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14,448 startups · 29 programs

SharpestMinds

Inactive · Peer-to-peer mentorships through income-share agreements.

WebsiteYC profile

Why it ranks

How the rank works
2signal of 100 · rising 0
  • 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

OtherInactiveBlairShared: share agreement, income share, educationYC S19San FranciscoStartup →OtherLeifShared: income share, educationEF 2014LondonStartup →Developer toolsCodeCraftersShared: experienced engineer, educationYC S22San FranciscoStartup →OtherAlgoUniversityShared: income share agreements, education, salaryYC S21BengaluruStartup →AIInactiveInsight Data ScienceShared: data scientist, engineerYC W11San FranciscoStartup →
Companies closest to SharpestMinds
Company
BlairShared: share agreement, income share, educationYC S19InactiveOther
LeifShared: income share, educationEF 2014Not statedOther
CodeCraftersShared: experienced engineer, educationYC S22ActiveDevtools
AlgoUniversityShared: income share agreements, education, salaryYC S21ActiveOther
Insight Data ScienceShared: data scientist, engineerYC W11InactiveAI, Data

Adjacent

OtherStudentFinanceShared: share agreement, income shareSeedcamp 2019Startup →OtherInactiveMentorcamShared: education, mentorshipYC S21Los AngelesStartup →AIHENRYShared: data scientist, engineer, recruiting and talentYC S20Buenos AiresStartup →AIRapida.AIShared: data scientistAntler 2023SingaporeStartup →Othernehan,Inc.Shared: data scientistPlug and PlayJapanStartup →
Companies next to SharpestMinds
Company
StudentFinanceShared: share agreement, income shareSeedcamp 2019Not statedOther
MentorcamShared: education, mentorshipYC S21InactiveOther
HENRYShared: data scientist, engineer, recruiting and talentYC S20ActiveAI
Rapida.AIShared: data scientistAntler 2023Not statedAI
nehan,Inc.Shared: data scientistPlug and Play Not statedOther

Also from W18 in AI

All of W18
AIAcelyEvery student's AI coach for college readinessYC W18San FranciscoStartup →AIAcquiredEdwinEdwin is virtual English tutor - an AI-powered service for learning…YC W18San FranciscoStartup →AIAlgoSurg IncSurgical AI for medical device companies: Patient scan to robot-ready…YC W18MHStartup →AIAssemblyCreate remarkable client experiencesYC W18New York CityStartup →AIAcquiredClearBrainCausal Analytics for Growth TeamsYC W18San FranciscoStartup →AICognition IPFlat-fee patent & trademark counsel with top firm resultsYC W18San FranciscoStartup →
Company
AcelyEvery student's AI coach for college readinessteam of 302 programsActiveAI
EdwinEdwin is virtual English tutor - an AI-powered service for learning…team of 14acquiredAcquiredAI
AlgoSurg IncSurgical AI for medical device companies: Patient scan to robot-ready…team of 32 programsActiveAI
AssemblyCreate remarkable client experiencesteam of 25hiringActiveAI
ClearBrainCausal Analytics for Growth Teamsteam of 10acquiredAcquiredAI, Data
Cognition IPFlat-fee patent & trademark counsel with top firm resultsteam of 12ActiveAI

About SharpestMinds

SharpestMinds is a mentorship program for data scientists based on income share agreements. Experienced engineers mentor aspiring data scientists, who then pay the engineers back a percentage of their first year's salary after they're hired. SharpestMinds mentors come from world leading AI groups at top companies including Apple, Uber, Tesla, Facebook and Amazon.

YC batch
W18 · Winter 2018
Status, per YC
Inactive
Category
AI
Team size
4
Location
Toronto, ON, Canada; Remote
Checked
6h ago

YC tags: Education, Income Share Agreements, AI

Changes seen

StatusNov 5, 2026

Now listed as inactive, was acquired.

Source ↗
TagsOct 19, 2026

Newly tagged AI; no longer tagged Artificial Intelligence.

Source ↗

SharpestMinds in W18: 146 companies, 26% AI

SharpestMinds: questions

Which YC batch was SharpestMinds in?

SharpestMinds was in Y Combinator's Winter 2018 batch (W18).

Is SharpestMinds still active?

Y Combinator lists SharpestMinds as inactive.

Where is SharpestMinds based?

SharpestMinds lists Toronto, ON, Canada; Remote as its location on YC's directory.