AfterQuery, an AI training-data startup, has reportedly achieved a $3.2 billion valuation, marking it as Y Combinator’s fastest-ever unicorn. This valuation represents more than a 10x increase from its $300 million valuation in April 2026, just five months after raising a $30 million Series A round. According to Y Combinator partner Gustaf Alströmer, this growth rate surpasses any previous startup’s journey from launch to unicorn status in the accelerator’s history.
The startup, founded by two individuals aged 22 and 23, participated in Y Combinator’s Winter 2025 cohort, just 18 months ago. In April, AfterQuery disclosed an annualized revenue run rate of $100 million and partnerships with major AI labs, including Nvidia, Legora, and Motif Technologies. The company focuses on training models and agents to emulate the decision-making processes of professionals, rather than ensuring accuracy in responses.
This approach aligns AfterQuery with other startups like Mercor and Scale, which employ knowledge professionals to refine AI training. AfterQuery could not be reached for comment. Source: techcrunch
