Ask HN: You're a recent grad that's working full time on your startup. How?

#1

Post by rscott » Thu, Mar 26, 2009, 4:25 AM UTC

I'm curious as to how the recent grad crowd works full-time on their startup. I've read multiple comments over the last few weeks from people that do this, so I have to be nosy and ask the obvious question - how do you do this? Personally, after graduation I will need to get a "real" job to pay for expenses, housing, food, etc. Ideally, of course your startup makes money, but it's obvious that comes with no guarantee or time frame. Are the bulk of these fresh grad full-timers somehow independently wealthy, do they just get by with part-time jobs, or am I missing something entirely?

Let me know, thanks.

Re: Ask HN: You're a recent grad that's working full time on your startup. How?

#2

Post by mcav » Thu, Mar 26, 2009, 4:31 AM UTC

I graduate in May and plan to move to full-time. I'll be able to work on my startup because my parents have [thankfully] agreed to help me out while I try to bring it into the black. Since I've been working on it a lot during college, I hope to start making a profit not too long after graduation. I'm currently living with some college friends in a house and intend to live there for now, unless (A) money runs out and I need to move home, or (B) I decide it'd be better to move to the valley.

I'm in Iowa right now; it's a dead zone, but I have resources available to me here (family, time, friends) that I wouldn't have if I just upped and moved to SF right now. Not that the prospect isn't intriguing of course.

Re: Ask HN: You're a recent grad that's working full time on your startup. How?

#3

Post by nostrademons » Thu, Mar 26, 2009, 4:31 AM UTC

The easiest way is just to move back in with parents. Most middle-class families can afford to do this; I think the stats from my graduating class (05, top private college) were that 50% of students were moving back home.

I took a slightly different path: I moved back in with the 'rents, but I also took a job for a couple years and saved up money. Then I went full-time on my startup, funding it mostly out of savings (I was paying rent to my parents). It's funny - now that I've moved out, my expenses are only about $200/month more than they were when I was living at home, but the difference is that now I'm paying a complete stranger's mortgage instead of my parents.

Re: Ask HN: You're a recent grad that's working full time on your startup. How?

#4

Post by cperciva » Thu, Mar 26, 2009, 4:36 AM UTC

In my case it's a combination of (a) graduating with money in the bank due to generous scholarships, and (b) having low expenses due to living in my parents' basement.

YCers, of course, are given a theoretical 3 months of living expenses and then usually get other investment at the end of the YC program -- so there's no mystery there (at least for those people for whom $5k == 3 months of living expenses).

Re: Ask HN: You're a recent grad that's working full time on your startup. How?

#5

Post by peterlai » Thu, Mar 26, 2009, 4:41 AM UTC

WebNotes’ first founder worked part-time on WebNotes for about a year after graduating before raising enough investor money to go full time. After going full-time, he gave everyone else an ultimatum to jump ship as well, and now, we’re a five person team.

So, in short, I’m lucky. The startup has been able to fund me from the start.

Re: Ask HN: You're a recent grad that's working full time on your startup. How?

#6

Post by tokenadult » Thu, Mar 26, 2009, 4:47 AM UTC

I see a common theme here in the first few submitted replies. What does an ambitious young person do if the parents are

a) dead and gone,

b) sick and dying,

c) impoverished,

or

d) stingy?

(I ask as a parent of would-be start-up founders, trying my best not to fit into those categories, but never knowing for sure when I might fit into category a).

Re: Ask HN: You're a recent grad that's working full time on your startup. How?

#7

Post by andrewfchen » Thu, Mar 26, 2009, 4:51 AM UTC

I'd have to agree that in my case, I'm pursuing a full-time start up after having worked for a few years, saving up a bit of cash that will hold me over for the next few years. Along the way, gaining some experience from the corporate sector to bring to the start-up.

Re: Ask HN: You're a recent grad that's working full time on your startup. How?

#8

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Mar 26, 2009, 4:53 AM UTC

mcav wrote: post #2

I graduate in May and plan to move to full-time. I'll be able to work on my startup because my parents have [thankfully] agreed to help me out while I try to bring it into the black. Since I've been working on it a lot during college, I hope to start making a profit not too long after graduation. I'm currently living with some college friends in a house and intend to live there for now, unless (A) money runs out and…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: You're a recent grad that's working full time on your startup. How?

#9

Post by code_devil » Thu, Mar 26, 2009, 5:03 AM UTC

tokenadult wrote: post #6

I see a common theme here in the first few submitted replies. What does an ambitious young person do if the parents are a) dead and gone, b) sick and dying, c) impoverished, or d) stingy? (I ask as a parent of would-be start-up founders, trying my best not to fit into those categories, but never knowing for sure when I might fit into category a).

I think it's ideal to have some sort of part time job. In my case, I have a full time job and can't leave it for two reasons:

1) I am on H1b-Visa [More Important than #2, so didn't even think about applying for YC this summer, though I would love to]

2) I need $$$ :-)

I typically try to wake up early(6am), hit the gym, put in my 8/9 hrs at work so I am free by 5-6 pm. Now I have potentially 6 more hours till 12:00 am during which I try to get some work done on my personal projects OR go to silicon valley meetups etc Or just laze/party out completely some days. [Potentially 30 hrs in 5 days]

So, time is not really a problem, it's more of a Time management and Motivation that will carry you forward. I am still tweaking both :-)

PS: On another note, I will be up in the SF city for StartupWeekend. Still looking for people to partner up ? Anyone Interested ??

Re: Ask HN: You're a recent grad that's working full time on your startup. How?

#10

Post by nolanbrown23 » Thu, Mar 26, 2009, 5:06 AM UTC

Everyone's how is going to be different and probably not applicable to your situation but here is what you can do...just make it fucking happen. This small piece of advice may not seem that helpful but what I'm trying to say is you're nuking it. You're over thinking. Jump in head first and see what happens.

On that note, I don't recommend any plan that involves your parents, but that's just my undying need for self-reliance.

If you really want to know what I do to survive, nothing special really. I cut back my costs but don't eat only ramen and live in a box. I pick up some consulting and freelance jobs and help out people with other stuff when I'm in need (menial labor can be a good thing). The key is flexibility. I think about my company 24/7, but there is no way I can work on it that much. There is more than enough time in the day to make a living wage and work on your startup full-time, just make it happen.