The expansion to four cohorts per year will introduce spring and fall sessions alongside the traditional winter and summer programs, with each cohort lasting approximately 11 weeks12. This change will result in a more continuous cycle of innovation, with Demo Days occurring four times annually instead of twice3. The new schedule is set to commence in 2025, allowing Y Combinator to operate almost year-round and provide more frequent opportunities for startups to participate in the accelerator program14.

The shift to four annual cohorts will result in each group being approximately half the size of recent batches12. This reduction aims to bring cohort sizes closer to levels seen about a decade ago, with each batch expected to have around 100 startups2. Despite the increase in frequency, the overall number of startups participating annually will remain steady at approximately 5002. This adjustment allows for more personalized engagement between startups and investors, potentially enhancing the program's effectiveness and addressing concerns about oversized cohorts12.

The expansion to four cohorts aligns with Garry Tan's vision as Y Combinator's president, aiming to provide more responsive support to founders and offer funding at the outset of their ventures12. This change will allow for:

• Increased networking opportunities through more frequent discussions and events

• A shift in the traditional retreat location from the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa to YC's San Francisco headquarters, reflecting a preference for a more straightforward setting2

• Maintenance of the $500,000 investment structure for each startup, including $125,000 for a 7% equity stake and an additional $375,000 with terms to be established in subsequent funding rounds2

The upcoming fall program is scheduled to begin on September 29, 2024, shortly after the summer cohort's Demo Day on September 25-2634.

This strategic shift addresses previous concerns that YC cohorts had grown too large, potentially diluting the program's effectiveness. By reverting to smaller group sizes of around 100 startups per batch, similar to participation levels from a decade ago, YC aims to enhance the quality of interactions and mentorship1. The change also allows for more focused attention on each startup, potentially increasing the likelihood of success for participants. Critics had noted that recent cohorts, which reached up to 400 startups in late 2021 and early 2022, may have compromised the program's ability to provide individualized support1.