YC Demo Day Standouts: 11 Startups Investors Are Buzzing About

The Rise of AI and Robotics at Y Combinator’s Spring 2025 Demo Day

The recent Y Combinator Spring 2025 Demo Day showcased a significant trend: the pervasive influence of Artificial Intelligence. A vast majority of the startups presenting either directly develop AI agents or concentrate on providing the necessary tools for their creation.

A notable pattern emerged, with several founders seemingly drawing inspiration from established, successful AI ventures. Approximately half a dozen startups demonstrated variations on the theme of “Cursor for X,” adapting the concept to specific niches. For instance, Den is focused on developing a “Cursor for knowledge workers,” while Vesence aims to deliver a “Cursor for lawyers.”

Beyond AI, a resurgence of interest in robotics was also apparent, with multiple startups dedicated to advancements in this field.

The following startups particularly resonated with both investors and observers.

Anvil

What it does: SEO solutions tailored for Large Language Models (LLMs).

Why it’s a fave: The methods by which individuals seek information are evolving, increasingly utilizing AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. Consequently, brands require strategies to enhance their visibility on these emerging platforms. Anvil asserts its ability to assist brands in measuring, refining, and expanding their presence within the AI landscape.

Atum Works

What it does: Development of three-dimensional integrated circuits.

Why it’s a fave: As the miniaturization of transistors slows, Atum’s founders propose a novel approach: vertically stacking transistors to increase processing power. Industry experts suggest Atum’s innovative vision positions the company for potential success comparable to Nvidia.

Auctor

What it does: Automation of enterprise software implementation processes.

Why it’s a fave: The startup reports that leading software providers, including SAP, ServiceNow, AWS, and Box, have expressed interest in utilizing Auctor’s solution, both internally and to aid in software integration for their clients.

Cactus

What it does: An AI-powered assistant designed for solo entrepreneurs.

Why it’s a fave: Cactus recognizes that individuals managing businesses independently often lack the time to explore new opportunities. The startup claims its AI bot can alleviate this burden by handling calls and processing payments on behalf of the business owner.

Den

What it does: An AI-driven platform for enterprise knowledge workers, functioning as a “Cursor for enterprise.”

Why it’s a fave: Considered a standout company within the Y Combinator batch, Den promises to replace traditional communication tools like Slack and Notion. Its AI agents aim to facilitate employee interaction and information sharing through software customized to each organization’s unique requirements.

Eloquent AI

What it does: Automation of customer service operations using AI technology.

Why it’s a fave: Eloquent states its AI bots can streamline customer processes for financial institutions, such as automatically unfreezing bank accounts or adding drivers to insurance policies. This promises to eliminate lengthy wait times for human customer support. The startup highlights the ability for financial companies to deploy its AI rapidly, without requiring extensive internal engineering resources.  Eloquent has secured a substantial seed funding round, as noted by co-founder and CEO Tugce Bulut on the TBPN podcast.  

LLM Data Company

What it does: Provides tools for evaluating and refining Large Language Models.

Why it’s a fave: The challenge of assessing the quality of the rapidly growing number of AI tools is becoming increasingly complex. LLM Data Company offers solutions through its own LLMs, capable of evaluating the performance of AI agents, and is currently collaborating with companies like Perplexity.

Scalar Field

What it does: An AI-enhanced platform designed to function as a next-generation financial terminal.

Why it’s a fave: “Terminals are for displaying data, not for critical thinking,” explains Amandeep Singh, co-founder of Scalar Field. While the startup’s AI agents won’t replace human analysis, they claim to offer greater flexibility in manipulating financial data compared to conventional tools.

Sim Studios

What it does: An open-source platform for building AI agents.

Why it’s a fave: Sim Studios aims to simplify AI agent development, mirroring Figma’s impact on design. Customers, including Epiq, Mercore, and the U.S. Department of Defense, are utilizing Sim Studios to create AI agents for tasks such as data transformation, simulation of real-world events, and in-depth research.

Sygaldry

What it does: Quantum-accelerated AI servers designed to accelerate AI training and inference.

Why it’s a fave: Despite the fact that a fully operational quantum computer remains some years away, significant progress is being made in the field. Sygaldry is noteworthy because its co-founder and CEO is Chad Rigetti, who previously founded a company that went public via a SPAC in 2021.

Vybe

What it does: A visual coding platform for application development.

Why it’s a fave: Investors who previewed Vybe’s application-building capabilities were impressed by its versatility. One observer even described it as a “clear winner” of the Demo Day.