It doesn't seem impossible to get a connection with people inside YC. The OP, for example, asked YC alumni for some introduction. Maybe YC's way of selection i

It doesn't seem impossible to get a connection with people inside YC. The OP, for example, asked YC alumni for some introduction. Maybe YC's way of selection is just a way to weed out people who would simply send an application and wait, instead of being pro-active.