Top accelerator startups

Startups14,448Programs29

14,448 startups · 29 programs

Conifer

Active · Intelligent decisions for critical AI operations

WebsiteYC profile

Why it ranks

How the rank works
8signal of 100 · rising 8
  • went through YCProgram · this site+4
  • team of 4Team size · YC's directory+3.6

A sum of public facts, not a judgement and not investment advice.

Competitors

AIQuotient LabsShared: token spend, claude code, modelYC W26San FranciscoStartup →AIdari.devShared: claude code, routing, tokenYC F25San FranciscoStartup →AIInfronShared: intelligent routing, costAntler 2024USStartup →AICodagShared: token spend, model, providerYC S26San FranciscoStartup →AIInactiveMentlioShared: intelligent routing, token, spendYC S26San FranciscoStartup →
Companies closest to Conifer
Company
Quotient LabsShared: token spend, claude code, modelYC W26ActiveAI, Devtools
dari.devShared: claude code, routing, tokenYC F25ActiveAI, Devtools
InfronShared: intelligent routing, costAntler 2024Not statedAI
CodagShared: token spend, model, providerYC S26ActiveAI, Devtools
MentlioShared: intelligent routing, token, spendYC S26InactiveAI, Devtools

Adjacent

OtherDigital MortarShared: full path, system500 Global GA 20United StatesStartup →AIWozShared: claude code, token, costYC W25San FranciscoStartup →AIHarnessRouterShared: claude code, harnesses, codexYC S23San FranciscoStartup →AIRozieAI JourneyShared: uses intelligent, orchestrationPlug and PlayCanadaStartup →OtherDivergent PhysicsShared: claude codeAlchemist Class 41San FranciscoStartup →
Companies next to Conifer
Company
Digital MortarShared: full path, system500 Global GA 20Not statedOther
WozShared: claude code, token, costYC W25ActiveAI
HarnessRouterShared: claude code, harnesses, codexYC S23ActiveAI, Devtools
RozieAI JourneyShared: uses intelligent, orchestrationPlug and Play Not statedAI
Divergent PhysicsShared: claude codeAlchemist Class 41Not statedOther

Also from S26 in AI

All of S26
AIAgnost AIWe find where AI agents fail, then train better models to run them.YC S26San FranciscoStartup →AIArchalAPI sandboxes, built for AI agentsYC S26San FranciscoStartup →AIAutoresearch, Inc.Autoresearch as a service: we solve your hardest measurable problemsYC S26San FranciscoStartup →AIDecaworkTraining company-specific models that approve AI actions.YC S26San FranciscoStartup →AIGitCafeThe Git forge for the next hundred billion commitsYC S26San FranciscoStartup →AIGraphify LabsOn-device Knowledge Graph engine for Enterprise SoftwareYC S26San FranciscoStartup →
Company
Agnost AIWe find where AI agents fail, then train better models to run them.2 programsteam of 2ActiveAI, Data, Devtools
ArchalAPI sandboxes, built for AI agentsteam of 2ActiveAI, Devtools
Autoresearch, Inc.Autoresearch as a service: we solve your hardest measurable problemsteam of 3ActiveAI, Devtools
DecaworkTraining company-specific models that approve AI actions.2 programsteam of 2ActiveAI, Devtools
GitCafeThe Git forge for the next hundred billion commitsteam of 2ActiveAI, Devtools
Graphify LabsOn-device Knowledge Graph engine for Enterprise SoftwareActiveAI, Devtools

Founders

  • Charles MuehlbergerFounder/CTO
  • Michael JeffordsFounder/CGO

About Conifer

AI now runs on a market of hundreds of models and providers that changes constantly, each with its own price, strengths and failure modes. Agents also act faster, and on more information, than people can meaningfully review. Conifer builds the decision layer between agents and the people in charge. Our gateway puts 240+ models from 28 providers behind one key, with 99.99% uptime. Our router picks a model for each request by weighing the task against its cost, and Parallax reviews the code agents write.

YC batch
S26 · Summer 2026
Status, per YC
Active
Category
AI, Developer tools
Team size
4
Location
San Francisco, CA, USA
Founded
2026
Checked
6h ago

YC tags: Developer Tools, B2B, Security, AI

Changes seen

One-linerNov 9, 2026

Rewrote its one-liner; it read "Least cost routing system to reduce 70%+ token spend"

Source ↗
TagsOct 19, 2026

Newly tagged AI; no longer tagged Artificial Intelligence.

Source ↗

Conifer in S26: 229 companies, 88% AI

LinkedIn

Conifer: questions

Which YC batch was Conifer in?

Conifer was in Y Combinator's Summer 2026 batch (S26).

Is Conifer still active?

Y Combinator lists Conifer as active.

Who founded Conifer?

Conifer's founders, as listed on its YC page: Charles Muehlberger (Founder/CTO), Michael Jeffords (Founder/CGO).

Where is Conifer based?

Conifer lists San Francisco, CA, USA as its location on YC's directory.