My plan B was just to keep at it and build my business regardless .... the networking was the main opportunity I saw in YC, but I've been in SF the last week and a half busily introducing myself and my platform to the largest names in the casual games industry. I'm leaving SF without YC, but I've got the support and business of 5 (and possibly a couple more) of the biggest companies, and several have made private offers to help fund me through this year.

I'm going back home tonight so I can get back to work finally and just stop meeting people. I find something really daunting about talking to a group of people but fortunately most have been young, technical, and immediately seen value in my platform.

Yep. I have a development road-map. The only thing that YC (or funding) would offer is a chance to move faster down that map. The backup plan had the same customer development steps in it -- it just moves along slower.

The main problem is getting distracted with funding, not finding it. I can always self-fund. People come to me to ask for help with making teams perform a lot faster. Hopefully I've built up a bit of a good reputation and that makes my phone ring. The problem is -- getting involved with other teams takes time and energy away from my own team and startup.