I always think that speculation about YC's fundraising value obscures the correct causal link. YC doesn't make fundraising easier, per se, it makes you build a more valuable company. That makes fundraising easier.

I get some variation of this question a lot. I assume that all recent YC alumni do. I always talk about (a) the intense focus that YC gives it's founders, (b) the positive pressure that the partners, the dinners, and the batch provides, and (c) the incredibly supportive guild of alumni.

YC helps founders build companies that are valuable. VCs and angels know that.