Many tools promise a "no-code" way to scrape the YC startup directory, but you often find yourself trapped in APIs or complex point-and-click interfaces that are just CSS selectors wrapped in a mediocre UI.
The Problem: They all market simplicity but deliver a coding lesson.
This guide is different: we are going to show you a true no-code method to scrape startups from the YC directory. When we say no-code, we mean it.
We can even promise that by using Datablist to scrape the YC startup directory:
↳ You won't be configuring APIs or inspecting website elements.
↳ ↳ You'll just be telling an AI what you want in plain English (prompting).
↳ ↳ ↳ And even for this, we already have templates that you can use
📌 Summary For Those In a Rush
This article shows how to scrape startups from the YC directory without tech headaches. If you are in a rush, here is a summary:
Problem: Most web scraping tools claim to be "no-code" but still require you to work with APIs or understand website elements, resulting in tech-headaches served differently.
Why it's a problem: If you're looking for a truly simple solution to scrape YC startups, you shouldn't need technical knowledge or spend hours watching tutorials.
Solution: Using Datablist's AI Agent with a ready-to-use YC directory scraper template that requires only pasting a URL and clicking start.
What You'll Learn: This guide covers a 2-phase process to scrape startups from the YC directory, explains why Datablist is the best option, and answers common questions about scraping YC companies.
Why Use Datablist: 3 simple reasons
- Truly no-code, just use our template. No set-up needed
- Affordable pricing starting at $25/month with flexible credit top-ups
- Access to 60+ lead generation tools in one platform
What This Guide Will Cover
- YC Directory Hack to Find The Most Relevant Startups
- Phase 1: Scraping Startup Listings From The YC Directory
- Phase 2: Scraping Company and Founder Details
- Why Datablist is the Best Tool for Scraping YC Companies
- Frequently Asked Questions About Scraping The YC Directory Without Code
What is Datablist?
Datablist is a platform for automating lead generation workflows that allows folks to find, clean, and enrich data using over 60 different tools from AI Agents to Email Finders, AI processors, Technology enrichments, and more.
Additionally, Datablist allows you to build automated workflows that run on schedule or demand. Here are a few practical use cases that Datablist users love:
I think the point is clear: if you need to get, clean, or automate workflows with data involved and you need it to be easy, fast, and reliable, Datablist is the place to go.
💡 Datablist Summarized in 35 Words
Datablist is a platform for automating lead generation workflows, which offers a suite of over 60 tools, including AI Agents, Waterfall Enrichment to find emails and phone numbers, data cleaning tools for deduplication, and more.
Scraping The YC Startup Directory: The 2 Phase Process
When I earlier said that Datablist is easy to use, I really meant that. The process is so easy, it takes just a few clicks for each phase. Before we start though, let me show you something.
Finding The Most Relevant YC Startups
The YC directory has thousands of startups across different batches, industries, and niches. Here's how to filter effectively to find the most relevant startups for your needs:
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Use the filter options on the left sidebar:
Batch: Select specific YC batches (e.g., Winter 2025) to target recent startups or established ones
Industry: Choose broad categories like B2B, Consumer, Healthcare, Fintech
Region: Filter by geographic location if you're targeting specific markets
Company Size: Select team size ranges to match your ideal customer profile
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Use the search bar to find startups by keyword. For exact matches, use quotes (e.g., “AI”)
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Combine multiple filters to narrow down your results
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Copy the URL from your browser once you have your desired filters set
Pro tip: The more specific your filters, the more targeted your results. If you're selling dev tools, filter for B2B + recent batches + 2-10 team size to find growing startups in their buying window.
💡 Why Filtering Matters
YC has over 5,000 companies in its directory.
But here’s the catch: each listing shows only up to 1,000 startups. If you scrape without filters, you’ll miss most of them.
That’s why filtering matters. A focused list of 100 startups that fit your ICP will always outperform a random list of 1,000.
Phase 1: Scraping Startup Listings From The YC Directory
The first phase involves extracting the basic information from the YC directory search results. This gives you a foundation list of companies to work with.
Phase 1 - Step 1: Sign up & Create a Collection
First, sign up for Datablist.com
Then, create a New Collection
Phase 1 - Step 2: Create Your First Property to Prevent Duplicates
There are some startups in the YC directory that appear more than once in search results. If you don't want to have the same company multiple times in your collection, do the following:
- Create a New Property and name it "YC Company URL"
- Click on the Column Header and select Rename - Settings - Delete
- Check the Box next to "Do not allow duplicate values", then click on Save Property
Phase 1 - Step 3: Navigating To the AI Scraping Agent
- Click on Import in the top menu of the app and select Import From Data Sources
- Scroll down and select AI Agent - Site Scraper
Now, you should see a different interface, which looks like this
Phase 1 - Step 4: Selecting the Template
- Click on the Template Drop-Down and select "[Source] YC Startup Directory Scraper"
- Paste your YC directory URL in the first field
- Scroll down and click on Continue
Phase 1 - Step 5: Selecting Inputs & Starting The Scrape
Datablist will map the first property automatically since they have the same name.
For the other properties, click on the ⊕ Icon to add them to your collection.
Once you've done that, click on Run Import Now to start scraping.
After a few minutes, your results will look like this.
You should now have:
- Startup Name
- YC Company URL
- ...And many other fields
You can stop here, or continue with the phase 2 to get information about the founders.
Phase 2: Scraping Company and Founder Details
In this phase, we'll visit each startup's YC profile page and extract detailed company and founder information, including:
Company Information:
- Startup Name
- Startup Description
- Founded Date
- Batch
- Team Size
- Status (Active, Public, Acquired)
- Location
- Primary Partner
- Website URL
- LinkedIn Company Page URL
- X (Twitter) Company Page URL
Founder Information (up to 3 founders per company):
- Founder Names
- Founder LinkedIn URLs
- Founder X (Twitter) Accounts
Here’s a guide on how to find emails from a LinkedIn URL 👈🏽
Phase 2 - Step 1: Creating a New Collection
Create a New Collection
Pro tip: Use the shortcut N to create new collections
Phase 2 - Step 2: Selecting the Template
- Select AI Agent - Run on Collection Items
Now, you should see this
- Click on the Template Drop-Down and select "YC Company & Founder Details Scraper".
Phase 2 - Step 3: Mapping Your Collection & Input Property
- Click on the second drop-down and select the collection that you just created for Phase 1
-
Now, scroll down to the end of the prompt and insert the YC company URL as Input Property
You can do this by typing / and selecting YC Company URL
- Once you've completed the steps above, scroll down and click on Continue
Phase 2 - Step 4: Selecting Outputs
Datablist will create all properties automatically.
For the data points you don't want, click on the ✕ Icons to remove them from your collection.
Once you've done that, scroll down and click on Run Import Now to start scraping.
After a few minutes, your results will look like this
Now you have everything: company details, social profiles, and founder information, all in one place.
Why Datablist Is the Best Option to Scrape The YC Directory
When you compare the options you have to scrape YC startups, it becomes clear that not all "no-code" tools are created equal. Datablist was built from the ground up to eliminate the technical friction that other platforms still have. Here's the evidence:
Price Advantage
- Starting price: Just $25/month; one of the most accessible yet powerful scraping solutions on the market
- Flexible credit system: Run out of monthly free credits? Simply purchase a one-time credit package instead of upgrading your entire plan.
Additionally, with Datablist, you won't have any pushy salespeople "checking in"
Ease of Use
User friendliness is very important and probably the thing Datablist is the best at.
With our AI Agent, you don't need to:
- Read documentation
- Understand APIs
- Point-and-click on confusing website elements.
The scraping templates are ready to use the moment you paste in a YC directory URL. There is no complex configuration. Even if you want to modify a template to get different data, you can do it using plain English. Just tell the AI what you want, and it handles the rest.
Lead Generation Ecosystem
Scraping data is usually just the first step. The most important thing is what you do with the data afterward, and with Datablist, you get much more than just a YC scraper; it provides an entire ecosystem with over 60 tools to support your lead generation efforts.
Once you have your list of YC startups and founders, you can immediately use other Datablist tools, including:
- Waterfall Email Finders: Find verified email addresses for founders and team members.
- Mobile Phone Number Enrichments: Get direct mobile numbers for cold calling campaigns.
- LinkedIn Scraper: Gather professional data from LinkedIn profiles.
- Sales Navigator Scraper: Extract leads from Sales Navigator without risking your account
- AI Agents: Scale AI search and automate data collection from any website.
The Bottom Line: Scraping YC Should Be Easy
Scraping startups from the YC directory shouldn't be a project you have to "set up" or "figure out." It should be a simple, fast task that gives you the data you need to grow your business.
Unlike other "templates" that still require a lot of configuration, the only thing you have to do with Datablist's AI Agent is select the YC template, paste your URL, and start the process.
You get a clean, structured list of leads in minutes, not hours, allowing you to focus on what really matters: connecting with potential customers & making money.
P.S. Use Datablist, it's easier than tying your shoes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Scraping The YC Startup Directory
How Much Does It Cost to Scrape The YC Directory?
The cost depends on the tool you use. Since you get 5,000 free credits for each month you're subscribed to Datablist, you can start scraping for as little as $25/month. The AI Agent, like all other tools in Datablist, runs on credits and is usage-based. For example, to scrape 500 YC startups with full company and founder details, you'd need around 1000-1500 credits.
How Can I Scrape Startups From The YC Directory?
The easiest way to scrape YC startups is to use a no-code tool like Datablist. You can use the pre-built AI Agent templates for the YC directory. Simply provide the directory URL with your desired filters, and the agent will automatically extract startup names, descriptions, founder information, social profiles, and more in a simple 2-phase process.
Is It Legal to Scrape The YC Directory?
Scraping publicly available data, like the startup listings in the YC directory, is generally considered legal. However, it's important to respect the website's terms of service and use the data ethically and responsibly, primarily for lead generation.
What Kind of Data Can I Get From The YC Directory?
Typically, you can scrape all the key information displayed on startup profiles. This includes:
Startup Info:
- Startup Name
- Startup Description
- Founded Date
- Batch
- Team Size
- Status
- Location
- Primary Partner
- Website URL
- LinkedIn URL
- X URL
Founders Info:
- Founder Names (up to 3)
- Founder LinkedIn URLs
- Founder X Accounts
Why Would I Want to Scrape YC Startups?
YC startups are high-potential leads because they're well-funded, fast-growing, and actively building their teams and tech stacks. Whether you're selling software, services, or recruiting talent, YC companies are in a buying mode. Having their contact information before your competitors do gives you a massive advantage.
Can I Customize What Data Gets Scraped?
Yes. While Datablist provides ready-to-use templates, you can customize them using plain English. Just tell the AI what additional information you want to extract, and it will adjust the scraping process accordingly. No coding required.