[rapnie]

> the only thing really funding Hacker News

Wouldn't YC also get value - maybe enough to fund HN - from analysing usage data (upvotes, downvotes, link clicks, maybe PII even, etc.), e.g. to perceive market trends, other topics of interest for services they provide their startup ecosystem?

[muzani]

I think the only data they're interested in is whether this person makes a good founder. They link HN accounts to the YC application.

[kristianc]

> Wouldn't YC also get value - maybe enough to fund HN - from analysing usage data (upvotes, downvotes, link clicks, maybe PII even, etc.), e.g. to perceive market trends, other topics of interest for services they provide their startup ecosystem?

That kind of thing isn’t so popular around here.

[rapnie]

You are being ironic, I presume. When near everyone who matters in SV / IT / tech is a user on your platform, I gather there is something of interest in the data trail they leave behind.

[kristianc]

I mean, that argument could be used for any kind of data exhaust at all - data mining still has a massively negative reputation, particularly on HN.

[rapnie]

Ah. Yes, sure, I very much share that opinion. Its done everywhere nevertheless.

I don't know the people at YC (other than dang from his comments.. a great mod) and their moral/ethical stance. But they are in the business of trying to raise unicorns though, with potential multi-billion valuation.