# Signals (YC W26)

> Signals (legally Material Model, Inc.), also known as Return Signals, is a Y Combinator W26 startup building an AI-powered iMessage revenue channel for direct-to-consumer e-commerce brands. It runs two-way text conversations that check in with buyers after delivery, convert would-be returns into exchanges, and drive repeat purchases. Founded in 2025 by CEO Ilya Valmianski and Alejandro Zaniolo, the two-person San Francisco company reports roughly $30 in incremental repeat revenue per conversation and turns 70% of return intents into exchanges.

- **Founded:** 2025
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, United States
- **Founders:** Ilya Valmianski (CEO & Co-Founder), Alejandro Zaniolo (Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** 2
- **Products:** Signals iMessage channel, Proactive return-to-exchange concierge, Agentic conversation analytics
- **Notable:** Accepted into Y Combinator's Winter 2026 batch., Reported ~$30 incremental repeat revenue per conversation in a two-week A/B test at Jordan Craig., Converts 70% of return intents into exchanges.

## Products & services

- **Signals iMessage channel** — A clienteling platform that runs two-way iMessage conversations with a brand's customers - handling pre-purchase questions, post-delivery check-ins, and reorder moments inside a single thread. AI handles routine conversations and escalates unusual cases to humans without losing context.
- **Proactive return-to-exchange concierge** — Proactively texts buyers when items are delivered, detects dissatisfaction, and steers likely returns toward exchanges. Reports 80%+ response rates on eventual returns and converts 70% of return intents into exchanges.
- **Agentic conversation analytics** — Analytics with agentic search that lets brands query thousands of customer conversations to find patterns, product issues, and revenue opportunities.

## Achievements

- Accepted into Y Combinator's Winter 2026 batch.
- Reported ~$30 incremental repeat revenue per conversation in a two-week A/B test at Jordan Craig.
- Converts 70% of return intents into exchanges.
- 80%+ response rates on eventual returns and 95%+ positive sentiment in interactions.

## Latest updates

- **2026-01** — Joined Y Combinator's Winter 2026 batch and raised a $130K seed.
- **2026-01** — Launched publicly via YC as 'Return Signals - proactive high-touch support for e-commerce brands.'
- **2026-01** — Positioned the product as an iMessage revenue channel for DTC brands under the shorter name 'Signals.'

## Links

- Website: https://returnsignals.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/return-signals
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/returnsignalshq

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/signals-yc-w26
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-30