Welcome to Startups Weekly, a contemporary human-first tackle this week’s startup information and traits. To get this in your inbox, subscribe right here.
In some methods, Y Combinator’s biannual Demo Day is considerably predictable: There might be Stanford dropouts, last-minute pivots, and, as at all times, guarantees of near-term profitability. We even made a bingo board about it.
However one factor I can by no means guess forward of time is the precise priorities of the season’s batch. Y Combinator stands by the truth that it backs folks, not concepts, so its Demo Day technically unveils two issues: who the accelerator guess on and what they determined to prioritize. This yr was completely different for myriad causes. First, YC Summer season 2022 is the second batch to obtain a $500,000 verify as an alternative of $125,000, as a part of the accelerator’s expanded verify measurement. Second, the batch was smaller than typical (see earlier variations of this column right here and right here; it’s a distinct tone altogether) — a narrowing of focus the accelerator says was as a result of downturn. And eventually, it was the primary batch the place we noticed a bifurcation; over 60% of batch founders have been within the Bay Space throughout the three-month accelerator, whereas others remained scattered internationally.
All these tensions are nice for story concepts. So, this week when protecting YC’s newest batch, we got down to give readers a greater understanding of the issues that startups are prioritizing throughout the downturn and the way YC’s shake-up has impacted the agency’s focus in sure areas and geographies versus others.
I’m pleased with how we executed regardless of all of the iPhone information. We wrote about how YC’s fintech founders are returning to the neobank prepare and crypto continues to be an space of bullishness. We dug into synthetic intelligence standouts and creator economic system knockouts. And earlier than I begin sounding like an particularly nerdy rendition of Dr. Seuss, we appeared right into a geography focus from a macro scale and a retreat on a micro scale.
This in thoughts, as in custom, I need to depart you with a couple of takeaways I had after listening to lots of of pitches. Right here’s what 277 Combinator pitches taught me, and now possibly you, about startups:
- Concepts, then folks or folks then concepts: There’s two camps of investing in startups, the verify writers who spend money on disruptive concepts after which the varied teams of individuals making an attempt to make those self same concepts a actuality; and the verify writers who spend money on folks after which assist those self same folks in no matter disruptive thought they swing at. Y Combinator asserts that it’s extra of the latter not the previous. However, information says otherwise. Final batch, 29% have been accepted with solely an thought; this batch, 43% have been accepted with solely an thought. It signifies that over time, YC is getting extra comfy backing founders who’ve an thought; not essentially much less. One thing to consider when taking a look at traits and the way one of the well-known accelerators thinks about breakdowns.
- It’s a fintech accelerator, first: Whoops, my bias is exhibiting. YC feels an increasing number of like a fintech and crypto accelerator than it does a shopper and biotech accelerator; you may inform that based mostly on the breakdown of startups inside every batch however even from the format of Demo Day. It’s arduous to inform a biotech or local weather story with one slide in a single minute whereas the format really helps a startup making an attempt to make monetary providers simpler.
- The moonshots aren’t going wherever: One concept I had going into the batch is that if greater checks, even regardless of a downturn, will result in greater swings within the batch. We weren’t disenchanted. Moonshots embrace fake fish, various investing in athletes and one other formidable play on this planet of DTC healthcare.
On this week’s digest, we’ll get into some startup consolidation, Kim Kardashian and the most recent on layoffs. Make certain to learn the entire piece as I’ve snuck in a TC+ low cost code, particularly for Startups Weekly readers, within the put up.
In case you like this text, do me a fast favor? Ahead it to a buddy, share it on Twitter and tag me so I can thanks for studying myself!
Startups, get scooped
We don’t discuss liquidity sufficient right here, and I partially blame the truth that the M&A market has felt fairly dry over the previous few months. Fortunately, now we have a couple of of observe to say this week.
Amazon purchased Cloosertermans, a mechatronics specialist that may assist it beef up its robotics arm. TC’s Ingrid Lunden stories that the startup has been ”constructing know-how to maneuver and stack heavy palettes and totes, and robotics used to package deal merchandise for buyer orders.” The eye from Amazon isn’t new: Amazon has been a Cloostermans buyer since 2019, however the acquisition makes issues much more formal.
There’s additionally an acquisition from Instacart, which has been busy forward of its impending public market debut. The grocery supply firm introduced that it acquired Rosie. It would widen the corporate’s footprint for native and impartial retailers.
And, to finish the week, now we have on-line grocery firm Misfits Market saying it would purchase Imperfect Meals. I really like when Misfits and Imperfects workforce collectively.
Right here’s why it’s vital: Extra consolidation provides us some much-needed alerts on how the exit atmosphere is doing nowadays. For early-stage startups, particularly these which can be struggling to lift one other spherical, the longer term might appear to be turning into acquisition fodder (and that’s not dangerous information).

Picture Credit: Caiaimage/Adam Gault / Getty Pictures
VC works arduous, however Kim Kardashian works more durable
Kim Kardashian introduced this week that she is breaking into the non-public fairness world with SKKY Companions. Her agency, carried out in collaboration with ex-Carlyle companion Jay Sammons, has not but raised its first fund however does plan to make its first funding by the top of the yr.
Right here’s what’s vital: It’s the financialization of trendsetters, as we mentioned on Fairness. We’ve seen influencers land partnerships, begin firms, rating fairness in startups, however PE can be a distinct stage — even for a Kardashian.

Picture Credit: Nathan Congleton/NBC / Getty Pictures
The follow-up
I’m experimenting with a brand new part in Startups Weekly, the place every week we observe up with an previous story or development to see what’s modified since our first look. We haven’t talked about layoffs in a bit round right here, so with out additional ado…
Right here’s what’s new: Patreon has confirmed it has laid off 5 staff from its safety workforce. It would lean on exterior organizations to develop safety capabilities. There’s additionally some tensions leaking out of Aurora whereas Nigerian digital financial institution Kuda is the most recent African startup to put off staff.

Picture Credit: Patreon
Anticipate it. See it? Yep, I’m excited too. And whereas we’re on the subject of housekeeping, some extra notes:
Seen on TechCrunch
As a scuba diver, I might gladly belief my life to the Apple Watch. Right here’s why.
Brex’s departing CRO explains his choice to hitch Founders Fund
Individuals are going again to the workplace — besides within the Bay Space
Byju’s has no reply for its rising record of lacking deadlines
YC Demo Day didn’t have a really lengthy record of creator firms, however right here’s who stood out
To thanks for being a Startups Weekly subscriber, right here’s somewhat TC+ low cost for you: Enter “STARTUPS” at checkout for 15% off of your subscription.
Seen on TechCrunch+
These are the highest 3 most vital slides in your pitch deck
How the upcoming Ethereum Merge might change crypto’s rewards, prices and repute
Let’s get within the weeds about fintech AUM
As startups whip up a restaurant tech frenzy, is anybody near Toast?
Are you able to consider it was technically a brief week? Chat Monday.