<i>&gt; Won&#x27;t giving YC equity to these researchers (who are working not-for-profit and releasing IP freely) incentivize research that benefits YC startups directly and hence increases the value of the equity held?</i><p>That&#x27;s equivalent to saying &quot;won&#x27;t paying in U.S. dollars to these researchers (who are working not-for-profit and releasing IP freely) incentivize research that benefits the U.S. Federal Reserve directly and hence increases the value of the U.S. dollars held?&quot;<p>Obviously not the same scale, but you get where I&#x27;m going with this. Indirect incentives don&#x27;t quite work that way.