The part I really enjoyed reading was: "Before Y Combinator, character had not traditionally been an important factor for investors. Investors have often fund

The part I really enjoyed reading was: "Before Y Combinator, character had not traditionally been an important factor for investors. Investors have often funded people who were jerks but who seemed likely to succeed. But I couldn't do it. YC is not just an investment firm. It's like a family in that we're inviting these people into our place to have dinner every week." This is what I would attribute the success of Y Combinator to. By focusing on founders as opposed to ideas, individual drive, demeanor, and not business models become the center. Paul Graham on multiple occasions discusses Sam Altman as someone who can't be stopped. Here is an article[1] from Paul Graham's article titled "Five Founders," the prompt "Inc recently asked me who I thought were the 5 most interesting startup founders of the last 30 years." Sam Altman made it as #5 up with Steve Jobs, Larry and Sergey, etc. "I was told I shouldn't mention founders of YC-funded companies in this list. But Sam Altman can't be stopped by such flimsy rules. If he wants to be on this list, he's going to be." The idea, is if people have what it takes, have the drive, the heart, and the understanding of how to treat others, they can make anything happen. “Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.” - Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged [1] http://paulgraham.com/5founders.html http://paulgraham.com/5founders.html