After having thought a great deal about it, it's worth it for two reasons in my mind: 1) the recognition, the prestige, the 'YC' name that gets you really good

After having thought a great deal about it, it's worth it for two reasons in my mind: 1) the recognition, the prestige, the 'YC' name that gets you really good deals, which entails VCs (the good ones) coming to you, press taking you more seriously, potential candidates being more enticed working for a 'YC' company (so the normally difficult task of finding early employees/co-founders is made considerably easier) 2) You get to be in the YC network (in some senses this is comparable to being in the Harvard Alumni association, where being a friend of some guy can mean you can become a C-level or VP of some company). Moreover: Being friends with other talented founders, getting advice from people who know their stuff and have done many things before, and a lot of times getting good deals from them and their startups (if you happen to be low on cash [1]). [1]: Speaking of which, a possible third reason is the seed money.