Left my job to do (current) startup. Spent 14 months w/o salary before we got funding. The total sounds like a lot but if I had to do it again I would.
I'm a big proponent of being open about finances and the financial struggle of doing startups - especially when you have kids and one stay at home parent in my case.
Loss of salary for 1 year, 2 months
Does not include loss of 401k match or ESPP
-$140,000
Successful Kickstarter @ $25k
+$20,000
8 week contracting project @ 20hrs / week
+$16,000
Living expenses for 14 months (savings/stocks)
-$70,000
Post funding difference in salary from market rate
-$50,000 (year 1)
-$40,000 (year 2)
Total ≈ -$264,000
My wife randomly reminds me what started off as a 3 month experiment has turned into a 3 year "adventure". She's not adventurous though :).