there is a proxy to check this - investor quality. Every high quality investor - including YC - forces an options pool. The post-money SAFE created by YC accounts for an options pool ("The Post-Money Valuation Cap is post the Options and option pool existing prior to the Equity Financing").

high quality investors will in most cases, decline a fundraise if there is no options pool - since it signals that the founders are not serious about the most valuable asset of any startup.

The people.