[REDIFF] Inside Y Combinator: Building Startups in the Age of AI (Nicolas Dessaigne, YC) - #145

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In this episode, I have the pleasure of welcoming Nicolas Dessaigne, Partner at Y Combinator, one of the most influential startup accelerators in the world. Nicolas is a repeat founder who co-founded Algolia, a company that became one of Europe’s biggest B2B SaaS successes before expanding globally. Today, he supports hundreds of founders as part of YC, helping shape the next generation of iconic startups. We recorded this conversation in San Francisco, where Nicolas shared his unique perspective on how YC has evolved — from 2 batches a year to 4 — and how this new AI era is transforming the way startups are built. We talk about the new wave of AI-native founders, why product iteration speed matters more than ever, and how large companies are struggling to keep up with the pace of change. Nicolas also shares what makes YC truly unique, the role of technical founders, and why code is no longer the moat it used to be. If you’re a founder, a product builder, or just curious about how YC sees the future of startups in the AI era, this episode will give you a rare inside look.

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[00:00] Intro

[01:36] YC in 2025

[02:37] Batch model & investment strategy

[03:50] Billion-dollar success rates

[05:14] Alumni support post-YC

[06:44] What makes YC unique

[08:25] Partners are ex-founders