[tobylane]

Answering as if your question said "And does that make you want to change your application process", because the first time I read it I thought it did.

My understanding of the essays I've read is that there wouldn't be much point in it. Ideas evolve or change entirely, and more importantly people improve. If the gut feeling was no then, all you know is that something changed.

[namenotrequired]

all you know is that something changed.

Or you missed something that was already there - IMO more likely, considering how little you can learn about someone from the application, and that the founders at least had the potential to become what they are today.

[baldajan]

I disagree, founders and products change, and can make the difference between lifestyle and $1B. Having had multiple rejections for years from different sources (then accepted with the same idea), I know this to be true. It's less about having a "great idea" and more about having the vision and ability to execute on it - that's what needs to be proven.

[namenotrequired]

Sorry if it wasn't clear. My comment was purely about the founders, not about the idea since I know they put so much more weight on the first than on the latter.