[spicyj]

Why are you more likely to be able to accurately judge a startup than other potential investors?

[pg]

I have so much more data. I've been watching their trajectory for 4 months, while other investors (especially those that chose not to invest) may only have seen them for a few minutes at Demo Day.

[robg]

But without something as quirky as the cereal story, you would have rejected them?

[pg]

No. We liked them as people. The cereal story was just evidence of the qualities we sensed when we met them.

[bane]

Many investors view a company based on how much of a multiplier it can offer them on their investment. Is this a 2x money maker for me or a 10x? If I'm only interested in the 10x home runs then a 2x company may look like a bad idea to me.

[palish]

Most investors want to play it safe. YC wants founders to succeed. Sure, there's money in it for them, but that's not why they're doing it.