YCbench

A live benchmark dataset for forecasting startup outperformance in Y Combinator batches.

This dataset was introduced in the paper:
"YC Bench: a Live Benchmark for Forecasting Startup Outperformance in Y Combinator Batches" by Mostapha Benhenda.

Dataset Overview

YCbench provides structured public signals for Y Combinator startups (focused on the W26 batch of 196 companies). It enables rapid evaluation of models that predict which startups will outperform their batch peers in the short term (until Demo Day).

Performance is measured using a Pre-Demo Day Score that combines traction signals and web visibility.

Available Configurations

Config	File	Description
startups	yc_w26_startups.csv	Basic startup information
traction	yc_w26_traction.csv	Traction metrics
scores	yc_w26_pre_demo_scores.csv	Pre-demo day scores + velocity
mentions	yc_mentions.csv	Google/web mention counts
mentions_early	yc_mentions_early.csv	Early-stage mention data

Quick Load

from datasets import load_dataset

# Load specific parts
startups = load_dataset("benstaf/ycbench", "startups")
scores   = load_dataset("benstaf/ycbench", "scores")
mentions = load_dataset("benstaf/ycbench", "mentions")

Or with pandas (simple way):

import pandas as pd
df = pd.read_csv("hf://datasets/benstaf/ycbench/yc_w26_pre_demo_scores.csv")

Links

• Paper: arXiv 2604.02378
• Live Benchmark: ycbench.com
• GitHub: benstaf/ycbench