When Tyler applied to Y Combinator (YC) in 2012, his startup had an unconventional idea: an API for schools. Outliers often seem unusual initially. During Demo Day, he amazed the audience by revealing that he had already partnered with 1,000 schools. Over a decade, he and his team expanded Clever into a major educational tool, serving over half of K-12 students in the U.S., including my children. Ultimately, his vision was realized when he sold Clever for $500 million.
This kind of persistence and belief exemplifies the best YC founders, and we are delighted to welcome Tyler back to YC as a General Partner.
Tyler knows what it takes to transform an early idea into a successful enterprise. He understands the challenges of entrepreneurship—finding product-market fit, building a team, securing key clients, and making strategic decisions.
What truly distinguishes Tyler is his exceptional sales skills. He is one of the finest sales leaders we’ve encountered, with a natural ability to connect with customers, establish trust, and close deals. His renowned “How to Sell” class remains one of YC’s most popular videos. I’m eager for all YC founders to gain from his guidance and secure those essential early customers more quickly.
Additionally, Tyler is known for an intriguing hobby: in his free time, he is a gelato chef who travels globally to perfect his pistachio gelato recipe.
We are thrilled to have Tyler join us. Welcome to YC, Tyler!