For a few years now I have been thinking about how I would like to build a platform to help other companies replicate this success by using some of the methods we used that are not prevalent in the market. But I do not currently have the ability to not have a full time job so have never acted on it. And I have never been closely connected with the start-up community to really be knowledgeable enough to be comfortable around the idea.
I started working for a new technology company in a tangential industry and they would like to fund the people and money for me to build this idea for them. I am sure that I would become an integral part of this new division and it would likely lead to decent bonuses and more money and promotions. It also fits in well with what this company already does.
But I feel like I would be losing this dream of mine and a lot of the upside monetary benefit if this becomes successful.
Does anyone have any thoughts or anecdotes or ideas or suggestions related to this situation?
I read that luck is nothing more than taking opportunities. This sounds like one. The main thing would be to make sure your wants and needs are on a legal signed paper, so that even if you leave the company, you are a major part of this particular project and it's success even after you are gone, or at least compensated in an appropriate way should you choose to move on or whatever may happen. You referred to it as a separate division, so it would seem to be doable in a way that protects your intellectual property and input.
It sounds like you've had a stable job for a while already, yet you are not in a position to survive for a while without income. How will this be different in the next few years? When will you have such ability?
> I would be losing [...] a lot of the upside monetary benefit if this becomes successful
How much will you be losing if you never get to try? Or only get to do it when it is too late and others have already done it?
> [...] technology platform I and my team built
Building a technology platform and establishing a business are two very different things. Do you want to build a company or build the product you've been dreaming of? If you found a company (especially if you do it alone) most of your time and energy will be focused on the former, not on the latter.
If building this platform is the most exciting work you can think of doing and you don't see dropping everything right now to pursue that dream, my advise here would be to do it with this company.
Negotiate good incentives and convince yourself that you wouldn't have done it by yourself just like you haven't for the last few years you've been thinking about it. This way you will be able to focus all your energy on actually building the thing, and you will have a nice compensation if it pans out. If it doesn't, you will have at least tried and possibly dodged financial ruin in the process.
Best case scenario: The company creates a separate subsidiary for this project where you are an equity owner/director etc. in that company but overall it is owned (majority ?) by the parent company. However, they give you the freedom to work on it while they provide you the security and comforts of the current job. Win-Win for both. If you succeed in this venture, your parent company gets a big piece of it. If you fail, you hopefully still have your main job.
If you are serious and they are serious, get your own lawyer. Good luck!!