[frandroid]

They'll recoup the value of the entire thing, with extra profit, if even just one of the YC startups using it has explosive growth. It's a smart investment. Even without the money, it's a great technology showcase. YC now gets to give its startups the Oscars giftbag treatment. :)

[jabagawee]

In a way, it's like investing in YC startups then. Give a sizable but not unbearably so amount of money to a large set, hope that statistically these companies have a chance to experience hockey stick growth, and have that one black swan cover all your costs across the whole group.