Paintbrush
$50k funding at the idea stage—yes, really.
Y Combinator
Make something people want.
Updated February 2026
| Paintbrush | Y Combinator | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.0★ | 5.0★ |
| Reviews | 1 | 27 |
| Pros | 3 | 9 |
| FactScore™ | 12 | 72.4 |
FactScore™ Comparison
FactScore™ weighs both quality (rating) and popularity (reviews) for a fairer ranking than stars alone.
Pros & Cons
Only in Paintbrush — Pros
Early stage funding Easy application process Income-driven guaranteeBoth tools — Pros
—Only in Y Combinator — Pros
Educational content Inspirational success stories Access to advisors Founder community Funding opportunities Global reach Networking opportunities Safe note templates Startup incubatorOnly in Paintbrush — Cons
US onlyBoth tools — Cons
—Only in Y Combinator — Cons
Limited support for early-stage buildersDetails
| Paintbrush | Y Combinator | |
|---|---|---|
| Categories | Startup communities, Fundraising resources | Startup communities, Fundraising resources |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Became Popular | January 19, 2023 | December 6, 2013 |
| Website | www.getpaintbrush.com | ycombinator.com |
Who Should Pick Which?
Choose Paintbrush if...
- Early stage funding
- Easy application process
- Income-driven guarantee
Choose Y Combinator if...
- Educational content
- Inspirational success stories
- Access to advisors
With a FactScore™ of 12 vs 72.4, Y Combinator leads in community reception. Paintbrush uniquely offers Early stage funding and Easy application process, while Y Combinator stands out for Educational content and Inspirational success stories.
What Users Say
Paintbrush
It looks interesting, the questionnaire is easy and gives you legit results quickly. Congrats, this can be really helpful to a ton of founders. Note for other founders: it's for your US only.
Y Combinator
Y Combinator does not need much of an introduction, but it has been a game changer for us. Between the one on one advice from group partners, the incredible community of founders, events, and much ...
YC changed our lives. Speaking for myself, I had no idea how to do a start-up when we went through YC the first time around with Citus Data. YC has also been instrumental for Ubicloud, so wanted to...
As part of YC W23, we’ve experienced firsthand how YC accelerates growth. The mentorship, network, and focus on building what users need are unmatched.
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Paintbrush or Y Combinator?
Based on FactScore™, Y Combinator leads with a score of 72.4 vs 12. Y Combinator has a higher rating of 5.0★ compared to 4.0★.
What are the pros of Paintbrush compared to Y Combinator?
Paintbrush uniquely offers: Early stage funding, Easy application process, Income-driven guarantee.
What are the pros of Y Combinator compared to Paintbrush?
Y Combinator uniquely offers: Educational content, Inspirational success stories, Access to advisors, Founder community, Funding opportunities.
Is Paintbrush better rated than Y Combinator?
Paintbrush is rated 4.0★ from 1 reviews. Y Combinator is rated 5.0★ from 27 reviews.
What is the FactScore™ of Paintbrush and Y Combinator?
FactScore™ weighs rating and review volume together. Paintbrush scores 12 and Y Combinator scores 72.4.
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