[flurb]

I don't quite understand the criticism of YC, but I'm nobody, and maybe little bit naive here, but they offer you $500K in exchange for 7% of a potential business (of course it's more complex than that, but bear with me). Looking at the application form, nothing stops a farmer from, say, rural North Korea from applying, notwithstanding other issues of a more, ah, political nature.

While $500K maybe isn't much for some people, it sure is a heck of a lot of money for someone like me, not to mention all the other benefits, being able to explore your ideas and start a business without the immediate worry you'll either die of stress or become homeless next time rent is due, for instance.

All that for a measly initial investment of maybe 10 minutes of your time?