There's a popular misconception on HN that YC is all about VC funding. I used to think this too, before doing YC and realising YC emphasise funding as a tool,

There's a popular misconception on HN that YC is all about VC funding. I used to think this too, before doing YC and realising YC emphasise funding as a tool, not as a goal. You raise as much as you need to achieve your goals. Zapier really embody that lesson writ large - they didn't take additional funding because they didn't need to. I hope their success emphasises that lesson.