You have 17 months to start making 150k+ a year. You have zero credentials and a high school level education. You live in a big city, New York City. You are in your mid 30s and very ambitious. To achieve this you are weighing the following options.. a) apply for a job at a big tech company b) apply for a job at a fully VC funded startup c) start your own business on Kickstarter &/or Patreon d) apply for and get accepted to Y Combinator e) apply for an get accepted into a different accelerator with funding.. or f) realize none of the other options will work & realistically decide you need a completely different plan with either a smaller dollar amount as a goal or a longer time period to achieve it.

Llama 4 Scout

Vote: There are no realistic options

Given the constraints of having zero credentials, a high school level education, and being in one's mid-30s, the goal of making $150k+ a year in 17 months is extremely ambitious. Big tech companies and fully funded startups typically require relevant experience and credentials, making options A and B challenging. Starting a business on Kickstarter/Patreon (C) is risky and not guaranteed. Getting accepted into Y Combinator (D) or other VC funding (E) is highly competitive and not a straightforward path to the desired income. Therefore, the most realistic approach might be to reconsider the goal and plan for a smaller dollar amount or a longer time period.

Sonar Pro

Vote: Apply for a job at a fully funded startup

Given the constraints—17 months, $150k+ annual income target, no credentials, high school education, mid-30s, NYC location—option B (fully funded startup job) is the most realistic path. Why B wins: Big tech companies (A) typically require verifiable credentials, technical skills, or extensive work history. Without these, even entry-level positions paying $150k+ are inaccessible. The barrier is structural and near-impossible to overcome in 17 months. Y Combinator (D) and other accelerators (E) have acceptance rates between 1-2%[2][3]. Even with a strong idea, the odds are brutal. More critically, even if accepted, YC takes 3 months, after which you'd need to raise capital, build a product, and generate $150k revenue—all within ~14 months. Timeline is unrealistic. Kickstarter/Patreon (C) requires existing audience, credibility, or viral appeal. Building this from zero to $150k/year revenue in 17 months is extremely unlikely for someone without a platform or track record. Option F (reset expectations) is tempting given the constraints, but it's premature. Fully funded startups actively hire non-traditional candidates. Many scale-up/Series A/B companies in NYC pay $150k+ total comp for roles like sales development, account management, operations, or business development—positions that value hustle and communication over credentials. Your mid-30s age and ambition are actually assets in startup culture. Option B offers the highest probability of success because: (1) startups hire based on potential and drive, not credentials; (2) equity + salary can hit $150k; (3) the hiring timeline is fast; (4) NYC has thousands of well-funded startups actively recruiting.

GPT-5.4

Vote: There are no realistic options

17 months is a very short runway for someone with zero credentials and only high-school-level education to reliably reach $150k+ through any of A-E. The key word is realistically. A is unlikely because big tech hiring for $150k+ roles is highly competitive and usually requires demonstrable technical skill, a strong portfolio, or prior experience. Credentials are not everything, but with none at all, breaking in that fast is a low-probability bet. B is slightly more accessible than big tech, but most VC-funded startups paying $150k+ still want scarce, proven talent in engineering, sales, or product. Without an existing track record, this is also improbable within 17 months. C can work for a tiny minority, but Kickstarter and Patreon are hit-driven and audience-driven. Building a creator business or product launch from scratch to $150k annualized income in 17 months is possible, but not realistic as the best expected-value plan. D and E are even less realistic. YC and other accelerators fund startups, not raw ambition alone. Acceptance is extremely competitive, and funding does not equal personal income of $150k within 17 months. So the best answer is F: the listed options are not realistic as stated. A more realistic plan would be a different path entirely: target a high-income skill like tech sales, recruiting, certain trades, or performance-based roles, or extend the time horizon beyond 17 months.

MiniMax M2.5

Vote: There are no realistic options

With zero credentials, no existing skills or network, and only a high school education, none of the listed options realistically lead to $150k+ within 17 months. Big tech companies (A) and VC-funded startups (B) typically require degrees and experience - even with 17 months of intensive learning, breaking into $150k+ roles is nearly impossible. Kickstarter/Patreon (C) requires a developed product or skill people will pay for - building something from zero to $150k revenue in 17 months is extremely unlikely. Y Combinator (D) and other accelerators (E) have acceptance rates under 2% and require existing startups with teams and traction - not something you build from scratch in 17 months with no credentials. The honest assessment is that this person needs either a significantly smaller income target or a much longer timeline (5-10 years), along with developing actual skills through education, certifications, or building experience first.

Grok 4.1 Fast

Vote: There are no realistic options

Achieving 150k+ annually in 17 months with zero credentials and only a high school education is unrealistic across all listed options. A and B demand technical or professional skills; big tech filters for degrees/experience, and even VC-funded startups prioritize talent over ambition alone—entry-level roles won't hit 150k quickly. C relies on a viral product or content, but success rates are <1% without prior audience, skills, or marketing expertise; most campaigns fail. D and E (YC/other accelerators) have acceptance rates under 1-2%, favoring experienced founders with traction—MBA-level networks or prototypes, not high school grads starting from scratch. F is the pragmatic choice: scale back to realistic goals like trade skills (e.g., coding bootcamp + junior role aiming 80-100k) or sales (real estate/commission) over 2-3 years, building credentials first.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: There are no realistic options

With zero credentials and only a high school education, landing a $150k+ job at a big tech company or a funded startup within 17 months is highly improbable. These roles heavily rely on proven experience, technical skills, or advanced degrees. Similarly, getting accepted into Y Combinator or another VC accelerator does not equate to a $150k salary. Startup founders typically take very modest salaries in the early stages to extend their runway, and getting accepted without a strong track record is a massive long shot. While crowdfunding on Kickstarter or Patreon could theoretically work, it is extremely unpredictable and rarely yields a $150k personal income within 17 months starting from zero. Option F is the only pragmatic choice: acknowledging reality and adjusting either the timeline or the financial goal to create a truly actionable plan.

Claude Opus 4.6

Vote: There are no realistic options

Let's be realistic about each option given the constraints: zero credentials, high school education only, mid-30s, 17-month timeline, and a $150k+ income target. **Option A (Big Tech):** Big tech companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, and Apple overwhelmingly require at least a bachelor's degree for roles paying $150k+. While some tech roles are theoretically open to self-taught individuals (e.g., software engineering), you'd need to already possess elite-level skills to pass their rigorous technical interviews. With zero credentials and no mention of existing technical expertise, landing a $150k+ big tech job in 17 months is extremely unlikely. **Option B (VC-funded Startup):** Startups can be more flexible on credentials, but $150k+ roles at startups typically go to people with proven track records, strong networks, or specialized skills. Without any of these, this is a long shot. A startup might hire you for a junior or operational role, but not at $150k. **Option C (Kickstarter/Patreon):** Building a business to $150k annual revenue in 17 months from scratch with no existing audience, brand, or product is extraordinarily rare. The vast majority of Kickstarter campaigns fail, and Patreon creators earning $150k+ typically spent years building their following. **Option D (Y Combinator):** YC acceptance rates are around 1-2%. You need a compelling product/idea and ideally a technical co-founder or prototype. YC provides seed funding (~$500k), but that's startup capital, not personal salary — and taking $150k as salary from a YC-funded company would be frowned upon. Also, getting accepted with no track record or technical background is near-impossible. **Option E (Other Accelerators):** Similar issues as YC but with even less funding and prestige. The same fundamental problems apply. **Conclusion:** None of options A-E offer a realistic path to $150k+ annual income within 17 months for someone starting with zero credentials and only a high school education. The honest answer is F — you need a different plan, likely involving building skills and credentials over a longer timeline, or targeting a more achievable income goal in the short term. High-income paths like sales, real estate, or trades exist but would require more than 17 months to reach $150k.

Mistral Large

Vote: Start your own businesses on Kickstarter/Patreon

Given the constraints—17 months, no credentials, high school education, and a need to reach $150k+ annually—starting your own business on Kickstarter or Patreon is the most viable path. Here’s why: **Leverage NYC’s Ecosystem and Your Ambition** New York City is a hub for creativity, entrepreneurship, and direct-to-consumer businesses. Platforms like Kickstarter and Patreon thrive on unique, compelling ideas that resonate with audiences. Your ambition and mid-30s perspective can be an asset—you likely have life experience, problem-solving skills, and a network (even informal) that can be tapped into for early traction. Unlike traditional employment, these platforms don’t require formal credentials; they reward execution, storytelling, and hustle. **Low Barrier to Entry, High Upside Potential** Unlike options A or B, where you’d compete against candidates with degrees, certifications, or experience, Kickstarter/Patreon allow you to bypass gatekeepers. Success depends on your ability to create something people want, market it effectively, and build a community. For example, creators in niches like indie games, design, or niche content (e.g., educational, entertainment) have scaled to six-figure incomes within a year. The key is identifying a gap in the market and executing relentlessly. **Timeframe Alignment** Seventeen months is enough time to launch, iterate, and scale a business on these platforms if you focus on high-margin, scalable ideas. For instance: - A Kickstarter campaign for a physical product (e.g., a niche gadget, art book, or board game) could generate $100k+ in pre-orders if marketed well. - A Patreon for exclusive content (e.g., tutorials, behind-the-scenes, or community access) could reach $10k/month with 1,000 patrons at $10 each. Scaling to 1,500+ patrons would hit your income goal. The first 6 months can be spent validating ideas, building an audience, and refining your pitch. The next 11 months can focus on scaling and monetizing. **Avoiding the Credentials Trap** Options A, B, D, and E all require overcoming significant barriers: - Big tech (A) and startups (B) typically demand degrees, experience, or referrals. Even with bootcamps or self-taught skills, breaking into a $150k+ role in 17 months is unlikely without a strong portfolio or network. - Y Combinator (D) and other accelerators (E) are highly competitive, favoring founders with traction, technical skills, or prior startup experience. The acceptance rate for YC is <2%, and even if accepted, success isn’t guaranteed. Starting your own business sidesteps these hurdles entirely. **Realistic Risks and Mitigations** The biggest risk with Kickstarter/Patreon is failing to gain traction. To mitigate this: - Start small: Validate demand with a minimal viable product (MVP) or content before going all-in. Use social media, Reddit, or niche forums to gauge interest. - Focus on high-margin ideas: Physical products have higher upfront costs; digital products (e.g., courses, templates) or community-based models (Patreon) scale more easily. - Leverage NYC’s resources: Co-working spaces, meetups, and local creators can provide mentorship and collaboration opportunities. **Why Not Option F?** Option F assumes the goal is unattainable, but $150k/year is realistic for top creators on Kickstarter/Patreon. For example: - The Exploding Kittens card game raised $8.7M on Kickstarter. - Chapo Trap House, a Patreon-based podcast, generates over $200k/month. While these are outliers, they prove the model works. With the right idea and execution, hitting $150k in 17 months is ambitious but not impossible.

Qwen 3 235B

Vote: There are no realistic options

Achieving a $150k+ annual income in 17 months with no credentials, only a high school education, and starting from scratch is extremely unlikely through any of the listed paths.

Kimi K2.5

Vote: There are no realistic options

Seventeen months is an extremely tight runway to reach $150,000 annually with zero credentials and only a high school diploma. Big tech companies (Option A) and funded startups (Option B) typically require degrees, certifications, or demonstrable professional experience for six-figure compensation, which you cannot acquire credibly in this timeframe. Venture-backed paths (Options C, D, and E) are high-variance lottery tickets. Y Combinator accepts roughly 1-2% of applicants, and even graduates usually take years to reach meaningful personal income. Kickstarter and Patreon require pre-existing audiences or viral products with low success rates. Given the constraints, pursuing any of these specific routes is likely to result in failure and wasted time. The realistic approach is to recalibrate: either extend the timeline to allow for skill acquisition (e.g., coding bootcamp, sales training) or lower the immediate income target to a level achievable with entry-level commissioned sales or trades while building toward the $150k goal.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable delivered a sobering dose of reality, with the vast majority of models concluding that the 17-month window to hit $150k from a standing start is a professional fantasy. While eight models chose Option F, dismissing the provided paths as 'lottery tickets,' two dissenters—Sonar Pro and Mistral Large—refused to concede, arguing that NYC's unique startup ecosystem and the removal of creative gatekeepers offer a slim, high-stakes path to success.

No agreement after 1 rounds of discussion. Final vote: There are no realistic options: 8, Apply for a job at a fully funded startup: 1, Start your own businesses on Kickstarter/Patreon: 1

Strongest Arguments

• Apply for a job at a fully funded startup: NYC's Series A and B startups often prioritize hustle and communication for roles like sales development or account management, where commission can push total compensation to $150k without a degree.
• Start your own businesses on Kickstarter/Patreon: Crowdfunding and creator platforms are the only paths that completely bypass credential gatekeepers, allowing for rapid scaling based on pure market resonance and execution.
• There are no realistic options: The timeline is too short to acquire the elite-level skills or credentials needed for established high-paying roles, and even getting accepted into an accelerator doesn't translate to a $150k personal salary in year one.