Reading between the lines in sama&#x27;s comment - I think his objective is to <i>replace</i> academia, such that in 20 years, nobody will either attend or work for a university.  Except he can&#x27;t say that, because a.) he&#x27;d be laughed off this thread and b.) it&#x27;s not to YC&#x27;s advantage to alert competitors that they are, in fact, a threat.<p>The way it&#x27;d work out is the same way YC itself started: attract talented, smart people who have no patience for academia&#x27;s politics.  Let them make their own decisions.  Build a brand on the discoveries they make, which attracts more people.  Change public opinion about how research should be done.  Eventually, the &quot;top academic talent&quot; realizes they&#x27;ve made a horrible mistake, and scrambles to join the new system that&#x27;s replaced the old.