[hga]

One thing, echoing HN user corruption, is that you need to look for companies that can afford your not devoting 99% of your technical time, effort and attention to their needs.

I doubt Google had its 20% policy when it was moving from its Stanford lab foundation to establishing the company, I would think that had to come later.

Even if a company is profitable, that doesn't mean it has this sort of luxury, but you should probably start out with profitable ones.

I don't think on its face that your desire is crazy, people like you can provide all sorts of benefits to the company they're working for (e.g. your network, recognition (would Transmeta have had the slightest chance in the marketplace if they hadn't hired Linus?), etc.). But raw survival comes first.