Believe me, I tried (not with this particular investor, but another one). If you're a nobody, no investor wants to talk to you. YC, and other similar programs, move you from the "nobody" group to a "somebody" group; but then you need demo days to efficiently introduce entrepreneurs to investors, and vice versa.
While that's a good point and a great advantage of YC, did you only try one other investor?
I have met with four VCs/early stage investors in NYC just by responding to blog posts or e-mailing in to contact me posts. I have obviously e-mailed and attempted to contact much more than four, but if you want to meet people the best way to do it is connect with them in a non-generic way via their blog, office hours, whatever means they prefer.
It's obviously not incredibly easy, but every investor knows the importance of dealflow, and it's getting harder to pre-screen for early stage deals (except using YC), so if you are persistent enough I think you can definitely get in front of the right people.
"If you're a nobody, no investor wants to talk to you."
Well, sure if you go in with the pitch that you are, in fact, a nobody, then I'd certainly be less interested. Who wants to talk to someone who isn't confident that what they're doing with their time is awesome? Tell me why you're awesome... and if you're in and around NYC, I'd be happy to make some time.
Maybe I just haven't learned the proper bluster when talking to investors... I really believe my idea is awesome, that I and my co-founders have solid skills, and that our startup will succeed with or without investors (but will succeed faster with funding). I feel anything else is BS that investors especially will see through, or am I missing something?
Alas, I am in the Triangle area of NC, but I'd be happy to chat via skype!
