>It's actually a very exciting situation because it means there's huge untapped potential waiting to be unlocked. YC has tapped into this just a little bit. Ve

>It's actually a very exciting situation because it means there's huge untapped potential waiting to be unlocked. YC has tapped into this just a little bit. Very much agree. The root problem stems from people's inability to independently measure value. They rely on external signals (traction, reputation, etc), because believing in a team and product independently is hard work. It's a leap of faith, where you have to believe in yourself first. Most people would rather run with the herd. That said, there are more and more people who don't follow that pattern. As they become successful and turn to investing and supporting the next generation, I think we'll see a lot more daring ventures come to light.