Ten Angels/VCs respond (anonymously) to Yuri/Conway's $150k YC offer

<i>5. Valley Power-angel: "An important part of being a first-time entrepreneur is the struggle of getting someone great to believe in you.</i><p>I don't think that's true. Getting into YC is "getting someone great to believe in you." And with this offer, getting into YC just became more competitive, and more rewarding. The YC "stamp of approval" is now more powerful as PG &#38; crew have to evaluate more applicants with a closer eye.

Very interesting set of takes, thanks Jason.<p>I think "LP without the fees" is the most provocative...

If $150k makes you somehow feel like you won and can ease off the gas, I don't think you were made to win anyway. For the few (maybe 1/4, more?) of the YC teams that this does make fat and happy, it's just cost of doing business for Milner to access the other teams. It's a brilliant move by Milner/Conway.

I wish this investment had come from an American source. The large returns generated by start-ups are one of the ways the US economy can get back on it's feet. Siphoning this value creation off to other countries is not the way to get back to the top.