There is a shorter period to prepare for a YC interview than to get into the program after passing the YC interview.
Once you get into YC, you can take your time and it is easier to make a case at the embassy.
First of all, the US visa spaces are fully booked. The next open interview slots are somewhere in April so instead of founders trying to prepare for their YC interview, they are spending an enormous amount of time trying to get an earlier slot for a US visa interview.
After managing to get a slot it is another many days of preparing and hoping not to be rejected.
It costs at least $200 per interview in a country where the minimum wage is hoping to be increased to $80/month later this year.
All this is happening as their contemporaries from US and Europe only have to book a flight in 5 mins and return back to preparing for their YC interview and building their startup.
Once you get into YC, you can take your time and it is easier to make a case at the embassy.
First of all, the US visa spaces are fully booked. The next open interview slots are somewhere in April so instead of founders trying to prepare for their YC interview, they are spending an enormous amount of time trying to get an earlier slot for a US visa interview.
After managing to get a slot it is another many days of preparing and hoping not to be rejected.
It costs at least $200 per interview in a country where the minimum wage is hoping to be increased to $80/month later this year.
All this is happening as their contemporaries from US and Europe only have to book a flight in 5 mins and return back to preparing for their YC interview and building their startup.
The world is flat indeed!