[Fradow]

Neither. After getting my degree, I continued a student project for 1 year that went nowhere. Eventually, I realized it wasn't going anywhere, so I decided to look for a job.

I went to a hackathon, summarily said I was looking for a job on stage at the end. Instead, someone I already knew came talk to me about their startup idea (which had PoC already live, a solid business plan and good proofs the project could be viable), and I decided to give it a go.

That was 5 years ago, I'm still there, learned a lot, and now we are 12 employees (we started at 2 unpaid founders, and started paying ourselves a minimal salary after a year). While it's not up to SV standard, I do consider it a success that we are still alive, and did not sell our soul doing others people project at any time of the company (which happens a lot here, companies don't die, they become contractors).

Important note: I had the privilege of a nice parental cushion that let me do that instead of absolutely requiring an income. I couldn't have done it otherwise.

[hndamien]

Thanks for the honesty about the cushion. Often these tidbits get left out. It is really interesting to understand all the puzzle pieces and the mentality of those that made it.

[jorgeer]

Very close to my story! Only that it was the student project that worked out. We started out with 5 students living off student loans. After a year we were finished with school, and went unpaid for another year. Started with a micro salary by then, and 2 of the original founders had left.

Now, 5 years after we started we are 7 full time emps, though not yet profitable.