I love the concept of YC to death. I don't think there is a better way to get a web start-up going than to have it incubated in the amazing circumstances that YC provides. Though I've not yet applied to YC, mainly because I saved up my own money for seeding, but also for other reasons, I'd imagine the key benefits being exactly what Sachin has listed in this post.
The least of the benefits is definitely (and should be) the money. Even without money, somebody could foreseeable devote a small amount of time to hack together something. Granted, without funding it won't be as fully fleshed out, or built in as short amount of time, but it's likely that actually doing it isn't going to be the key point of failure.
What YC gets right is they put you in an environment where you're more likely to not just do it, but do it right. Not just the product, which absolutely benefits from the groupthink of lots of smart, devoted people in so small a space, but the company as a whole, for reasons that Sachin has listed.
I'd imagine the hugest benefit of all being the social proof, and investor day. If you're back by YC, you've already got a foot in the door: smart, experienced people have invested at least some money and resources into your idea. These people have delivered great companies before. I guess it's kind of like recruitment day at a top university. The best meet up with the presumed best.
Anyway, I need to ask, are there any such "investor days" open to the public? I'm getting nearer and nearer to launch (now considering filing a provisional patent which could delay things), but I'll have something substantial to show that really deserves attention.
The least of the benefits is definitely (and should be) the money. Even without money, somebody could foreseeable devote a small amount of time to hack together something. Granted, without funding it won't be as fully fleshed out, or built in as short amount of time, but it's likely that actually doing it isn't going to be the key point of failure.
What YC gets right is they put you in an environment where you're more likely to not just do it, but do it right. Not just the product, which absolutely benefits from the groupthink of lots of smart, devoted people in so small a space, but the company as a whole, for reasons that Sachin has listed.
I'd imagine the hugest benefit of all being the social proof, and investor day. If you're back by YC, you've already got a foot in the door: smart, experienced people have invested at least some money and resources into your idea. These people have delivered great companies before. I guess it's kind of like recruitment day at a top university. The best meet up with the presumed best.
Anyway, I need to ask, are there any such "investor days" open to the public? I'm getting nearer and nearer to launch (now considering filing a provisional patent which could delay things), but I'll have something substantial to show that really deserves attention.