If by "better deal elsewhere" you mean access to the same high quality advice, mentorship, and support the YC community provides (as expressed in this article a

If by "better deal elsewhere" you mean access to the same high quality advice, mentorship, and support the YC community provides (as expressed in this article and the tons of others like it), the answer is no, you cannot get that elsewhere. It doesn't exist. Most people in the startup world recognise that and that is how YC got it's hype. It is unmatched in the intangibles the YC experience provides and those intangibles have proven better at building successful startups than any alternatives. But keep looking for your better deal...