This summer, Y Combinator (YC) will offer grants to college students for their own technical projects, known as the Summer Fellows Grants.
The aim is to inspire top students to explore their intellectual curiosity instead of engaging in ordinary internship tasks. With the advancement of AI models and tools enhancing programmer productivity, it’s an ideal time to push the boundaries of programming skills during the summer.
The grants include $20,000 in cash and $90,000 in compute credits from Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google GCP. Summer Fellows are invited to YC’s AI Startup School from June 16 – 17 and will participate in special events:
– June 15: Kickoff dinner with Fellows and guests
– June 18 – 20: Co-working at YC’s office
– Aug 20 – 22: Co-working at YC’s office
– Aug 22: Present projects at Demo Day
For more details, apply for a Summer Fellows Grant [here](https://events.ycombinator.com/summer-fellows).
YC seeks to fund innovative AI projects but welcomes any intriguing technical ideas. Projects need not be commercial or profitable.
Interested students can apply, with a follow-up 15-minute online interview at the end of March for final decisions.
The following YC companies also offer credits to Summer Fellows: Fly.io ($50k), Supabase ($10k), Replicate ($10k), and Resend ($3k).
**FAQ**
**Who is eligible for the grants?**
Undergraduate computer science or engineering students, including freshmen and international students.
**Can I apply with a team?**
Grants are given to individuals. If collaborating, each person should apply individually and mention the partnership in the application.
**What defines a successful project?**
Projects that impress smart programmers, such as developer tools or open source contributions. User adoption is not necessary.
**Will there be classes?**
No formal classes. You’ll work independently, engage with other students, have YC partners for advice, and access an online workspace.
**How many grants will be given?**
Likely between 20 to 50 grants.
**Will working space be provided?**
Co-working at YC’s office in June and August for three days each. Outside these times, find your own workspace.
**Do I have to relocate to the Bay Area?**
Remote work is possible, but relocation to the Bay Area is encouraged. If relocation isn’t feasible, travel arrangements for co-working days will be provided.
**Can I work an internship this summer?**
Preference for full-time project work, but part-time considerations for interns exist. Working on personal projects is encouraged.
**Do I need a company to receive the grant?**
No company setup is required; grants are personal.