I am not sure if our case is different from most but here it is: We are working on a webapp which we are really excited about. We talked with friends and poten

I am not sure if our case is different from most but here it is: We are working on a webapp which we are really excited about. We talked with friends and potential users with great feedback. We will continue to build it on the side while working day jobs and see if we can get traction from the users. We are applying for YC Summer 09. Getting accepted would validate that we are not the lunatic fringe. (The end users might still disagree) It would allow us to jump into it full time and the application process would help us reflect on the business side of things seriously, which we hackers get easily blind sided about. However, looking at some other applicants experiences and expectations (as written on blogs), yes, it does feel like applying for an Ivy League MBA. Looking for validation is something common between these 2 endeavors (and that includes us). However, In my opinion, HN is what makes YC special. It's a model that's hard to replicate.