Ask HN: Transitioning from Industrial Research to Starting a Company

Hello. I’m a computer science researcher working in an industrial lab. What made me determine to pursue a research career was feeling inspired during my high school and undergraduate years by researchers at Bell Labs and Xerox PARC and their work. I wanted to follow in their footsteps. However, the pressures of “publish and perish” are real, and moreover I want the freedom to set my own research direction. I have come to the conclusion that I won’t find the research environment that I want in either industry or academia, and that I’ll need to do my research on my own time. My research interests don’t require expensive equipment, just a computer and access to publications. The challenge is how to make the time, since I’m not independently wealthy and it’s difficult balancing a side project with a 40+ hr work week. It’s also very difficult to find part-time software engineering work.

One idea that has been on my mind is to find start some type of business that allows me to work 10-20 hours per week, giving me more time to pursue my research ideas independently without having to answer to management or tenure boards. Ideas that I’ve been thinking of include freelance software development, consulting, writing books, and selling software. However, I’m a bit at a loss regarding where to begin with this whole process, and I’d like to evaluate my options, as well as learn about options I haven’t considered. I’m not looking to become a tech billionaire; I want the freedom that comes with being my own boss.