Boot Camp : Military :: Y Combinator : Startups

a·nal·o·gy/əˈnaləjē/ Noun 1. A comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

Should the readers of Wired not be familiar with Y Combinator, the analogy implied in the article's title should actually give them a good idea of what YC is all about.

I don't think anyone (or at least many) will take the analogy literally and expect to see photos of YC founders going through the rigors of military boot camp. Instead, I bet most people who read that title will get the comparison right off the bat: Y Combinator is a short, intensive, exhaustive program focused on preparing new founders to be more successful in the business world. Just as military boot camp is a short, intensive, exhaustive program focused on preparing new recruits to be more successful on the battlefield.

YC is a unique thing so any analogy will break down. The article did mention 'American Idol' which I thick is a lot closer, as A.I. has that same sense of people pinning their hope on getting in, the best talent winning out (in theory), constant all-around testing, competition, access to resources, and the large stakes for the players involved.

Wouldn't you need someone who has been to both?