Good for the individual entrepreneurs? Sure. Good for the overall East coast tech scene? I doubt it. I could be wrong, but I doubt that pg has changed his stance on startups needing to move to Silicon Valley. More than likely, this will serve as a "funnel" for companies from NYC to SV.
Of course, not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just that I doubt this is a good thing for the overall east coast entrepreneur community.
Actually we have 3 startups in the current YC batch who plan to move back to NYC now that the YC cycle is over.
I've always emphasized that seed funding isn't a local business in the way VC is. Startups come to YC from all over and can go anywhere they want afterward. I honestly believe the optimal route for founders who want to live in NYC would be to come to the Bay Area for YC, then move back to NYC afterward-- just as a lot of New Yorkers choose to go to Boston for college, then move back to NYC afterward.
pg and YC have always been upfront about their goals and investment philosophy: If founders can get life-changing wealth ("solve the money problem"), YC will be successful. Nothing in that mentions local tech scenes.
Of course, not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just that I doubt this is a good thing for the overall east coast entrepreneur community.