Discussion on:

Poll: Have you ever seriously considered launching a tech startup?

I have a number of very tech inclined friends. We looked into developing a software solution for enterprise but eventually stopped. The primary reason was that we could not safely develop with the current patent system of the United States, and we didn't feel like moving over seas. We examined it and felt that the risk of a lawsuit was far to high based on what we wanted to do. Even if we purposefully went out of our way to identify any possible patent that was in anyway remotely related to what we were doing, and purposefully design around all of them, we knew that the cost of development would eat up any capital we had or could raise, and though a court might rule in our favor, we wouldn't have enough cash to get to the ruling. Thus we have decided against doing anything. We don't want to move to a country where we would have protection from the U.S. patent system.

But as a part time thing.

I recommend reading Denny Mui's _Survival Guide for "Slow Start" Entrepreneurs_
http://www.amazon.com/Survival-Guide-Start-Entrepreneurs-ebook/dp/B0054ECIV6

Here's part of my review: This book has given me new and deep insights into my own successes and failures as an entrepreneur. I've marveled at the accuracy of Miu's concise characterizations of startup players, roles, and dynamics.

This makes my must read list for entrepreneurs, along with the documentary Startup.Com and Kawasaki's _Art of the Start_. It is a great counterpoint to the ebullient _Art_. It explains the train wreck chronicled in Startup.com and lived by so many others since then.