&quot;Failed&quot; startup founder here.<p>For me, it&#x27;s just a matter of what&#x27;s more cost efficient. Statistically it&#x27;s easier to get a job than funding. Very little of funding ends up in founders&#x27; pockets anyway.<p>Salaries and openings for developers have gone way up lately. Entrepreneurs need to chase the best opportunity and timing.<p>Also inevitably, you come across competition. Ideally you become best friends with your competitors. Because statistically, fail rate is high.<p>The best employee is very often someone who can build&#x2F;sell something very effectively. The best employer is someone who views you as an equal, works on your vision, and admires your strengths. So competitors are often a perfect match.