Ask HN: A 31yr old's dilemma

5 points

8 years ago

Hi HN, First, some background. I'm 31, technical, and working at a Prestigious Tech Company (PTC). Live in NYC. An engineer most of my career, and in the last few years, some BD too. I've started companies before : once when I was 24 (solo) and once when I was 27 (cofounder). Both profitable, and the latter growing fast w/ a recently closed series B. I left that company very early because of a life tragedy, but have regretted it ever since.

Last ~4 years at Prestigious Tech Company (PTC) have been mixed. Great to have stability, to travel and to work with smart people. But near impossible to get truly motivated.

For much of the past year I've been quietly building, and have a new MVP that I have very strong conviction in. Felt motivated again. Believe the business is decently validated via talking to and onboarding some early users.

I'd like to raise some funding and run with this, BUT:

a) PTC may IPO in ~2020 which makes staying almost certainly the safer financial decision.

b) The 'society' at PTC is awesome. Having a place to go / big group of smart and ethical people to hang out with. I recall some of the loneliness/unhappiness of my first solo business.

c) Most importantly: I don't have a non-technical cofounder. I'm under-networked. Used to see that as a positive attribute (ha) - now it's just frustrating. Despite being mildly tech-twitter-famous I don't have many real connections w/ cofounder types in my life. Worried that when it comes to raise my inability to have attracted a cofounder will be a negative signal. Founding with a relative stranger may also be a relatively negative signal / bad idea.

HN: What would you do in my shoes? Is my failure to have built this network over the years a sign that I shouldn't pursue this? At 31, am I past-the-post to some extent?

PS: Since I'm seeking a cofounder - if you'd like to learn more, please reach me at fathomsdeep@protonmail.com