Current thinking on this matter is to avoid the tired old web 2.0 hipster stuff. The current batch of YC is all about solving real problem for real people. Spoonrocket got the most applause ($6 meals delivered within 10 minutes).
i'm all for real ideas but the 7000th web food delivery service shouldn't get people that excited, especially not the most select group of entrepreneurs in the world.
Spoonrocket is pretty unique. You'd have to go to the 3rd world like India to get similar levels of service.
Spoonrocket's cars have builtin heaters that keep food warm, only 2 menu items a day, and really quick delivery. If they actually expanded nationwide they'd kill burger/pizza joints, or at least force them to innovate.
Neat implementation details and 'disruption' aren't what make a startup unique / important. For example:
'InstaToiletPaper is doing really unique things like drone delivery of toilet paper and a huge selection! If these guys succeed, they'd be out disrupting the $20B toilet paper market, or at least forcing the to innovate.
By that standard few startups are 'important'. Twitter (sms on web), Facebook (another myspace), Microsoft (another OS).
InstaToiletPaper is a pretty good startup if existed. When you run out of toilet paper you really want it quick. A drone could fly through a small window and it get it to you. You'd pay $10 for a single roll.
I reason all YC batches have been about solving real problems for real people. Though they seem to be focusing more on solving business problems. I did make that change from consumer to business and am pretty happy about it. Might even apply to the Winter batch.
