Thanks for the insight. So regarding what you explained above, is Corgi's fate supposed to be similar to Delve's? Or are those numbers so big/important for YC that they won't be banned?
Not necessarily. Delve did a lot of bad things, the primary reason for their removal was misrepresentations they made to other YC startups, i.e: YC startups paid them for security audits that turned out to be bunk which caused a big headache for their customers. Basically, the rest of YC wanted them gone for causing widespread chaos.
Delve’s first drama was around copying from other startups, it was later that their betrayal came out. Corgi is currently at the copying from other startups stage… one might choose to believe there is a path they’re following rather than this being a one off.
For example, I outlined in another comment how their product is not what it seems, it is not traditional insurance, it takes advantage of an esoteric piece of insurance regulation. They’re doing very aggressive underwriting without any of the traditional insurance regulatory protections applying to them.
it takes advantage of an esoteric piece of insurance regulation. They’re doing very aggressive underwriting without any of the traditional insurance regulatory protections applying to them.
elsewhere;
"Laqua, whose father is a lawyer for an insurance company"
Delve screwed over other YC startups, Corgi is stealing from a non-YC startup. Therefore, there will be no official censure from YC. This is a pretty well-established fact pattern historically. Just don't mess with the YC community if you want to stay in YC.
I don't think there's some sort of "line" that Delve crossed and Corgi has not, more likely the financial upside for YC wrt Corgi is much, much bigger. They're not going to mess with that even if the screw over a few of their other startups. YC absolutely loves to tout this family dynamic across all their companies and alumni, but there is no way the relationship between a few dozen startups looks anything like that between literally thousands of companies. It's a scaled up tech-hype startup machine now, and has attracted the same MBA-types they supposedly defeated 20+ years ago.
The last sentence is false: More than ever, YC is most seeking highly technical founders.
It's also false that YC will overlook IP theft for the sake of financial upside. One of the most fundamental principles that YC drums into startups is that they shouldn't breach software licenses. This comes from personal, painful experience for pg in the Viaweb days; a dispute over IP nearly killed their acquisition by Yahoo (or a major funding round soon before that). YC counsels startups to be super-prudent and upstanding about software licensing. Sure, sometimes startups will be cavalier about it and cross a line, in which case YC tells them to fix it immediately.
Delve’s first drama was around copying from other startups, it was later that their betrayal came out. Corgi is currently at the copying from other startups stage… one might choose to believe there is a path they’re following rather than this being a one off.
For example, I outlined in another comment how their product is not what it seems, it is not traditional insurance, it takes advantage of an esoteric piece of insurance regulation. They’re doing very aggressive underwriting without any of the traditional insurance regulatory protections applying to them.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48672328
Someone might believe that their conduct + very high risk product + exposure to a large number of YC companies means they’re very similar to Delve.
Plus the founders are at the top of another funnel… Forbes 30 under 30. 30u30 is practically a kiss of death.