Y Combinator just dropped their “Request for Startups” list, and the 2025 batch is all-in on one theme: AI that saves people time. Think turning a 40-hour job into a 40-minute one.
The Big Idea
Instead of selling AI tools, YC’s asking founders to build AI-first companies that do the job better than humans can: AI-driven law firms, manufacturing, research labs, and even government systems.
Why It Works
- YC focuses on painkillers, not vitamins — save time, save money.
- Turns boring, repetitive work into magic-level automation.
- Expands AI beyond tech… into every industry.
- Makes founders think in systems, not features.
Real-World Moves
- Harvey.ai raised $80M helping law firms work 2x faster.
- Tome.ai hit 10M users by rethinking how people make decks.
- ElevenLabs nailed lifelike voice AI, now valued at $1.1B.
- Figure.ai is building human-like robots to do physical labor.
Analyzed by Swipebot
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