[throwfaraway4]

Unfortunately, the odds of your start-up succeeding are very slim. Not to say that it's impossible but I wouldn't bank on it. I worked at as a founding engineering with two sr directors that left a prior employer. it was fun for a couple years but then I moved to the bay for big tech. it's been close to 14 years now and I'll retire by the end of the year. all this to say, if I was you I would maximize my income and saving at this young phase of your career. big tech is still an excellent place to build your network. at some point as you climb the ladder the corp culture may leave you dissatisfied and a start-up may be more attractive but hopefully at that point you'll be financially independent