To me it is interesting that YC puts so much focus on the founders. While you need an idea to start with, the idea can change or the company can pivot. Yet, when there has been discussion of the social angle of doing business at YC, it tends to not be backed up by data and, as such, it often seems to be raked over the coals in HN discussions. So, I would be interested in any data you have that supports some of the more hand wavy sounding social things that YC does.
I am aware that studies are often a case of GIGO and this is an inherently hard space to quantify. But I have taken classes in this area and read works that were research based, such as Getting to Yes, and I am always interested in any solid data that relates to what many people feel is a soft science at best, thus not worth taking seriously.
Thanks.