The shift from being seen as an underdog to a respected entity occurred around 2011, as companies began receiving larger investments, which changed perceptions of Y Combinator.

Being part of Y Combinator provides invaluable exposure and credibility, especially for founders who may not have connections in Silicon Valley. It creates a unique momentum during fundraising, culminating in a demo day where you can present to top investors.

I have seen a lot of changes in the startup ecosystem, particularly in how financing is done, and Y Combinator has played a significant role in these changes.

Investors in Y Combinator companies are top-tier VCs, frequently investing in these startups and often making multiple investments.

I found Y Combinator because I was on Reddit during graduate school, where I discovered Paul Graham's essays that inspired me to pursue starting a company, despite the prevailing belief that the web was over after the dot-com crash.

Four companies—Airbnb, Coinbase, Reddit, and Instacart—account for over 85% of Y Combinator's returns, illustrating the VC power law in action.

The recent in-person investor reception at Y Combinator was marked by a palpable excitement, signaling a reset in how investors view startup ideas and opportunities.

We were accepted into Y Combinator, which was a significant milestone for us and changed the course of our company.

The last three batches of Y Combinator have consistently grown their revenue by 10% week on week, a feat not seen before in previous cycles.