Sequoia certainly hasn't had that effect on YC companies. Nearly every founder I've talked to on the subject has said that when they met with Sequoia, they received good questions and advice about how to build a really big company.
There's a common cause for both the Sequoia LP investment and rising hype about YC: both are because YC companies are doing better and better. It certainly is true that hype, PR, and fundraising can be big distractions for early startups, but all the YC partners go to great lengths to make founders focus on the more important things.
There's a common cause for both the Sequoia LP investment and rising hype about YC: both are because YC companies are doing better and better. It certainly is true that hype, PR, and fundraising can be big distractions for early startups, but all the YC partners go to great lengths to make founders focus on the more important things.