I think if you don't have the secret sauce that YC are after then you don't get in so it can seem like they only want people with complete businesses to apply.

I think if you don't have the secret sauce that YC are after then you don't get in so it can seem like they only want people with complete businesses to apply. Thinking about it the secret sauce is probably something like: 1) Apply every time 2) Never give up with the application (like I've done on Paypip) 3) Make your application super awesome and include every detail of your vision to get people excited about it. Probably of those number three is the most important. More important than revenue/users. I'm still amazed and upset when I see businesses do YC have ZERO users and then raise $4.7m with just a few pretty pictures on their website... What is it they are peddling to be able to get away with ignoring the most central tennent of YC?