There's tons of different companies, VC-funded high-growth startups are just a small subset of all companies. If you want to do programming in your own company

There's tons of different companies, VC-funded high-growth startups are just a small subset of all companies. If you want to do programming in your own company you can set up some boutique working on some niche. Absolutely no need to be "a management type person" in my opinion. It certainly is possible to run company where you do up to 80% programming IMO. But, if you want the big bucks it typicalle makes sense to hire and grow. If you want to stay small and do stuff yourself, it means less money.