There is another option: work for a salary, live frugally, and stockpile savings. Then later (maybe 5-10 years later), work on the tech you really want to work on that has no obvious & immediate business need. The upside is that because no one invested or hired you to work on it, you own 100% of that work.
Also, make sure you are (a). young (< 30yrs) (b). have little to no responsibilities (family, kids) (c). have great healthcare or health insurance and (d). lucky as a little green leprechaun!
Yea, if you have met all those conditions, then that approach may work for you.
