To add a bit of empirical analysis to this comment, I analyzed the YCombinator Winter 2015 batch. I categorized the startups into one of three buckets: Tech-Dependent Business Model (TDBM), RePackaging and Polishing existing tech (RPP), and Novel Tech (NT). The list can be found here.
CampusJob—TDBM
Seed—TDBM
NextTravel—TDBM
TheMidGame—TDBM
eBrandValue—TDBM
Standard Cyborg—RPP, maybe NT
Rescue Forensics—TDBM (social entrepreneurship)
Lumi—TDBM/RPP
Undeground Cellar—TDBM
Transcriptic—NT?? but not easily evaluated
Atomwise—maybe NT but probably RPP/TDBM of machine learning (I doubt they created new ML algos)
Spark Gift—TDBM
Gradberry—TDBM
Industrial Microbes—NT?? but probably TDBM/RPP of existing chemical engineering tech
TechList—TDBM
Meadow—TDBM
ReSchedule—TDBM
Diassess—RPP, synthesis of biotech and infotech
RazorPay—TDBM
DirectMatch—TDBM
BuildScience—TDBM/RPP
ShiftLabs—RPP, making medical devices cheaper.
Valor Water Analytics—TDBM
Instavest—TDBM
Open Listings—TDBM
CloudMedx—TDBM/RPP
BankJoy—TDBM
TransitMix—TDBM
ZenFlow—NT, in biotech space.
Final—TDBM
Lully—maybe NT but probably RPP
Spire—TDBM/RPP
AnalyticsMD—TDBM
Smarking—TDBM
20N—NT
GrubMarket—TDBM
CribSpot—TDBM
KickPay—TDBM
Notable Labs—uncategorizable but brilliant, some kind of legal/biotech/infotech combination play
Pretty Instant—TDBM
VetPronto—TDBM
Akido—TDBM
DroneBase—TDBM
MashGin—maybe NT in computer vision space but probably RPP/TDBM
LabDoor—RPP/TDBM
Bonfire—TDBM
EquipmentShare—TDBM
The following pattern emerged from this exercise: YC is not funding startups that are developing new computer science technology, with the possible exception of MashGin and AtomWise. The YC startups that are attempting to develop new technology are in the biotech/medtech space—Transcriptic, Standard Cyborg, Industrial Microbes, Zenflow, Lully, and 20N.
Edit I noticed after writing that the list is from Demo Day 2, representing the second half of the Winter 2015 batch. However, it doesn’t appear to me that analyzing only half the batch causes a serious bias in the conclusion. The Demo Day 1 batch is available here.
To add a bit of empirical analysis to this comment, I analyzed the YCombinator Winter 2015 batch. I categorized the startups into one of three buckets: Tech-Dependent Business Model (TDBM), RePackaging and Polishing existing tech (RPP), and Novel Tech (NT). The list can be found here.
CampusJob—TDBM
Seed—TDBM
NextTravel—TDBM
TheMidGame—TDBM
eBrandValue—TDBM
Standard Cyborg—RPP, maybe NT
Rescue Forensics—TDBM (social entrepreneurship)
Lumi—TDBM/RPP
Undeground Cellar—TDBM
Transcriptic—NT?? but not easily evaluated
Atomwise—maybe NT but probably RPP/TDBM of machine learning (I doubt they created new ML algos)
Spark Gift—TDBM
Gradberry—TDBM
Industrial Microbes—NT?? but probably TDBM/RPP of existing chemical engineering tech
TechList—TDBM
Meadow—TDBM
ReSchedule—TDBM
Diassess—RPP, synthesis of biotech and infotech
RazorPay—TDBM
DirectMatch—TDBM
BuildScience—TDBM/RPP
ShiftLabs—RPP, making medical devices cheaper.
Valor Water Analytics—TDBM
Instavest—TDBM
Open Listings—TDBM
CloudMedx—TDBM/RPP
BankJoy—TDBM
TransitMix—TDBM
ZenFlow—NT, in biotech space.
Final—TDBM
Lully—maybe NT but probably RPP
Spire—TDBM/RPP
AnalyticsMD—TDBM
Smarking—TDBM
20N—NT
GrubMarket—TDBM
CribSpot—TDBM
KickPay—TDBM
Notable Labs—uncategorizable but brilliant, some kind of legal/biotech/infotech combination play
Pretty Instant—TDBM
VetPronto—TDBM
Akido—TDBM
DroneBase—TDBM
MashGin—maybe NT in computer vision space but probably RPP/TDBM
LabDoor—RPP/TDBM
Bonfire—TDBM
EquipmentShare—TDBM
The following pattern emerged from this exercise: YC is not funding startups that are developing new computer science technology, with the possible exception of MashGin and AtomWise. The YC startups that are attempting to develop new technology are in the biotech/medtech space—Transcriptic, Standard Cyborg, Industrial Microbes, Zenflow, Lully, and 20N.
Edit I noticed after writing that the list is from Demo Day 2, representing the second half of the Winter 2015 batch. However, it doesn’t appear to me that analyzing only half the batch causes a serious bias in the conclusion. The Demo Day 1 batch is available here.