"But what would a good measure be?" I think it's important to realize in answering that question a few things. a) The answer to the question isn't digital (bl

"But what would a good measure be?" I think it's important to realize in answering that question a few things. a) The answer to the question isn't digital (black and white) it's analog. It's a matter of degree and relative to the thing being considered. Curing cancer - say, up near 100. Cat photo app, say, down near 0. And everything in between. (Numbers arbitrary to make a point.) b) Most people could probably have an easier time (like identifying porn) with what isn't innovation than defining what is innovation. c) Daniel Markham's points regarding sometimes meaningless things lead to important things. Lastly, none of this matters. If you are in high school it's a sure bet you will attract women and attention (at that age) as the high school quarterback even if you have average looks. People arguing that the system should change and the guy with glasses who will be a much better catch down the road won't get anyone anywhere. Things are the way they are for a reason. I suspect that YC invests in the best situations they can find given a pool of applicants applying your patterns etc and knowledge of the past. Questions posed by this article (and some of the comments here) assume that markets operate together in collusion for the common good. They don't. If they did it would be relatively easy to get food companies to stop pushing valueless tasty food on the public as well.