I think blanket statements about YCombinator companies are a little unfair to the diversity of YC startups. As fallentimes points out, Wufoo has been profitable

I think blanket statements about YCombinator companies are a little unfair to the diversity of YC startups. As fallentimes points out, Wufoo has been profitable from the start and continues to build on a vision they believe in. Hardly built to flip. Posterous, our YC-funded startup, is 100% committed to changing the world by bringing publishing online to the other 90% of people out there who know how to use email but don't know how to use complicated blog software. And we're pretty sure we'll be able to do it well enough that people will be willing to pay for the right features. Finally, regarding the quote from Austin Wiltshire: "Who will end up really getting the spoils out of any of YCombinator’s work? Paul Graham." This quote strikes me as absurd on its face. YC takes an average of 6% but speaking from personal experience the value of the mentorship and connections far outstrip that slice of the pie. This isn't even including the access and network you get from the hundreds of other founders who have passed through YC doors now. It's completely misguided to think that YC has some sort of strange or malicious goal of taking advantage of unassuming hard-working startup founders. Paul didn't HAVE to create YC, but he did it to serve a need he identified -- to help smart hackers like himself 'solve the money problem.' The business world rewards owners, and YC / PG is giving smart hackers a push in the right direction towards owning their creations and their destiny. As for deciding whether to flip or not-- Google, Facebook, and every other world-changing tech firm you can think of had the chance to flip a thousand times. They said no. Making that decision is a part of a founder owning their own destiny. YC is there to help startups get to that point. What you do when you're on the threshold is your choice.