Comment by echelon

> The YC application is a sales pitch, and you're not selling your idea, you're primarily selling your charisma and capacity to spin vision and sell. Second, you're selling your chemistry with your cofounders and stability of your relationship. Third, you're selling your capacity to build, at least some usable prototype, but this a low bar.

YC is late to the early alpha and is betting on talent/leadership to soak up.

Then again, first movers don't always win.