Y Combinator Terms Scorecard

Grade F — Predatory terms (score 54/100)

Y Combinator forces binding arbitration, claims a perpetual license to user content, and reserves the right to terminate accounts without notice.

Forced arbitration, perpetual content license, and broad termination rights.

Terms at a glance

Sells your data
NO
Forced arbitration
YES
Trains AI on your content
UNCLEAR
Collects biometric data
NO
Shares data with government
LIKELY
Easy to cancel
UNCLEAR
Tells you before changes
YES
Deletes data on request
YES

What the terms actually say

Dispute Resolution By Binding Arbitration

You agree that, by entering into this Terms of Use, you and Y Combinator are each waiving the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a class action.

You are forced into private arbitration and cannot sue in court or join a class action.

User Content Transmitted Through the Site

By uploading any User Content you hereby grant... a... perpetual, irrevocable license to copy, display, upload, perform, distribute, store, modify and otherwise use your User Content...

The company claims a permanent right to use your content for any purpose, which survives account deletion.

Termination

Y Combinator may also in its sole discretion and at any time discontinue providing the Site, or any part thereof, with or without notice.

The company can ban you or delete your account at any time for any reason without telling you first.

Limitation of Liability

IN NO EVENT WILL Y COMBINATOR’S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR CAUSES OF ACTION EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100).

The company limits its financial responsibility to you to a maximum of $100.

General

any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to use of the Site or these Terms of Use must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action arose or be forever barred.

You must sue within one year or you lose the right to bring a claim.

Deletion Requests

If you would like to request that we delete your entire Y Combinator account and all Personal Information associated with it, contact us at [email protected].

You have a clear path to request the deletion of your personal data.

Last reviewed 2026-08-02 under rubric v3.5.

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