Between its mentors, its alumni, and its private messaging board, Bookface, Y Combinator is perhaps only two steps removed from the rest of the tech industry. Even Google founder Larry Page. Business Insider reports that Page spoke at a YC event in December, where he talked about Google's early days.
Even before he officially stepped down as CEO in 2019, Page went from being one of the most prominent tech billionaires to one of the least known. He famously suffered vocal cord damage before shunning the spotlight. His last public appearance was, ironically, in 2016, when he was among the tech elites gathered at Trump Tower after Trump's first election victory.
The article notes that YC's position in San Francisco's burgeoning AI startup scene encouraged Page to visit. These days, it's best known for its flying EV startup Pivotal, which started selling Helix vehicles a year ago.