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YC does two things that aren't directly making money but are definitely helping their portfolio companies: 1) Special ad positions with front-page placement (c
by TAForObvReasons 9y ago
YC does two things that aren't directly making money but are definitely helping their portfolio companies:
1) Special ad positions with front-page placement (currently #22 is "Willing (YC S15) Is Hiring a UI / UX Designer" https://willing.com/designer https://willing.com/designer , a privileged post that can't be voted or commented on)
2) The moderators can and sometimes do intervene by removing certain comments that are critical of YC companies.
Comments make the forum more interesting to the community, which increases eyeballs and makes the front page spots more valuable. And shaping the discourse helps with damage control when necessary.
- justinjlynn 9y agoNothing is free. If you aren't paying, you're the product.
- justinjlynn 9y agoPersonally, I'm surprised that's a controversial statement.
- Letmesleep69 9y agoIts not on this forum. Its so common as to be a cliche.
- owlninja 9y agoIt's eye-roll inducing at this point.
- justinjlynn 9y agoThat's probably true but it seems so easy for people to forget.
- jjeaff 9y agoActually, quite a lot is free. I have a free tier in my saas product. I don't monetize it in any way. I simply use it as a gateway to paying customers. I think there is probably a great deal of this going on.
- rapnie 9y ago..and collect your personal data, non-directly-identifiable data or otherwise, from both of which they may earn some money (if i understand the privacy policy correctly.. am no lawyer, though)
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]