[davidw]

Most companies try to grow in their home country prior to expanding abroad, and YC has yet to do any of that at all, as far as I know. Also, not all businesses try and grow all over the world in a short period of time. Some realize their limitations and try and concentrate on doing their niche really well, leaving other places to other people.

> I think the real question is whether pg manages YC as a business or as a hobby.

My offhand guess would be "as an experiment". Past comments have indicated that they do want to come out ahead with it, to justify its continued existence, but that it's too new to just start franchising it... it's not exactly like McDonalds in terms of their business model!

http://paulgraham.com/ycombinator.html