I don't think many NYC founders are looking for a technical co-founder. So if not a co-founder, then a highly rewarded developer, right? Nope, I don't think man

I don't think many NYC founders are looking for a technical co-founder. So if not a co-founder, then a highly rewarded developer, right? Nope, I don't think many of them are looking to part of with significant amounts of equity in their ideas unless you are an investor giving them money. Basically I think a large number of NYC founders are mostly idea-men that undervalue the role of strong technical employees, much less co-founders. It's probably culturally endemic to business in NYC and I think there is a gulf between to the two camps because of it. The OP goes on to look to academia for a solution... in reality I think the business side should be looking at themselves for a solution, and that would involve giving up the goods.