On: How necessary is it to have a lawyer incorporate you?

[brianmckenzie]

I know that many people say this, and pg often cites it as a major benefit of YC. That's why I'm wondering.

[pg → brianmckenzie]

Yipes. Decreasing legal expenses is about 1% of the value of YC. By far the most important thing we do is work with people on their ideas. Then teaching how to present to investors, then introductions, technical advice, advice about negotiating deals, help in disputes between founders, the value of the other YC founders, help in recruiting...

[brianmckenzie → pg]

Thanks for disabusing me of that notion - I don't mean to spread misinformation or anything.

[litepost → brianmckenzie]

Ditto. I misspoke. ("contributing motivator" would be more accurate than "_the_ main reason.")

Having legal counsel in the know is certainly just one of many pieces, it all depends on which ones you need (most). (And that in turns depends on what precisely you're going after.)