It certainly depends on how you're approaching it. If you're thinking it's a chance to make more money, nope, you're better off making money at your posh job,

It certainly depends on how you're approaching it. If you're thinking it's a chance to make more money, nope, you're better off making money at your posh job, or switch to a company focused on maximum payout (e.g. netflix). If you're passionate about it no matter what and are willing to work through five years of continuous failure (e.g. airbnb's story), then no need to ask, you're going to do it no matter what. However, if you're somewhere in the middle, I think startups are a great learning experience. Go work at an early-stage startup that will pay you less than your current job and less than your market rate, but you get to experience a different style of company and style of work. Or save up money from your posh job so you can afford to not make money for a year and try starting your own company for that time. Or just coast a bit at your posh job and take that extra energy and put it into starting a side business.