This is a classic comment from a VC perspective that isn't broadly true. From his perspective, all the smart people he knows are getting seed funding easily.

This is a classic comment from a VC perspective that isn't broadly true. From his perspective, all the smart people he knows are getting seed funding easily. However, by definition they are well connected to the VC community (they are friends with him), and the vast majority of people are not. Though YC is probably a small fraction of overall seed funding, the fact that the acceptance ratio into YC is so so small is an indication that the vast majority of people/projects who want seed funding are not getting it. The point is also ridiculous for another reason, which is if you get 250k in seed funding that doesn't mean you can pay yourself a 100k salary. In the short term at least, it is much better for you and your family to get 100k salary+benefits from somewhere else and then work on a project on the side than it would be to quit your job and raise 250k for your side project.