6 years ago when i was in your position, my teacher/professor/ willing sponsor told me that if i can do my research in the public sector and make money..... GO

6 years ago when i was in your position, my teacher/professor/ willing sponsor told me that if i can do my research in the public sector and make money..... GO DO THAT! but if i was unsure, then he would be willing to sponsor me. An MS is worth about $5-10k extra per year, and it will allow you to act as a lead or get professional stature which is a requirement for some government regulated contracts. A PhD is worth $10k-$50k extra and will likely allow you to lead a research team, rather than just a development team. However if you are on YC then you probably have an entrepreneurial spirit, and the 3-6 years you spend on a PhD could have been spent learning how to run a business. My advice is to start some small simple business, make it profitable, sell it and start another one. In the mean time practice your tech, which should always come more easily to you. There was so much for me to learn on my first business that could have been learned in a cheaper industry than Software. A PhD, MS, or any other validation of your tech skill will be much less valuable than your ability to sell product at a profit. A proven track record with some mediocre tech, is worth more than some great tech and a shotty business record.