YC Welcomes Ankit Gupta as General Partner, Bringing AI Expertise to the Fold

Ankit Gupta Joins YC as General Partner, Bringing Deep ML Expertise San Francisco, CA - In a move that highlights the growing importance of artificial intelligence in startup ecosystems, Ankit Gupta has joined Y Combinator (YC) as a General Partner. With his unique blend of deep machine learning expertise and firsthand startup experience, Gupta is poised to provide valuable guidance to founders building at the forefront of AI. Gupta's appointment was announced by Garry Tan, Managing Partner at YC, who praised the new General Partner's exceptional skills. "We're thrilled to have Ankit on board," Tan said in a statement. "His rare blend of deep machine learning expertise and startup experience makes him an ideal mentor for founders building at the bleeding edge of AI." Gupta's journey with YC began in 2018 when he co-founded Reverie Labs, a biotech company that applied machine learning to drug discovery. The team developed machine learning models for small-molecule design, partnered with pharmaceutical companies, and advanced their own medicines before being acquired by Ginkgo Bioworks in 2024. Gupta's background is equally impressive. He earned a B.A. and M.S. in Computer Science at Harvard University and published research on deep learning and large-scale model training at conferences such as ICML. This blend of research and founder experience has prepared him well for his new role at YC. The appointment of Gupta marks a significant development in the AI startup ecosystem, where machine learning expertise is increasingly becoming essential for success. As Tan noted, "Ankit's addition to our team reflects our commitment to supporting founders who are pushing the boundaries of innovation." Gupta will be based primarily out of Cambridge, Massachusetts, re-establishing YC's presence at its original office site. He will also frequently commute to San Francisco, where he will work closely with other General Partners and founders. The appointment of Gupta has been welcomed by the startup community, who see it as a vote of confidence in the potential of AI-driven innovation. "This is an exciting development for the AI ecosystem," said Dr. Andrew Ng, founder of AI Fund and former Google Brain President. "Ankit's expertise will be invaluable to founders building at the forefront of machine learning." As Gupta settles into his new role, he is already working closely with YC founders on various projects. His appointment marks a significant milestone in the evolution of YC, which has been at the forefront of supporting startup innovation for over three decades. In related news, YC has announced plans to expand its AI-focused initiatives, including the launch of a new AI-specific accelerator program. The program will provide additional support and resources to founders building AI-driven startups, further solidifying YC's commitment to the field. With Gupta on board, YC is poised to continue its leadership in supporting innovation at the bleeding edge of AI. As Tan noted, "We're excited to have Ankit join our team and look forward to seeing the impact he will make." *Reporting by Ycombinator.*