This article is rather thin on numbers or tangible benefits that actually developed because of joining YC as a &quot;later stage&quot; company. I&#x27;m not saying there isn&#x27;t an argument to be made that joining YC late is a good thing, I just don&#x27;t think this essay does that.<p>Descriptions of how YC is more pleasant as a late-stage company are not surprising. Of course it would be, but did YOU derive that much benefit that you couldn&#x27;t have achieved on your own?<p>Could the team not have derived the same benefit by simply holding up for 3 months on their own, and getting their investors&#x2F;board to be actively involved during that time as a sounding board?<p>The only real benefit I see being expounded is the connections YC offers for securing a series A. However, I&#x27;m skeptical that a solid business with pre-existing good connections (via their current investors and board) couldn&#x27;t secure a reasonable series A without sacrificing 7% of their company. Simple arithmetic dictates that YC&#x27;s value-prop needs to be amazing to justify sacrificing 7% in exchange for a more optimal series A.