[bfe]

Interesting that both SVA and AH responded to the success of YC not by setting up separate programs to emulate it, but by coalescing around it. This clearly made sense for Milner as a relative newcomer but the other two groups had no shortage of connections and capabilities in place and could easily have taken either route. YC keeps increasing the margin by which it is the top program of its kind.

[joshu]

A16z doesn't have the bandwidth to start one of these, I think.

[pbreit]

"easily"

Creating and running YC is not in the least bit easy.

[bfe]

Certainly not! Especially being the forerunners of their new model.

I just meant that SVA and AH could, if anybody anywhere could, and if they so desired, have concentrated their resources to try to set up a new program that emulates YC. Compared to anyone else's chances, in the universe, to emulate YC, SVA or AH would have had the financial, intellectual, and social resources to have had a relatively easier go at it.

But neither of them tried to emulate, they both chose instead to coalesce around and go to war with the YC they had.

I think that choice is non-trivial, and significant; and it lends ever more acceleration to YC putting ever greater depth between itself and any potential competing program.