I tried this path, but I find myself disillusioned. So far I don't have a cause I could spend all of my time advancing. I don't have the burning motivation to do everything to found a thriving startup doing some random thing. It is really hard.

Maybe I could eventually find one but the odds don't seem great. Ideally I might work for something like Neuralink but I don't think I can get there. The chasm to making that a reality seems too deep. Though this may be a self-fulfilling prophecy in a way.

As for other startups, I don't think e.g. any of the local ones pay well and, like many would say, I value equity options at zero until they're liquid. I just feel like I've been burned too many times to grasp for more lottery tickets.