Small world on these pipes! It all depends on your interests and tolerance for risk. I've never cut the umbilical cord because I still enjoy my research. Being

Small world on these pipes! It all depends on your interests and tolerance for risk. I've never cut the umbilical cord because I still enjoy my research. Being a visiting scientist has allowed me to keep a toehold in the academy and still push out papers. But I have needed more extended periods for ideas I wanted to pursue that everyday research didn't allow. I'm biased but the Boston area is perhaps one of the best places to try to turn research into action but it's less a startup culture, it seems, than CA. Where possible you might consider lateral moves into fields that could benefit from the skills and concepts you've been thinking about but that are closer to industry. A clean break might feel more freeing however. That's where your current interests come in. If you spin off of your current work you'll probably have an easier time landing on your feet into a related field (e.g., computational vision and robotics?) or startup (e.g., lumosity.com). If you stay in your current position you can try some classes in new fields. Rely on the strengths you have there. See if you're interested in the business/finance side by auditing courses at Wharton (or your business school, crocowhile). Or sample research in bioengineering etc. A big university is a great place to reorient and by connecting with like minds. After all, that's what got you on your current path. Then again, if you see that as part of the problem, then a clean break may be necessary. Honestly, the more I've been talking to people outside of the bubble, the more I've been seeing the bubble. But it's been a slow process of self-discovery for me. How quickly you move will probably depend on how much urgency you feel for a change. And how cheaply you live will determine how long you can live free to pursue your own ideas. YC and similar programs (DreamIT in Philly) seem like a really good way to develop any ideas you may be interested in pursuing.