ExploreYC

ExploreYC API: The Ultimate REST API for Y Combinator and a16z Startup Data

In the fast-paced world of venture capital and startup ecosystems, having access to accurate, real-time data is essential for investors, researchers, and entrepreneurs. The ExploreYC API serves as a premier solution for those seeking programmatic access to a comprehensive startup database. This read-only REST API provides a deep dive into the portfolios of two of the most influential entities in technology: Y Combinator and a16z (Andreessen Horowitz). By leveraging the ExploreYC API, users can extract critical insights regarding company funding, developmental stages, exits, founder information, and much more.

What's ExploreYC API?

The ExploreYC API is a specialized, read-only REST API that aggregates data across a vast array of startup companies. It is designed to be the definitive source for information on Y Combinator portfolio companies and a16z portfolio companies. Delivered as JSON over HTTPS, the API ensures that data retrieval is both secure and standardized, making it an ideal tool for developers building analytics platforms, hiring tools, or market research applications.

At its core, the ExploreYC API tracks the entire lifecycle of a startup. From the initial batch announcement to subsequent funding rounds and eventual exits, the API provides a structured way to query the startup database. Whether you are looking for specific industry trends or detailed founder profiles, the ExploreYC API offers the granularity required for professional-grade data analysis.

Features of the ExploreYC API

The ExploreYC API is packed with features designed to facilitate seamless data integration and exploration:

• Comprehensive Coverage: The API tracks both YC and a16z sources, providing a unified view of top-tier venture-backed startups.
• Read-Only REST Architecture: Built on standard REST principles, the ExploreYC API is easy to integrate into any tech stack.
• Detailed Data Points: Access information on funding amounts, company stages (e.g., early-stage vs. exit), founder details, and industry classifications.
• Interactive Swagger Documentation: The ExploreYC API includes a base URL at https://api.exploreyc.com/api/v1 and provides an interactive Swagger interface for real-time testing of endpoints.
• High-Quality JSON Output: All responses are delivered in clean, parseable JSON format.
• Geo-Location Support: The /map endpoint allows users to access geo-located data for startups that have latitude and longitude coordinates.
• Historical Batch Insights: Users can explore YC-specific history through the /batches and single batch analytics endpoints.

ExploreYC API Endpoints

The ExploreYC API offers a variety of endpoints to help you navigate the startup database efficiently. Below is a breakdown of the available GET requests:

Company Information

• GET /companies: This endpoint allows you to list and filter companies across all tracked sources, including both Y Combinator and a16z.
• GET /companies/{id}: Fetch the details of a single company by providing its unique numeric ID. If the ID is not found, a 404 error is returned.
• GET /companies/{slug}: This is ideal for front-end applications, allowing you to fetch company data using a human-readable URL segment (slug).

Search and Analytics

• GET /search: Perform a full-text search across company names, one-liners, and full descriptions to find exactly what you need within the ExploreYC API.
• GET /stats: Provides aggregate portfolio statistics, including total counts organized by batch, industry, country, or current status.
• GET /sources: View the available incubators and VCs within the dataset along with their respective company counts.

Batch and Industry Metadata

• GET /batches: Retrieve a list of distinct Y Combinator batch names, sorted from the most recent.
• GET /industries: Get a list of distinct industry values that can be used as filters in other queries.
• GET /countries: Access a list of countries where portfolio companies are located.
• GET /batch/{name}/wrapped: A unique endpoint providing "Wrapped"-style analytics for a specific YC batch.

Use Case Scenarios

The versatility of the ExploreYC API makes it suitable for a wide range of professional use cases:

• Market Research: Analysts can use the /stats and /industries endpoints to identify emerging trends in the venture capital space.
• Venture Capital Intelligence: Investment firms can track the progress of a16z portfolio companies or monitor the latest YC batches for potential opportunities.
• Hiring Platforms: Recruitment tools can leverage founder and company data from the ExploreYC API to identify high-growth startups currently in hiring phases.
• Academic Research: Researchers studying the impact of accelerators can use the historical batch data to perform longitudinal studies on startup success rates.
• Mapping Tools: Developers can create visual representations of startup hubs using the /map endpoint for geo-located company data.

Authentication and Rate Limits

To ensure fair usage and system stability, the ExploreYC API requires authentication and enforces rate limits based on your subscription plan.

Authentication

Every request made to the ExploreYC API must include an API key. This key can be provided as a bearer token in the Authorization header (e.g., Authorization: Bearer eyc_live_…) or via the X-API-Key header. Requests with missing, invalid, or revoked keys will result in a 401 error.

Rate Limit Tiers

Rate limits are enforced on a rolling 24-hour window per API key. Every response from the ExploreYC API includes headers such as X-RateLimit-Limit, X-RateLimit-Remaining, and X-RateLimit-Reset to help you manage your quota.

| Plan | Limit | Price | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Free | 5 requests / day | $0 | | Starter | 500 requests / day | $29/mo | | Pro | 5,000 requests / day | $99/mo | | Enterprise | Custom | Contact us |

If you exceed your limit, the API returns a 429 status code and a Retry-After header indicating when you can resume making requests.

Error Handling

The ExploreYC API uses standard HTTP status codes to communicate the success or failure of an API request:

• 401: Unauthorized. This occurs if the API key is missing, invalid, or has been revoked.
• 404: Not Found. This is returned when a specific company ID, slug, or batch name does not exist in the startup database.
• 422: Unprocessable Entity. This indicates an invalid query parameter was passed to the endpoint.
• 429: Too Many Requests. This means you have exceeded the rate limit for your current plan.

FAQ

Q: Is there a free version of the ExploreYC API? A: Yes, the ExploreYC API offers a Free tier that allows for 5 requests per day, making it easy to test and explore the data before committing to a paid plan.

Q: What sources are included in the ExploreYC API? A: The API primarily covers portfolio companies from Y Combinator and a16z.

Q: Can I search for companies by their description? A: Absolutely. The /search endpoint supports full-text search over company names, one-liners, and full descriptions.

Q: How do I handle rate limiting? A: You should monitor the X-RateLimit-Remaining header in the API response. If you receive a 429 error, check the Retry-After header to know when your limit will reset.