> YC commonly accepts startups that are building similar or nearly identical products to previous YC grads. Some of them are direct competitors; others differ s

> YC commonly accepts startups that are building similar or nearly identical products to previous YC grads. Some of them are direct competitors; others differ slightly by targeting a new geography (Asia or Latin America), or are a subset of a larger market (point-of-sale software for bars versus coffee shops). If you're going "by the book" with Crossing The Chasm, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossing_the_Chasm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossing_the_Chasm), all startups need to conquer a niche before they can own an entire market. It seems like a wise strategy to, if an investment does well (or otherwise proves a market) in one niche, to invest in another niche. It certainly increases the odds that you've invested in whoever will become the dominant player.