying this commitment is their current stance going forward.

See the full change →

The Bottom Line

AI-generated summary of the terms as we read them. Opinion, not legal advice.

Y Combinator claims extremely broad rights to use your content forever and for any purpose, forces binding arbitration with no class actions, and can terminate your account at any time without notice or appeal. They do provide detailed privacy controls and don't sell your data to third parties.

Get notified when Y Combinator updates their TOS

We'll email you what changed and what it means.

By subscribing, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.

Notable Clauses

Perpetual Content LicenseUser Content Transmitted Through the SiteVERIFIED

“By uploading any User Content you hereby grant and will grant Y Combinator and its affiliated companies a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty free, fully paid up, transferable, sublicensable, perpetual, irrevocable license to copy, display, upload, perform, distribute, store, modify and otherwise use y...”

Translation: They get to use anything you upload forever, even after you delete your account, and can let others use it too.
VERIFIEDView proof →
Rate it (1 crazy → 10 amazing):
Anonymous · Privacy
Forced Arbitration with Class Action BanDispute Resolution By Binding ArbitrationVERIFIED

“YOU AND Y COMBINATOR AGREE THAT EACH OF US MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION OR PROCEEDING.”

Translation: You can't join with other users to sue them - you have to fight them one-on-one in private arbitration.
VERIFIEDView proof →
Rate it (1 crazy → 10 amazing):
Anonymous · Privacy
Sweeping Liability DisclaimerLimitation of LiabilityVERIFIED

“YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT Y COMBINATOR WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF Y COMBINATOR HAS B...”

Translation: They're not responsible for damages even if they're negligent or legally required to be responsible.
VERIFIEDView proof →
Rate it (1 crazy → 10 amazing):
Anonymous · Privacy
Broad Content Rights for SubmissionsUser Content Transmitted Through the SiteVERIFIED

“You acknowledge and agree that any questions, comments, suggestions, ideas, feedback or other information about the Site ("Submissions") provided by you to Y Combinator are non-confidential and Y Combinator will be entitled to the unrestricted use and dissemination of these Submissions for any purpo...”

Translation: Any feedback or ideas you share become theirs to use however they want without paying you.
VERIFIEDView proof →
Rate it (1 crazy → 10 amazing):
Anonymous · Privacy
Unrestricted Account TerminationTerminationVERIFIED

“You agree that Y Combinator, in its sole discretion, may suspend or terminate your account (or any part thereof) or use of the Site and remove and discard any content within the Site, for any reason, including, without limitation, for lack of use or if Y Combinator believes that you have violated or...”

Translation: They can delete your account and all your content whenever they want, for any reason or no reason at all.
VERIFIEDView proof →
Rate it (1 crazy → 10 amazing):
Anonymous · Privacy
Clear Data Deletion RightsYour Choices, Deletion Requests, and Updating Your InformationVERIFIED

“If you would like to request that we delete your entire Y Combinator account and all Personal Information associated with it, contact us at privacy@ycombinator.com.”

Translation: They provide a clear way to delete your account and personal data, though content licenses may still apply.
VERIFIEDView proof →
Rate it (1 crazy → 10 amazing):
Anonymous · Privacy
No Personal Data SalesCalifornia Privacy RightsVERIFIED

“We do not sell or share your Personal Information (as those terms are defined under the CCPA).”

Translation: They actually don't sell your personal data to third parties, which is better than many companies.
VERIFIEDView proof →
Rate it (1 crazy → 10 amazing):
Anonymous · Privacy

Protect Yourself

ACTIONABLE

Settings and actions you can take to limit your exposure

MEDIUM IMPACT

Limit Session Replay Tracking

Y Combinator uses PostHog to record your screen activity on Startup School - you can block this with browser settings

How to do it:
  1. Install uBlock Origin browser extension
  2. Add PostHog domains to your blocklist: posthog.com, app.posthog.com
MEDIUM IMPACT

Block Analytics Tracking

They use Google Analytics, New Relic, and Amplitude to track your behavior - block these to reduce data collection

How to do it:
  1. Install Privacy Badger browser extension
  2. Enable 'Block third-party cookies' in your browser settings
  3. Consider using Firefox with Enhanced Tracking Protection set to 'Strict'
MEDIUM IMPACT

Exercise California Privacy Rights

If you're a California resident, you can request to know what data they have and request corrections

How to do it:
  1. Email privacy@ycombinator.com with subject 'CCPA Request'
  2. Specify whether you want to know what data they have or request corrections
  3. Call +1 (415) 874-1528 for phone requests
HIGH IMPACT

Minimize Content Upload

Since they claim perpetual rights to anything you upload, be very selective about what you post

How to do it:
  1. Only upload content you're comfortable with them using forever
  2. Avoid uploading original ideas, proprietary information, or personal photos
  3. Use generic placeholder content when possible for testing features
HIGH IMPACT

Request Account Deletion

Delete your account and personal data if you no longer need the service - though content licenses may survive

How to do it:
  1. Email privacy@ycombinator.com requesting full account deletion
  2. Include your account email and any usernames
  3. Note that previously uploaded content may still be subject to their license terms

Disclaimer: The clauses shown above are excerpts from publicly available Terms of Service documents. Ratings and severity levels reflect community and AI assessment, not legal advice, factual claims, or determinations about a company's legality or intent. Clauses marked “VERIFIED” have been confirmed as exact quotes from the source document. Clauses marked “AI-extracted” were identified by AI and may contain errors. Always verify against the original TOS.

Get notified when Y Combinator updates their TOS

We'll email you what changed and what it means

By subscribing, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.