If your startup works well, you can sell it and become rich. Becoming rich means that you no longer have to work to have a good (perhaps even great) standard of living.
The dream of being free of economic worry has always loomed large in my mind. In our current historical epoch, in most countries in the world, you’re not guaranteed a standard of living. You have a chance to become destitute, to lack access to health services or to a place to live. This is especially the case if you’re not willing to fully conform to the existing social structures.
Being moderately rich is an insurance against economic hardship, except in the case of acute systemic failure. The system always protects those at the top to the last. And in the case of acute systemic failure, all bets are off, so being rich is an effective form of Pascal’s Wager.
I however believe that everyone should be free of economic worry, not just myself. And while I respect, even commend, most of those who have made fortunes through startups and have freed themselves and their families from the freedom of economic worry, I have chosen not to do so in the event that my startup, Altocode, becomes successful.
If (when) my company becomes successful, I will draw a salary from it, but no dividends. And while I can transfer its ownership to others, I won’t accrue any financial benefit from doing so. In other words, I will have to keep on working no matter how successful my company is.
By avoiding the exit of being rich, I will keep on having skin in the game that most people are playing and are forced to play. I will still care about the general educational, health and retirement systems, because my family and me will still rely on them. My interest in social progress will not be merely altruistic, but also powered by survival.
This decision claims no high moral ground. It is a rational decision to increase the odds of keeping me focused and connected to the problems faced by most fellow humans.