If you are more tenacious than Sam Altman, then you should use your tenacity to tenaciously find a cofounder.

I don't know if finding a co-founder is about tenacity. When I was looking for a co-founder for my idea, the problem wasn't finding someone who was interested or qualified - it was finding someone I thought I could work with that closely, and someone I could trust 100%. The poster is probably in a similar scenario...

I will without a doubt, I will have two preferably and the equity split would be equal among the founders. That said tenacity does not mean - "Acts quickly with no regard for future consequences" so I am careful and calculating with every move I make and it means everything to me that I find exactly the right person to work on this with. Passion has to be involved to a certain degree to make a startup work and as someone who had a partnership go to the wayside before compatibility and commitment are of the utmost importance for me in my search for a co-founder

I wouldn't take YC's decision to heart. They have no crystal ball and cannot know if you will ultimately be successful. You should be willing to persue a good idea regardless of your YC application, which I think is largely a crapshoot anyways.

From my experience of entering YC as a single founder, you need to find a key and simple differentiator that separates you from all of the co-founded companies applying. It should be super clear and concise why you are going to succeed when other's aren't. Statistically, single founder companies fail a hell of a lot more than co-founded companies, you need to give them a reason to take a chance on you.

Also, don't place too much importance on the idea, they know you'll figure it out eventually.

Thanks for the advice, I'll certainly make sure I try to set myself apart in the application process this time around.

and btw I am a big fan of what you are doing with everyme! can't wait to see how the finished product turns out :)

Thanks! And good luck with the application.

If you're such a rockstar, why bother with YC at all?

I certainly am not claiming to be a Rockstar however I will answer your question in the best way I know how.

I believe in people truly adding value, I know from experience (knowing YC Alums) that YC adds value and can turn a good product into a great product. I am not too proud to know that there are lots of people out there who are Faster, Stronger, Smarter and probably better looking than me however I am also aware that if I am not actively seeking out those people (I believe YC has tons of them) then I am already a step behind those who are.

So while I truly believe with the right product and vision I will succeed no matter what I find no harm in trying to better myself via a program like YC.

I view YC as marketing. You gain exposure to your product/company/people via YC. You pay for the marketing with equity instead of cash.

I would say the same reason many established companies have. For the connections and learning that only YC can provide.

I wouldn't say anything YC provides can't be found elsewhere with some good old fashioned elbow grease and networking. But for a lot of people it will offer a big head start.

EDIT: What's with the downvotes? I thought HN was mostly hivemind-free, but I guess not when it comes to YC?