You're assuming that all startup founders come from the poor-recent-college-grad pool.
I'm working on an idea (applied to this round of YC but didn't make the cut), and the primary thing I need/want from YC is the mentoring and connections. Funding-wise, the $15K or so they'd invest wouldn't shift the needle of my personal finances one bit. I saw this post and briefly considered the idea of bidding, and then flying out from Boston for lunch if I won.
I am not saying this to brag about the fact that I don't necessarily need $15K. I am saying it because it is important to recognize that not every startup founder is in the same or age income bracket.
You are also confusing or blurring the line between YC and pg. Paul would likely be able to dispense valuable advice and offer insight and perspective on the current VC trends to a wide variety of startup founders, including those that are in the mid-30's with some experience and an idea. As I write this, it occurs to me that perhaps the people who CAN spend $500 on a lunch may be the types who would need or want some kind of advice on an entry path to the game since they can't follow the live cheap and eat ramen path.
I'm working on an idea (applied to this round of YC but didn't make the cut), and the primary thing I need/want from YC is the mentoring and connections. Funding-wise, the $15K or so they'd invest wouldn't shift the needle of my personal finances one bit. I saw this post and briefly considered the idea of bidding, and then flying out from Boston for lunch if I won.
I am not saying this to brag about the fact that I don't necessarily need $15K. I am saying it because it is important to recognize that not every startup founder is in the same or age income bracket.
You are also confusing or blurring the line between YC and pg. Paul would likely be able to dispense valuable advice and offer insight and perspective on the current VC trends to a wide variety of startup founders, including those that are in the mid-30's with some experience and an idea. As I write this, it occurs to me that perhaps the people who CAN spend $500 on a lunch may be the types who would need or want some kind of advice on an entry path to the game since they can't follow the live cheap and eat ramen path.