[GBond]

The reason why advice here is almost exclusively aimed at programmers is because HN is bias towards startups that make stuff that are byproducts of the software discipline.

Startups that focus on Web/saas/cloud are getting a lot of attention lately but by no means is this your only path. Maybe consider a career arch that will value what you would like to focus your energy (research, writing, & marketing)?

For example, I've notice a growing trend of upstart industry analysis boutique shops that are taking market share from the Gartner/forrester/Juniper research mafia. Some examples are redmonk (developers) and altimetergroup (social media). The high value workers of these companies are the analysts (that like tech) and not the hackers.

Bottom line is don't limit build/succeed of a startup to just being a hacker.