>but it's not true that the principal value of YC is the brand name Yes, not to the customers of the app, but the interest the YC brand generates in "insider"

>but it's not true that the principal value of YC is the brand name Yes, not to the customers of the app, but the interest the YC brand generates in "insider" circles, which helps bootstrap popularity I think you are underestimating. > YC's principal value is the advice we (and the other YC startups) offer. Yes but as before, the "brand impact" in the blogosphere (I feel dirty writing that) is still a huge thing. If that comes under the umbrella of advice, then that makes sense.