VCs Pick 9 Deep Tech Startups at YC Demo Day as Valuations Turn More Grounded
Updated
Updated · TechCrunch · Sep 13
VCs Pick 9 Deep Tech Startups at YC Demo Day as Valuations Turn More Grounded
2 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · Sep 13
Summary
Nine startups drew repeated investor mentions at Y Combinator’s latest Demo Day, where this batch skewed much more heavily toward deep tech than recent cohorts.
VCs said the technology felt "like science fiction," but unlike recent batches, pricing looked more restrained even for the most sought-after companies.
Atomarine stood out with plans for floating nuclear-powered data centers and more than $4 billion in customer interest, while Isengard was already generating $10 million in revenue from jet-powered drones.
Other buzzy picks targeted AI infrastructure and robotics, including Dipole Labs’ optical networking hardware, Lamb Labs’ inference chips, Nori’s $1,600 home robot, and Waddle Labs’ robot-control API.
The list suggests YC investors are shifting attention toward capital-intensive bets in compute, defense, and robotics as demand grows for power, automation, and AI efficiency.