Michael Seibel Leaving Y Combinator - What You Need to Know

Michael Seibel Transitions from Y Combinator

Michael Seibel revealed late Wednesday via X that, following over 12 years with the well-known accelerator Y Combinator, he is moving into a “partner emeritus” position.

Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator, confirmed this news in a separate post on the company’s blog. He emphasized Seibel’s extensive involvement with the organization.

Seibel’s History with Y Combinator

Seibel initially connected with YC as a founder, participating in the program on two occasions. His first venture was the streaming platform Justin.TV, and he later developed the streaming application Socialcam.

Subsequently, Seibel assumed roles as a group partner, managing director, and ultimately, CEO of the YC accelerator program.

Recent Role Adjustments

It’s worth noting that Seibel had already begun to reduce his operational responsibilities as a group partner in recent times. He articulated his readiness to “hand over my leadership responsibilities” in a YC blog post last year.

This transition became fully realized after the completion of the accelerator’s winter startup cohort.

Context of the Transition

A twelve-year commitment represents a significant period of service. However, Seibel’s departure may have been anticipated as early as 2022, coinciding with Garry Tan’s appointment as president and CEO.

This decision reportedly caused some surprise among YC staff. This was partly due to Tan’s concurrent management of an independent venture fund, and also because many believed Seibel was positioned to succeed to the CEO role.

Future Plans and Gratitude

We have contacted Seibel for further comment. In his X post, he indicated plans to spend the upcoming summer in relaxation.

He expressed enthusiasm for his future endeavors, stating his desire to “help government better serve its citizens.” Seibel added that public service was a long-held passion, and he is eager to re-engage with it.

He concluded by expressing his gratitude to Paul Graham and Jessica Livingston, the founders of Y Combinator, for profoundly “changing my life.”

Timing with Upcoming Batch

This announcement arrives approximately two weeks before the commencement of YC’s spring batch of founders. The program is scheduled to run from April through June.