[EGreg]

If it’s “so not true” that it’s “who you know” then you have to use a better anecdotal example.

You literally just said YC took you in and gave you a demo day where they invited everyone. You didn’t do that, YC did. YC takes very few people out of those who apply. So instead of being a counterexample, you just provided a great example. They are a well regarded network and gave you an in to the rest of the networks! Could someone who DIDN’T get into YC achieve the same thing just as easily, getting all those employees and Series A, or would they limp along on angel funding?