Lots of entrepreneurial potential is wasted because talented 30-somethings have a busy day job and a family, and can't find time for their side project. Would your CEO accept this offer: you get Fridays off to build your side project, and if it gets traction and turns into a real business, your employer gets a cut. Sort of a Y Combinator for mid-career people.
This just isn't feasible for virtually all employers (minus a few startups and the rare organization that isn't risk adverse) for a variety of reasons. They're losing an employee 20% of the time, they're getting a cut of something they have no interest in and don't really understand, and they'd have to spend resources to understand the contract, legality, and valuation of your venture.<p>In other words, for the average organization there is virtually no upside.<p>The only caveat to this is if you do a true intrapreneurship type deal where you are building something within the scope of your employer that they might leverage for operations or as a product sometime in the future. But that would most likely require that they have a clear first right to purchase or that the ownership roles are reversed and you are the minority holder which isn't very ideal for the 30-something.
I don't see this taking off:<p>- Worst case: they get 80% of the work they pay you for, and a chronically depressed employee because the side business isn't working.<p>- Best case: The side business takes off, they lose an employee, and get a share in a risky startup totally unrelated to their main focus. If they wanted to do that, they probably would have become a VC in the first place! :)
It's easier to do this in some places than others, but it's a good idea. Ricardo Semler [1] is famous for backing the startup ideas of his employees. If they're going to leave anyways to start something, better to fund them on their way out.<p>[1] <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Semler" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Semler</a>
There's an entire other 40 hours between 6 and 10, plus the weekend.<p>Anyone of any skill of any appreciable amount working a 9-5 has plenty of off hours to build their thing.<p>My question is: who are the people who could be successful with Friday off that can't be successfull with Saturday, Sunday, and after work? My bet is you're talking about serving a null set.
I fit the 30-something, 9 to 5'er demo, and I would not give up 20% equity for an extra 8 hours per week. I'd be much more likely to work out something, that allows me less pay, and more time while at the 9 to 5 to work on a side project.
There's an easy alternative that also gets you Fridays off and has the advantage of not getting you laughed at by your CEO.<p>Take a 20% pay cut in exchange for a four day week.
I think this is a valid way and i think that my current employer (software company in germany) would allow this - as long as it is not in competition with my employers business.