[devnonymous]

Hi, here's how I'd break it down:

Firstly, a job and starting your company are two different things. Dissatisfaction with you job should not be the primary reason you should consider for starting up your own company. If you do want to startup your own company consider the reasons why you are risk averse, is it just fear or failure or the fear of the consequences of the failure. If you have the financial appetite to risk a startup and truly believe that you can commit 5-10 years to it (that's how long what most startups take); go for it. Of course this is an over-simplification because there are a thousand other things to consider like your former colleague being a co-founder, where and how you execute etc...

Now secondly, if you decide that starting-up is not for you, here is the thinking I have developed over time. There are 3 factors:

  1. Are you happy with your salary ?
  2. Are you happy doing what your work ? As in do you enjoy it ? 
  3. Are you happy working with the people in the company 
  and your colleagues in particular ?

In my experience, most people quit jobs when at least 2 of the 3 requirements are not met. Having all 3 is of course ideal but 2 are required at the minimum.

So in your specific case, it is obvious requirement #3 is not being met, and if #1 and/or #2 aren't either, will changing to a different team within the company enhance requirements #1 & #2 and also possibly #3 ? If not, look for a job at a different company. If yes, stick around. If however, #1 and #2 are still being met -- stay with the team.

HTH