Dude, if you've been rejected from YC five times, you absolutely just need to bootstrap and get going. Take one of those projects and just keep coding in your spare time, etc.
Try maybe Prosper? Or ask your friend engineers? The money at YC's levels can be found just about anywhere. The YC 'bump' with expertise, connections, etc, is likely of very high value, but zillions of people get by without it.
It sounds like your ideas may not align with YC-- maybe it's them and not you?
If you've proposed 5 times, you've got more gumption than a lot of entrepreneurs-- just keep moving.
Try maybe Prosper? Or ask your friend engineers? The money at YC's levels can be found just about anywhere. The YC 'bump' with expertise, connections, etc, is likely of very high value, but zillions of people get by without it.
It sounds like your ideas may not align with YC-- maybe it's them and not you?
If you've proposed 5 times, you've got more gumption than a lot of entrepreneurs-- just keep moving.