Y Combinator , a California-based investor that provides initial funding to startups, is offering a new schedule for the new year. According to TechCrunch, Y Combinator’s modified calendar will reflect updates to the once annual Startup School, which will now be offered several times per year . The move has the potential to push more startups through the investor’s online training process, which ultimately grooms them for Y Combinator’s accelerator program. Startup School is true to its name, offering startups video chats, lectures from industry leaders and company staff, access to other founders, and the ability to network with other startups. School culminates with a founder project demonstration, attended by investors and media representatives. Program alumni benefit not only from tutelage they receive, but also from their ability to apply to Y Combinator’s grant program. The program, which is currently being reassessed, has recently offered founders grants of $15K. Y Combinator...

Budgeting and allocating finances are crucial for any startup. Although your business plan may have been edited and improved upon over time, you still may run into expenses you just didn’t see coming. Here are seven unexpected expenses that you might want to prepare for: 1. Employee Reimbursement Don’t overlook the cost of reimbursing your employees when calculating salaries. If your business requires your team to travel or purchase supplies, you might want to set a budget aside for reimbursements. This cost either sneaks up on business owners or runs higher than initially estimated. A good rule of thumb is to include a thorough and detailed section in your business plan to avoid going over budget. 2. Shrinkage As a startup founder, you will take some L’s — it is just a part of the industry. Whether due to theft or product that just won’t sell, shrinkage is a reality. According to The 2016 National Retail Security Survey , the average shrink rate of 1.38 percent, costs the overall...