Most start up founders have high opportunity cost but lose nothing if the start up fails.
They lose a steady salary until they are profitable or get funding
Re:John Carmack Leaves Meta
by berniedurfee on Saturday December 17, 2022 @02:33PM
(#34031299)
Less risk yes, but more importantly, for me, more stability. I can still hustle and innovate, but within the context of a full-time job where I can collect a (usually) steady paycheck.
I’m far more motivated by working on cool projects, so the reward for me is just as salient if I build something cool within someone else’s company or my own… I guess, having never done the latter.
But yeah, also tbh, risk is a big factor.
The company takes the risk rather than you personally. If it fails but you maintain good relations with the rest of the company you lose nothing and just transfer elsewhere (I guess, I’ve never worked at a big company preferring to go it alone)