Y Combinator isn't about money. They effectively provide team living expenses for three months; assuming you're already a competent developer or creative type,

Y Combinator isn't about money. They effectively provide team living expenses for three months; assuming you're already a competent developer or creative type, you can save three months living expenses in no time. Y Combinator is about people. A whole lot of people who have a whole lot more experience starting companies than you do. And all those people want to help you succeed, like those before helped them. It's a giant fraternity where instead of keg stands you get proven advice from people who've done the hard work of finding the potholes themselves. If you need to dig a big hole and don't know about a backhoe, you grab a shovel and start working inefficiently. Y Combinator is the construction guy who comes by and tells you about the backhoe. And about digging a hole you can get out of. And about the nearby water line you're probably going to bust open. He saves you a shit load of time and trouble and helps you grow your skill set. Y Combinator not only connects you with smarter entrepreneurs, it connects you with the best of the startup world. Need funding? Need a CEO? Need an invite to something? YC has you covered. They can't make you drink, but they sure know where all the water is. * * * YC helped me grow as a founder and as a developer. It helped me make the best friends of my life. When my co-founder tragically died, Paul and Jessica made sure I could pay the bills—in exchange for nothing (which doesn't scratch the surface of how much my entire class helped). If I had to do it again, I would. Every single time. If you know everybody; if you have a following; if you have ridiculously talented friends, you probably don't need YC. But everybody isn't you.