Alchemy YC Application

Summer 2014Active

Alchemy went through Y Combinator in the Summer 2014 batch as a Industrials company. Below: what the company does, who founded it, and its application to YC, reconstructed question by question in the real YC form.

YC batch: Summer 2014
Industry: IndustrialsManufacturing and Robotics
Team size: 25
Status: Active
Launched: 2014

Founders

Khanjan DesaiFounder
Chong ShenFounder

What Alchemy does

Alchemy is a nanotechnology company based in Kitchener, Ontario with core operations in the automotive and defense sectors. Automotive - With the widespread adoption of ADAS systems in new vehicles, the cost of replacing a windshield in new vehicles has tripled to $1500+. We have developed a windshield protection film product line called ExoShield to help vehicle owners protect their windshields. Our ExoShield GT3 film is sold through 400+ aftermarket installers and car dealerships in 56 countries that carry and install it for vehicle owners. For Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco owners (google: broken windshield club), our ExoShield ULTRA DIY kits are available via our website and dropshipping partners. Defense - Over the last 3 years, we have been working with the Canadian Armed Forces to develop an infrared camouflage technology. We have received two contracts from CAF to develop our technology. Our solution has the ability to be integrated into the uniform directly (adding just 5-10g of weight vs. 600-18,000 kg of weight for other alternatives), has outperformed all existing NATO alternatives in multiple CAF field trials, and is receiving support from major elements of CAF for our next contract. This technology can also be adapted for other individual camouflage integrations (face paint and individual nettings) and for mobile camouflage applications (vehicle nettings and vehicle paints).

Alchemy's YC application, reconstructed

Y Combinator application

Alchemy, Summer 2014 batch. The real form questions, answered from public data.

Founders2
Company7
Progress7
Idea4
Equity3
Curious2
Batch Preference1

Company

Company name

Alchemy

Describe what your company does in 50 characters or less.

Nanotech coatings for automotive and defense

What is your company going to make? Please describe your product and what it does or will do.

We make nanotechnology-enabled coatings, including our ExoShield windshield protection film for automotive customers, and infrared camouflage technology for the Canadian Armed Forces. ExoShield protects windshields from damage and reduces costly replacements. Our defense tech integrates into uniforms at very low weight and outperforms current NATO options in field tests.

Where do you live now, and where would the company be based after YC?

We live in Waterloo, ON, Canada, and would base the company here after YC.

Explain your decision regarding location.

Waterloo has the tech and manufacturing ecosystem we need, and it's our home. We have established relationships with automotive installers worldwide and ongoing contracts with the Canadian Armed Forces here.

21 more answers in the full application

Founders, Progress, Idea, Equity, Curious, Batch Preference are in the full version. Create a free account to open it in YC Insights, next to every other YC batch.

See full application

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the real Alchemy YC application?

No. Y Combinator keeps submitted applications private. This is a reconstruction: the real YC form questions, answered from Alchemy's public data (launch notes, founder backgrounds, product description). It shows how a company like Alchemy would present itself to YC, not the text they submitted.