[willarson]

The great problem with startups isn't a "problem", because it isn't typically the case that startups fail because they have something go wrong. Startups fail because they don't do enough things right.

Following that, the problem joining with a stranger is not that you don't know their quirks, its that it is difficult to find someone with complementary strengths. However, since we hackers are typically drawn to others similar to ourselves, many of those going to YCombinator with someone they have known for a long time will be similarly disadvantaged despite being acquaintances (they will still be two individuals with similar strengths and weaknesses).

Thus what we really need is for two business types to go to YC together, and two hackers to go to YC together, and form two teams, each with one hacker and one business type. Or, better yet, to forcibly enroll the hackers in business courses and vice versa. :)