Pebble Is Still My Favorite Smartwatch
Five Years of Y Combinator Universe
Venture Deals Explains Modern Venture Capital
Bump Technologies Acquired By Google
Bump Technologies has been acquired by Google, announced on Bump’s company blog. Bump develops mobile applications and APIs for communication between two smartphones in close proximity. The company was in YC Summer 2009. Bump’s initial product was an app for exchanging contact info between two smartphones by bumping them together. The acquisition announcement states “the Bump […]
New Features On Y Combinator Universe
Y Combinator Universe has some recent upgrades that are worth mentioning. The search box on the sidebar now searches the company database. Filters on the Y Combinator Companies page have a cleaner appearance and per-market company count. Each funding batch is viewable on its own page. There’s also a browsable archive of all blog posts.
Apportable Enables iOS Apps On Android
Apportable enables iOS apps to run on Android devices. Apportable’s platform, along with available conversion services, allow apps to be cross-compiled without extensive changes to the original codebase written in either Objective-C or C++. And not just simple apps. Björk, the famous Icelandic musician and actress, recently relied on Apportable to bring the complete Björk Biophilia multimedia […]
Coinbase Is A YC-Funded Bitcoin Wallet
Coinbase, from YC S12, is a Bitcoin money transfer service. Coinbase serves as a Bitcoin wallet, which is a personal virtual piggybank for saving, spending, and receiving Bitcoins. Bitcoin is decentralized, not backed by any government, and presently lacks legal regulations or any form of deposit insurance like FDIC. Therefore, choosing a reputable wallet provider is an important […]
I Can Haz Memes: 9Gag And Makr.io
There are legitimate medical benefits to enjoying funny jokes. Seriously. Internet sites like 9Gag and Makr.io, both from YC S12, therefore serve an important purpose in the world. Warning, though: 9Gag and Makr.io both have infinite scroll. Proving that laughter is not only the best medicine, but it’s also addictive.
Moon Jellyfish
Jellyfish Art, from YCW12, sells moon jellyfish, jellyfish tanks, and jellyfish tank accessories. They also have a Twitter account. Alex Andon began Jellyfish Art based on his research catching jellyfish and building aquariums while finishing his B.S. in Biology and Environmental Science at Duke University. Moon jellyfish require special tanks because they are mostly water. The tank made by […]
FarmLogs Reimagines Agriculture
FarmLogs was featured today on Forbes.com. FarmLogs, from YC W12, is a company I previously mentioned after they raised a million dollars from Huron River Ventures and Hyde Park Venture Partners. FarmLogs is unique for a few reasons.
About Y Combinator Universe
Mission Statement Y Combinator Universe seeks to be a valuable resource of news, analysis, opinions, and information about startups, technology, and the high-tech industry. History Patrick Keys started Y Combinator Universe in 2010. At that time, a new generation of technology companies was emerging at a pace unseen since the the late 1990’s. Patrick decided to write about […]
Companies
| General | Description |
|---|---|
Bayes Impact
|
Bayes Impact is a nonprofit that deploys data science teams to work with civic and nonprofit organizations on solving social impact challenges. We leverage the power of the data revolution to positively impact communities. Bayes Impact works on a select number of high-impact high-feasibility projects. We rely on full-time fellows that focus on one project at a time with the support of leading industry and academic mentors, advisors, and volunteers. |
BuildScience
|
BuildScience manages a building's existing hardware to collect data in real-time and present it on a mobile-friendly dashboard. |
CodeCombat
|
CodeCombat is an HTML5 game that teaches users how to program. CodeCombat is a game, not a gamified lecture. The player controls their human forces in the battle against the Ogre horde. Players write JavaScript code to control units and tactics. The game assumes no prior computer science knowledge and teaches users the basics of computer programming: logic structures, conditionals, loops, variables, etc. As players advance, they gain experience, face more difficult challenges, and level up. |
Joberator
|
Joberator will help employers find developer talent by encouraging computer science students to refer their developer friends, of whom they have more intimate knowledge than any professional recruiter. Incentives for personal referrals are created by employers who list the bonuses they are willing to pay those who recommend candidates who are eventually hired. |
Microryza
|
Microryza is a crowdfunding platform for science and academic research. |
Prophecy Sciences
|
Prophecy Sciences is helping people find their ideal work environment by tapping directly into the neurocognitive processes that underlie performance. We believe that people are most productive when they're happy, motivated, and surrounded by the right people. We use a powerful combination of cognitive games, biometric signals, and machine learning algorithms to compile actionable insights about you and your teammates. Not only do our tools allow you to predict people's performance, they also allow you to visualize group dynamics and simplify how you create and manage your teams. |
Quartzy
|
Quartzy is an online suite of lab management tools for the academic life science community. |
Science Exchange
|
Science Exchange is an online marketplace for scientific experiments. Science Exchange helps research scientists manage outsourced experiments and deals with all the paying/billing administration, quality assurance and dispute resolution. |
Sift Science
|
Sift Science uses large-scale machine learning to monitor your site's traffic in real time and alerts you instantly to fraudulent activity. |
Wakemate
|
WakeMate makes personalized alarm clocks that sync with both a user's body and their cell phone, enabling the iPhone alarm system to sound at the end of a REM cycle. The application/ wristband system also provides a full sleep analysis on their Platform. The WakeMate uses a science called actigraphy to analyze your sleep. Actigraphy uses an actigraph (the WakeMate unit) placed on a subject's wrist to monitor the motion. The motion data is then analyzed to determine sleep patterns and circadian rhythms of the subject. |
Yhat
|
Yhat provides data science technology tools and systems that allow enterprises to turn data insights into data-driven products. |