A few ideas since nobody's responded yet...<p>7 years isn't very long as an adult. It's going to pass in exactly seven years. If it were me, I'd consider it just another cost like rent. Live with roommates longer I guess.<p>Work a year or two in a big megacorp where you have to have a badge to get in. Save some money and gain infinite motivation to succeed on your own. Take mental pictures of where you'll never go back. I don't think I'd use the extra money to pay down the loans faster - you need liquidity if you're going to go out on your own. Get some credit cards during this time too. Also, then you're no longer fresh out of school, you're from megacorp!<p>Don't worry as much about investors. This whole thing has been hyped into some kind of audition process. If you get investors they will be your boss. Bootstrap while you're working at megacorp and by contracting later.<p>Don't try to create a new market. You (and I) can't afford to do that.<p>Finally, you must have a trustworthy non-technical partner in the mix. A biz-dev/sales person. Coders and designers are not people people.