I think the point @karterk was trying to make is that it might be illegal for you to do any paid work at all at your own startup (or any other company other tha

I think the point @karterk was trying to make is that it might be illegal for you to do any paid work at all at your own startup (or any other company other than your original employer), regardless of whether your original employer allows moonlighting or not. I'm not sure how H1B works in the U.S., but a lot of countries have rules like that attached to work visas. So until your visa has been transferred to your startup, your startup can't pay you any salary.