To calculate the ROI of YC investments, we could find the terms of the YC investments (x for y%, preference) and find the exit rate (what % of companies exit).<p>We could search for 'ROI of ycombinator investments' and find valuation numbers from a number of years ago.<p>From the first page of search results, we'd then learn about "return on capital" and how the standard YC seed terms have changed over the years.<p>Return on capital: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_on_capital" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_on_capital</a><p>From the See also section of this Wikipedia page, we might discover "Cash flow return on investment" and "Rate of return on a portfolio"<p>From the "rate of return" Wikipedia page, we might learn that <i>"The return on investment (ROI) is return per dollar invested. It is a measure of investment performance, as opposed to size (c.f. return on equity, return on assets, return on capital employed)."</i> and that <i>"The annualized return of an investment depends on whether or not the return, including interest and dividends, from one period is reinvested in the next period. "</i>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_return" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rate_of_return</a><p>From the YCombinator Wikipedia page, we might read that <i>"The combined valuation of the top YC companies was over $155 billion as of October, 2019. [4]"</i> and that <i>"As of late 2019, Y Combinator had invested in >2,000 companies [37], most of which are for-profit. Non-profit organizations can also participate in the main YC program. [38]"</i> and then read about "seed accelerators" and then "business incubators" in search of appropriate metrics for comparing VC performance.
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y_Combinator" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y_Combinator</a><p>ROI is such a frou frou statistic anyway. What does that even mean, ROI? In any case, YC itself is not a public company, per se, AFAICT, so, it's not so easy as going to <a href="https://YCharts.com" rel="nofollow">https://YCharts.com</a>, entering the <i>equity symbol</i>, clicking on "Key Stats", and scrolling down to "Profitability" to review [Gross | EBITDA | Operating] [Profit] Margin.<p>The LTSE (Long-Term Stock Exchange) is where people who are in this for real are really doing it now.