When my startup failed I did contracting for a while. And the trauma probably kept me from pursuing startups for almost a decade. Our angel skipped off back to SV and I went back to the European job market with no professional references, no employer to verify my qualifications, and no real network. And I had a baby on the way.

> your failed startup might be seen even positive by some employers.

It's gotten much better since those days but having that startup is seen as an asset to the right company.