> it will definitionally be more stressful than being an employee I've done all three paths and it's not this cut-and-dry. There are years at startups that are

> it will definitionally be more stressful than being an employee I've done all three paths and it's not this cut-and-dry. There are years at startups that aren't stressful at all and years that are stressful. Likewise for being an employee (or executive). Startups are, by-and-large, less secure than most jobs so if that insecurity bothers you that can create stress. On the other hand, most people starting tech startups are fairly employable and "failing" doesn't really look too bad. On the plus side, at a startup you have more ability to manage your stress by controlling your world.