We made T Combinator, in case YC reject us today

In plain words

T Combinator is a humorous life and fun project that mimics the experience of being part of Y Combinator, the renowned startup accelerator. Created for founders who didn't get accepted to YC, it offers a tongue-in-cheek alternative that comes close to the real thing—though with the caveat that it's not quite the genuine article. The project playfully acknowledges the competitive nature of startup acceleration while providing some entertainment value for rejected applicants.

written from the facts on this page · September 2026

• 
  Y Combinator Co-founder Matching2021 · ycombinator.com · ▲642

  YC’s free online platform to help you find your co-founder

• 
  The Y Combinator Database2017 · ycdb.co · ▲866

  The definitive database of YC companies with all the metrics

• 
  Y Combinator Podcast2017 · ycombinator.com · ▲531

  Y Combinators new podcast on starting a startup

• 
  Apply to YC (Y Combinator)2017 · ▲386

  Curated collection of resources for founders applying to YC.

• 
  YC Library2023 · ycombinator.com · ▲810

  The new hub for YC's startup videos, essays, podcasts & more

• IW
  I wrote a guidebook on everything I know about applying to Y Combinator2012 · guidetoyc.com · ▲177

• 
  SimCity, but with Permits▲930

  A free city-building game in your browser. You are the mayor. You know what the city needs. Now get it past the zoning board, the neighbors, the appeals court and the next election.

  Life & fun · 3d ago · permit.petercai.com

• IV
  I've been paying for a rural Tanzanian's education for 10 years▲778

  Life & fun · 15d ago · tanzaniaeducationproject.org

• 
  Bigwords.page – Turn any screen into a sign. The URL is the app▲728

  Turn a phone, tablet or TV into a sign. Type a message and it fills the screen: welcome signs, timers, Wi-Fi passwords and more. No app, no account, free.

  Life & fun · 16d ago · bigwords.page

• 
  Guitoro, a virtual guitar you strum with your keyboard▲573

  Play a free virtual guitar online with your keyboard or by touch. Slow songs down and see every chord, string and strum. Acoustic, classic, electric and bass.

  Life & fun · 10d ago · guitoro.com

• 
  See *almost* any carriers phone settings▲432

  Carrier settings from iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy firmware, decoded and compared: APNs, VoLTE, 5G and Wi-Fi Calling per carrier, and what each build changed.

  Life & fun · 14d ago · carrierexplode.com

• 
  The whole Solar System and every tracked satellite, live in the browser▲407

  Life & fun · 24d ago · space.bl2.net

• 
  Hunter▲1,703

  Find any company logo by domain with Hunter’s free logo API. No account, no API key. The simplest Clearbit Logo API replacement, switch in 30 seconds.

  Growth · 2015 · hunter.io

• 
  CheatSheet▲982

  View Mac keyboard shortcuts in the current application

  Work · 2015 · mediaatelier.com

• 
  Helium▲794

  A floating browser window for your Mac

  Work · 2015

• 
  A tool that transforms your whole list with just one example▲764

  saas that helps convert

  Life & fun · 2015 · transformy.io

• AR
  A random startup generator▲607

  Life & fun · 2015 · tiffzhang.com

• 
  Operator▲546

  Looking for something? Make a request and we'll find it.

  AI · 2015 · operator.com