Velvet

Active · Expressive conversational AI

YC F25

Website YC profile

Why it ranks

How the rank works

7signal of 100 · rising 6

went through YCProgram · this site+4
team of 3Team size · YC's directory+3.1

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

Competitors

Other

Brand Engagement NetworkShared: conversationalStartup →Other

Smallest.aiShared: conversationalStartup →Other

FlamShared: conversationalStartup →

Companies closest to Velvet
Company	Category	Status
Brand Engagement Networknot in a program hereShared: conversationalElsewhereOther	Other	Elsewhere
Smallest.ainot in a program hereShared: conversationalElsewhereOther	Other	Elsewhere
Flamnot in a program hereShared: conversationalElsewhereOther	Other	Elsewhere

Adjacent

Other

muchbetter.aiShared: conversationalAntler 2023FranceStartup →AI

Quickchat AIShared: conversational aiYC S18WarsawStartup →OtherInactiveIxiplayShared: expressiveYC S13San FranciscoStartup →OtherAcquired

JamsShared: conversationalSPC 2022San FranciscoStartup →AIInactive

VOIQShared: conversationalYC S15San FranciscoStartup →

Companies next to Velvet
Company	Category	Status	Program
muchbetter.aiShared: conversationalAntler 2023Not statedOther	Other	Not stated	Antler2023
Quickchat AIShared: conversational aiYC S18ActiveAI	AI	Active	YCS18
IxiplayShared: expressiveYC S13InactiveOther	Other	Inactive	YCS13
JamsShared: conversationalSPC 2022AcquiredOther	Other	Acquired	SPC2022
VOIQShared: conversationalYC S15InactiveAI	AI	Inactive	YCS15

Also from F25 in AI

All of F25

Bolna AIVoice AI to enable India's next billionYC F25BengaluruStartup →AI

CodycoThe AI Reservation Team for Hotel GroupsYC F25BYStartup →AI

HyperspellYour Company BrainYC F25San FranciscoStartup →AI

LightberryRobots with soulYC F25San FranciscoStartup →AI

AbsurdThe production canvas for AI film teamsYC F25Los AngelesStartup →AI

AirCaps AIVoice AI that hears what other models miss.YC F25San FranciscoStartup →

Company	Category	Status
Bolna AIVoice AI to enable India's next billionteam of 21hiringActiveAI, Devtools	AI, Devtools	Active
CodycoThe AI Reservation Team for Hotel Groupsteam of 4ActiveAI	AI	Active
HyperspellYour Company Brainteam of 8hiringActiveAI, Data, Devtools	AI, Data, Devtools	Active
LightberryRobots with soulteam of 3hiringActiveAI	AI	Active
AbsurdThe production canvas for AI film teamsteam of 10ActiveAI	AI	Active
AirCaps AIVoice AI that hears what other models miss.team of 5hiringActiveAI, Devtools	AI, Devtools	Active

Founders

Lucas MantovaniFounder/CEO
Lucas TuckerFounder/COO

About Velvet

Expressive conversational AI

YC batch: F25 · Fall 2025
Status, per YC: Active
Category: AI, Data
Team size: 3
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Founded: 2025
Checked: 10h ago

YC tags: Generative AI, Data Engineering, AI, Conversational AI

Changes seen

One-linerOct 12, 2026

Rewrote its one-liner; it read "Conversational datasets and models"

Source ↗

One-linerOct 5, 2026

Rewrote its one-liner; it read "World model datasets and research"

Source ↗

TagsOct 5, 2026

Newly tagged AI; no longer tagged Artificial Intelligence.

Source ↗

Velvet in F25: 146 companies, 88% AI

Velvet: questions

Which YC batch was Velvet in?

Velvet was in Y Combinator's Fall 2025 batch (F25).

Is Velvet still active?

Y Combinator lists Velvet as active.

Who founded Velvet?

Velvet's founders, as listed on its YC page: Lucas Mantovani (Founder/CEO), Lucas Tucker (Founder/COO).

Where is Velvet based?

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