Only very few people have commented that, you are only 25! (I guess given the nature of the HN community :)
I don't think anyone can consider themselves a failure at 25, having spent 8 years learning a lot of programming, algorithms, data mining / machine learning and complex systems modelling.
It would be easier to think that if you hated what you were doing. But it sure doesn't sound like you do. So you just need to decide what you really want to be doing.
If it's algo trading, I concur with another poster that says go work for a hedge fund (or bank, or prop trading shop). It is super competitive, but they have the technology infrastructure and most importantly the capital. Getting in is not easy, but simply show them all your work (it doesn't work anyway, but is indicative of your skills and way of thinking). You will learn a lot, you may hate the people and environment, or you may love it even more. And then yes after a few years of experience you will most certainly be in a better position to go off on your own again (or do something totally different, by then you will really know if you like it or not!). Many top hedge fund managers / traders only started their own thing at 30, 35, 40, even 50... I know a dentist who became a prop trader. Anything is possible.
A PhD would be a great option IF it's for the right reasons. But if you want to do a startup (sounds like you might quite like the idea and you posted here on HN, so...):
- you already live on ramen, so no lifestyle change there;
- bootstrapping something can't cost more than losing money with trading algorithms;
- you already have many of the requirements: coding / technical skills, low-cost living circumstance, love to solve tough problems and a huge amount of tenacity in the face of failure and overwhelming odds;
- bonus: your interest in social systems modelling etc ties in pretty nicely with what's big right now and in the near future.
So if that is what you really want to do, go for it either alone (or find a co-founder), or find a small/medium startup to work for. To make the transition a bit more natural perhaps focus on ones that are data-driven and have machine learning / modelling at the core of their business. Think recommendations, systems modelling (www.flightcaster.com) and weather (www.weatherbill.com). There are many many examples of YC and other startup companies of this nature (many focused on the social network space).
Good luck in whatever you do decide to do with the next 60+ years of your life. On your deathbed you can post about whether you think you are a complete failure or not.
I don't think anyone can consider themselves a failure at 25, having spent 8 years learning a lot of programming, algorithms, data mining / machine learning and complex systems modelling.
It would be easier to think that if you hated what you were doing. But it sure doesn't sound like you do. So you just need to decide what you really want to be doing.
If it's algo trading, I concur with another poster that says go work for a hedge fund (or bank, or prop trading shop). It is super competitive, but they have the technology infrastructure and most importantly the capital. Getting in is not easy, but simply show them all your work (it doesn't work anyway, but is indicative of your skills and way of thinking). You will learn a lot, you may hate the people and environment, or you may love it even more. And then yes after a few years of experience you will most certainly be in a better position to go off on your own again (or do something totally different, by then you will really know if you like it or not!). Many top hedge fund managers / traders only started their own thing at 30, 35, 40, even 50... I know a dentist who became a prop trader. Anything is possible.
A PhD would be a great option IF it's for the right reasons. But if you want to do a startup (sounds like you might quite like the idea and you posted here on HN, so...): - you already live on ramen, so no lifestyle change there; - bootstrapping something can't cost more than losing money with trading algorithms; - you already have many of the requirements: coding / technical skills, low-cost living circumstance, love to solve tough problems and a huge amount of tenacity in the face of failure and overwhelming odds; - bonus: your interest in social systems modelling etc ties in pretty nicely with what's big right now and in the near future.
So if that is what you really want to do, go for it either alone (or find a co-founder), or find a small/medium startup to work for. To make the transition a bit more natural perhaps focus on ones that are data-driven and have machine learning / modelling at the core of their business. Think recommendations, systems modelling (www.flightcaster.com) and weather (www.weatherbill.com). There are many many examples of YC and other startup companies of this nature (many focused on the social network space).
Good luck in whatever you do decide to do with the next 60+ years of your life. On your deathbed you can post about whether you think you are a complete failure or not.