This is the exact case of a crowded doorway [1] we discussed almost two years ago on HN: Higher the number of applications implies higher the perceivable quality of YC applications. Implies higher the probability of riskier bets to fall through.
What's potentially dangerous about this situation is that quite a few glossy low-risk companies will outdo the more riskier ones - even though YC staff is one of the best in the world and thoroughly equipped to do what it does - and thus lowering the chances of fishing real gems off the coast.
I do not have the numbers, but how have the batches of later years done as compared to the early ones which had Dropbox, Airbnb in them?
What's potentially dangerous about this situation is that quite a few glossy low-risk companies will outdo the more riskier ones - even though YC staff is one of the best in the world and thoroughly equipped to do what it does - and thus lowering the chances of fishing real gems off the coast.
I do not have the numbers, but how have the batches of later years done as compared to the early ones which had Dropbox, Airbnb in them?
[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5648760