[python123]

I think/hope he's talking about the latter, in which case I completely agree. It's especially annoying to hear those people who get rejected say that they'll apply again in the winter. They're basically saying that they intend to make no meaningful progress on their start up in the next six months. YC is a very early stage investor. It should be a one-shot deal for any serious start-up. By the time the next cycle comes around, your start-up should be beyond the stage where doing YC makes sense. If your start-up folds, OK, apply again with something new, but these people actually planning on applying again.

[nlabs]

You speak truth python. YC is a good idea when you have your idea, and need some cash/guidance to get started. But once you have customers, even if your not "ramen profitable", you are beyond YC.

[coryl]

Thats hard to say. No startup is ever "beyond" the opportunity of demoing in front of a room of well connected, experienced silicon valley VCs which is one of the perks of YC. Some of us don't live in places where there are VCs who get it.

[nlabs]

YC has connections, but in the end its up to you to make your startup successful. With your experience, you should be able to bootstrap yourself into a profitable software business. But this "Italian restaurant" style of a software company doesnt interest many VCs. Most VCs are looking for the next big thing.