Many aspiring entrepreneurs hesitate to quit stable jobs to pursue ventures full-time, while side hustles often lack the resources to grow beyond small-scale revenue. This creates a gap where promising ideas stagnate due to part-time constraints. One way to address this could be a hybrid accelerator-fund designed specifically for side hustlers, helping them reach a point where their venture generates enough income to transition into full-time work—what might be called "salary escape velocity."

How It Could Work

The idea involves two core offerings:

• Capital Injection: Providing $10k–$20k in exchange for 5%–10% equity, which could be used for product development, marketing, or operational costs.
• Structured Support: Cohort-based programs with milestones, weekly check-ins, and curated resources like growth hacking guides and legal templates.

Unlike traditional accelerators, this wouldn’t require full-time commitment upfront. Instead, the focus would be on helping founders hit revenue thresholds (e.g., $5k/month) that allow them to transition autonomously.

Who Could Benefit

This approach could be particularly useful for:

• Employees with side projects who have validated ideas but limited time to scale.
• Student entrepreneurs balancing studies and ventures.
• Industries like SaaS, direct-to-consumer brands, and creator tools, where modest capital can unlock growth.

Execution and Validation

A possible MVP could start with a small pilot of 5–10 founders using a revenue-sharing model (e.g., 2% of revenue until the investment is repaid). Key metrics to track would include the percentage of founders reaching "escape velocity" and the median time it takes them to transition. If successful, the program could expand to quarterly cohorts with tiered funding—for example, an initial $10k followed by an additional $15k upon hitting $3k/month in revenue.

By focusing on measurable outcomes and flexible terms, this approach could help side hustlers scale their ventures without sacrificing financial stability.