Comment by michaelt

> Original YC would not reject founders over their current product strategy and because they haven't figured out the right way to structure their business--haven't put together the "proof" that they could be on track to be a unicorn, etc.

Imagine you ran a startup accelerator that didn't invest in a particular business model or product, but instead invested in a team of founders you thought had the potential to produce something great, even if it takes a few pivots.

Now imagine you didn't want to invest in a given company. Would your rejection letter say you disliked the founders, as people?

Of course not, you want to be on friendly terms, just in case. Far safer to just be "unconvinced" about their "product strategy" in its "current form".