The return of in-person demo days at Y Combinator has revitalized the startup ecosystem, creating a strong energy and connection among founders and investors.

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.

During demo day at Y Combinator, we showcased our product and met with investors, which was a pivotal moment for us.

During demo day, founders often have a list of interested investors, allowing them to choose who to engage with. This gives founders more control over their fundraising process, which is crucial since many dislike fundraising.

YC has an investor database where founders provide feedback on investors they've worked with. This helps encourage good investor behavior and serves as a valuable resource when deciding whom to prioritize for funding.

YC continues to support startups long after demo day, providing advice for years as they navigate various challenges, from product development to social issues.

YC has always emphasized sharing knowledge and resources, hosting free events and creating open-source investment documents to support startups.

YC's investment of $150,000 does not handicap companies; rather, it increases their value and success probability, as the average cap for companies going through YC tends to be over $8 million.

YC's approach to funding is non-traditional; we prioritize building relationships with founders over just focusing on returns.