I thought about that as well. I think it may be defensiveness and anger - rather than a logical statement. Those feelings are natural, so I don't fault him - but at the same time, rejection is a part of startups at every turn and I think we have to get over it, and figure out how to use criticism constructively.
YC has always valued persistence - so I'm sad that he applied and wrote that, since he might have been able to get in the next time, and I think YC likely would have helped his ability to recruit and valuation, especially given the changing markets. But regardless, I always have respect for startup founders (esp after 3 years of hard work) - so we should all wish his team luck.
This guy not only tells people not to YC after he applied and got rejected, but also publicly bashes someone (the LA accelerator) who did their best to help him (Doesn't matter if it didn't work out. They did their best to help their portfolio companies and this guy says it was a "gimmick") I wouldn't like to work with this guy
Hard to use that to say he's not a great person to work with. The LA accelerator might have been egregious, and he may be doing a service to other entrepreneurs by publicizing it (there are a lot of incubators today, and entrepreneurs should beware). I do hope in the LA incubator's case that he gave actionable feedback privately long ago.
I totally agree on the cognitive dissonance with bashing YC and saying to never to do it, after getting rejected recently. But I can realize how it might not be a fully rational perspective (he'd probably argue that he's more educated now, and that's why he's changed his mind since applying - my gut is there's some emotions involved, since I can't see a ton of benefit to him to write this so publicly).
YC has always valued persistence - so I'm sad that he applied and wrote that, since he might have been able to get in the next time, and I think YC likely would have helped his ability to recruit and valuation, especially given the changing markets. But regardless, I always have respect for startup founders (esp after 3 years of hard work) - so we should all wish his team luck.