NuCypher (aka Threshold Network) YC Application

Summer 2016Active

NuCypher (aka Threshold Network) went through Y Combinator in the Summer 2016 batch as a B2B 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 2016
Industry: B2B
Team size: 10
Status: Active
Launched: 2016

Founders

MacLane WilkisonFounder/CEO

What NuCypher (aka Threshold Network) does

NuCypher is one of two founding teams of the Threshold Network, which hosts tBTC, TACo, Random Beacon & tUSD. Since 2017, NuCypher has pioneered cryptographic primitives for end-to-end encrypted data sharing, including Proxy Re-Encryption and Threshold Access Control (TACo), novel cryptoeconomic mechanisms (e.g. Stable Yield). and original network/governance architectures (including a historic on-chain merger). TACo, our flagship product, is running on over 120 nodes with ~$80m of associated economic security, has paying adopting developers and major infrastructure partners (Ceramic, Irys, Textile, Unlock), and has been decentralized from genesis (mainnet launch in Jan 2024).

NuCypher (aka Threshold Network)'s YC application, reconstructed

Y Combinator application

NuCypher (aka Threshold Network), Summer 2016 batch. The real form questions, answered from public data.

Founders2
Company7
Progress7
Idea4
Equity3
Curious2
Batch Preference1

Company

Company name

NuCypher (aka Threshold Network)

Describe what your company does in 50 characters or less.

Decentralized threshold cryptography network

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

We build a decentralized network that provides threshold cryptography services like Proxy Re-Encryption and Threshold Access Control (TACo). This lets developers create end-to-end encrypted apps where encrypted data can be securely shared or processed without exposing keys, all enforced by economic security running on 120+ nodes.

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

We are based in Austin, TX and operate remotely with a distributed team. After YC, we would remain based in Austin but keep a remote setup to attract top crypto and privacy engineers.

Explain your decision regarding location.

Austin offers a strong technical community at a lower cost than Silicon Valley. Remote work lets us include cryptographers and blockchain engineers from anywhere, which is crucial given the niche expertise needed for secure threshold cryptography.

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 NuCypher (aka Threshold Network) YC application?

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

What YC batch was NuCypher (aka Threshold Network) in?

NuCypher (aka Threshold Network) was part of the Y Combinator Summer 2016 batch.

Who founded NuCypher (aka Threshold Network)?

NuCypher (aka Threshold Network) was founded by MacLane Wilkison.

What does NuCypher (aka Threshold Network) do?

Network for decentralized threshold cryptography and end-to-end…

How do I read the full reconstructed application?

Create a free Round Funded account. The full 26-answer version of NuCypher (aka Threshold Network)'s application, and every other YC batch, is in YC Insights.