My experience has been that the advanced degree would have helped a bit with VC interest and probably attracting cofounders. If there's not a specific time-sens

My experience has been that the advanced degree would have helped a bit with VC interest and probably attracting cofounders. If there's not a specific time-sensitive market opportunity that you're going after, then I think you are right to consider it. Working tech probably trumps academic credentials in these matters though -- so as long as you know what you're in for, dive right in.