> but that are eminently employable
This is what always stood out to me. Founders talk about the risks they take as their major legitimizing force. But what risk? They’re the types who can (mostly) skip an interview and go direct into a six figure job - because of the sales and founder networks they develop.
Startup founders with no risk doesnt sound like a recipe for great companies.
There is an opportunity cost in working on a startup that may fail and leave you with nothing while your uni peers have been cashing juicy RSUs in FAANG-type companies so the actual "risk" could be "having 0 net worth while living in a high CoL area by the time they reach middle age".
YC founders aren't the ones taking risks. The risk comes from pouring your life savings into a company and not getting into any incubators and never getting any VC funding and then having no savings and nothing to show for it.