That approach is perfectly valid and could even be smarter than other VCs that avoid funding competing projects. I also think that, since YC operates at an earl

That approach is perfectly valid and could even be smarter than other VCs that avoid funding competing projects. I also think that, since YC operates at an earlier stage than major funds like Sequoia, different heuristics could apply. Ultimately, it's about balancing risk and reward—duplicating efforts can increase the chances of success while mitigating risks. Of course, it's not easy to establish processes that help competing companies in the same space without inadvertently favoring one over the other.