The Next Wave: 10 Startups to Watch from Y Combinator’s Winter 2025 Demo Day
Y Combinator, the storied Silicon Valley accelerator that helped launch Stripe, Airbnb, and Reddit, unveiled its latest cohort of startups at its Winter 2025 Demo Day. This year, the 160-company batch reflects a clear shift toward AI infrastructure—with many startups not building AI agents themselves, but rather creating tools to optimize their performance.
Beyond AI, the batch also included unexpected standouts, from a Pokémon card trading platform inspired by Wall Street to a robotic farmhand tackling weeds more efficiently than human labor. While several ventures caught our attention—such as Optifye, a factory worker management software embroiled in controversy, and Artificial Societies, which simulates the virality of LinkedIn posts—these ten startups emerged as the most intriguing from YC W25.
1. Abundant
What it does: API for human-in-the-loop AI agent control
Why it matters: Much like how Waymo employs remote operators to intervene when its autonomous cars get stuck, Abundant offers a similar safety net for AI agents. Its API allows human operators to step in when an AI system fails, ensuring smoother automation without complete reliance on AI decision-making.
2. Browser Use
What it does: Enables AI agents to navigate web browsers
Why it matters: In a week that saw a viral surge in downloads after a Chinese AI model used it to complete online forms autonomously, Browser Use is proving essential as AI agents become more adept at interacting with the web. With OpenAI’s Operator and other web-browsing AIs gaining traction, this open-source tool is well-positioned.
3. GradeWiz
What it does: Automates grading with AI
Why it matters: Teaching assistants, often overburdened with tedious grading, now have an escape route. Created by former Cornell TAs who “hate grading,” GradeWiz leverages AI to handle assignments, freeing up human educators for more meaningful academic engagement.
4. Misprint
What it does: A stock market-like trading platform for Pokémon cards
Why it matters: With Pokémon card resales generating $3.5 billion annually, Misprint’s bid/ask system brings a Wall Street-style marketplace to the collectibles industry. Co-founder Eva Herget left a Goldman Sachs job to trade Pokémon cards full-time, pulling in $40,000 a month—now she’s building a platform to help others do the same.
5. Nextbyte
What it does: Identifies top-tier AI-assisted coders
Why it matters: With a quarter of YC startups now writing 95% of their code using AI, AI-assisted coding has evolved from a novelty to a necessity. Nextbyte helps companies assess and recruit engineers who specialize in “vibe coding”—the ability to harness AI effectively while still thinking critically.
6. Pickle
What it does: AI-generated video clones for Zoom calls
Why it matters: Ever wished you could look polished on a video call without actually being camera-ready? Pickle lets users generate an AI version of themselves that lip-syncs in real time, allowing them to show up to meetings with perfect hair—even if they just rolled out of bed. With 1,500+ paying users, this virtual avatar technology has potential.
7. Rebolt
What it does: AI-powered automation for restaurant management
Why it matters: Restaurant inventory tracking remains stuck in the era of Google Sheets and phone calls. Rebolt automates supply chain tasks with AI agents and has already entered pricing talks with the parent company of Burger King—a strong sign of early traction in a fragmented industry.
8. Red Barn Robotics
What it does: A robotic weeding machine for farms
Why it matters: Farms lose billions to weeds each year, but labor shortages make manual removal costly. Enter The Field Hand, a robotic system that Red Barn Robotics claims is 15 times faster than human workers and 75% cheaper. With $5 million in letters of intent, it’s clear that demand exists.
9. Retrofit
What it does: AI-powered vintage fashion marketplace
Why it matters: The secondhand clothing market is booming, but sorting through endless listings is exhausting. Retrofit uses AI to curate vintage pieces based on emerging trends, streamlining the shopping experience while riding the sustainable fashion wave.
10. Splash
What it does: Autonomous patrol boats
Why it matters: Defense tech is embracing AI, and autonomous naval surveillance is next. Splash’s small, self-navigating patrol boats have already traveled 200 miles autonomously in San Francisco Bay, and the startup claims an 800-mile range—a potential game-changer for maritime security.
The Bigger Picture
From AI-powered grading and restaurant automation to autonomous patrol boats and collectibles trading, this year’s Y Combinator batch reflects both the inevitability of AI integration and the continued power of unexpected market insights.
As these startups evolve, their ability to secure funding and scale their technologies will determine whether they join the ranks of YC’s legendary alumni—or fade into the background of Silicon Valley’s hyper-competitive startup ecosystem.