Let's assume the following: TechCrunch has the largest following and the best reputation per capita in the startup news world, and YC has the reputation of being the best seed-stage funder. If, within that model, you find yourself in the unfortunate position of not being YC-funded, and thus not having any reputation, following through that assumption to its logical conclusion means that there are tech news sites with second-rate reputation, that are eclipsed by TechCrunch, and they are just as hungry to discover a possible next-big-thing as you are to be one. Go find them. Start with mashable.com