Ask HN: Ex-entrepreneurs, what career path did you pursue after your start up?
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9750667Over the past couple years, I've been running a company in a non-tech field that has been growing very rapidly, investing heavily in technology to operate much more efficiently than our competition. It has been great, and it something I truly love, however due to personal circumstances I may need to step away from the company for a few years and pursue something that can provide a higher level of stability, along with security, for my family.
Like many entrepreneurs, I've worn many, many hats over the past few years - product development, QA, finance, accounting, sales, marketing, etc. I love being able to contribute ideas and suggestions in each of these areas getting started, until we have found someone who is truly an expert in that business area to take the reins and ownership of that aspect of the team.
As I start exploring opportunities in the marketplace, I see many, many postings asking for functional expertise, but next to nothing asking for broad experience putting pieces together for a venture with many unknowns (figuring out and reducing the risk associated with those unknowns in the process).
So I am curious, those of you here who have previously ran or started a company, but returned to the labor market, what opportunities did you pursue? Where were you happiest after leaving your entrepreneurial venture? What was your background before taking the entrepreneurial leap, and did you return to that field after you left your company?