[larrys]

"trying to give the impression that 500 Startups is for plucky underdogs, and YC isn't."

Essentially he is saying YC is Hertz and 500 is Avis.

"Their corporate motto is "We Try Harder" It was adopted in 1962[4] (during the tenure of Robert Townsend as its CEO) to make a more positive reference of Avis' status as the second largest car rental company in the US, at the expense of its larger competitor The Hertz Corporation. "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avis_Rent_a_Car_System

A well intentioned strategy of "attacking" (if you want to call it that) the market leader in the category. Doesn't even matter if they are really Avis by the way. Why? There is fresh kill on the internet every day. And those "fresh kill" are reading things like that and believing it.

[davemc500hats]

the Avis "we try harder" thing has always been a favorite of mine... i guess i always do feel like being the underdog makes me work harder.

anyway, i'm sure most folks at YC feel like they try harder too. probably we're more similar there than different.

but yeah, i don't mind being the underdog.

[larrys]

"sure most folks at YC feel like they try harder too"

It's great to be the underdog it makes everything fun as you are trying to get somewhere. Once you get there you have something to lose. So you either becomes paranoid or you can become lazy and complacent.

You might remember the Dirk Diggler character in "Boogie Nights". First time he won the award he gave a big speech and thanked everyone. Next time a little less, next even less. After he had won so many awards he would just go up on the stage and say "thank you" as if it didn't even matter anymore. Later, he couldn't even "get it up" he became impotent. That's what you have to guard against. Your strategy is great.