It wasn't a startup exactly, but I did part-time software dev contracting as a side hustle for about 3 months while I held down a full time job. It was excrucia

It wasn't a startup exactly, but I did part-time software dev contracting as a side hustle for about 3 months while I held down a full time job. It was excruciating. But, it did allow me to build up enough cushion to comfortably make the jump to full time contracting. Which was my best career move yet. I really wouldn't want to go through that again, but it was worth it.