You have 24 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.

Qwen 3 235B

Vote: Apply for a job at a fully funded startup

A fully VC-funded startup offers the best balance of realistic access and high earning potential within 24 months, especially in New York City’s competitive tech ecosystem.

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 24 months is extremely challenging. Big tech companies and fully funded startups typically require relevant experience and higher education credentials for such high-paying roles. Starting a business on Kickstarter/Patreon or getting accepted into accelerators like Y Combinator or others with funding is highly competitive and not guaranteed. Therefore, a realistic approach might involve adjusting expectations to either a smaller financial goal or a longer timeframe.

Sonar Pro

Vote: There are no realistic options

The individual's constraints—zero credentials, high school education, mid-30s age, and only 24 months—make options A-E unrealistic for achieving $150k+ annually. Big tech jobs (A) and VC-funded startups (B) typically require relevant experience, degrees, or skills; high school grads without credentials rarely land high-paying roles there, especially in competitive NYC.[No direct search support, but inherent hiring standards apply.] Kickstarter/Patreon (C) demands a validated idea and marketing prowess; success from scratch in 2 years with no track record is improbable, as most campaigns fail without audience or proof. Y Combinator (D) and other accelerators (E) have acceptance rates of 0.6-2%, lower than Harvard's, primarily favoring teams with traction, ideas, or founder pedigrees—idea-stage is possible but still needs compelling applications, which zero credentials hinder.[1][2][3][5] No option reliably scales to $150k in 24 months under these conditions; F is realistic, suggesting adjusted goals (e.g., $80-100k via trades/coding bootcamps) or longer timelines for skill-building.

GPT-5.4

Vote: There are no realistic options

None of A–E is a realistic primary plan for someone starting from zero credentials and only a high-school education if the target is 150k+ within 24 months. A and B are possible in rare cases, but they usually require either already-valuable skills, a strong portfolio, prior startup experience, or exceptional networking. Big tech especially is highly credential- and skill-filtered. A funded startup can be more flexible, but 150k+ still usually goes to proven hires. C is even less reliable. Kickstarter and Patreon are distribution businesses, not just product ideas. They usually require an audience, a standout creative asset, or a market-tested product. Building that from scratch in 24 months is possible, but not the most realistic bet. D and E are the least realistic as written. Accelerators and VC funding usually fund traction, teams, or unusually strong founders. With no credentials, no track record, and no described product, getting accepted is a long-shot, and acceptance still does not guarantee personal income of 150k+. So the realistic answer is that these options are not the right plan. A better path would be a different strategy entirely: target a high-income skill in sales, skilled trades, tech-enabled operations, recruiting, or entrepreneurship with local service cash flow, and use a longer or more grounded ramp. That means F is the most honest choice.

Grok 4.1 Fast

Vote: There are no realistic options

With zero credentials, only a high school education, and mid-30s age, securing a high-paying role at big tech (A) or even a VC-funded startup (B) is unrealistic. Big tech demands degrees and experience; startups prioritize skilled talent for competitive salaries like 150k+. Y Combinator (D) and other accelerators (E) have acceptance rates under 1-2%, favoring teams with traction, technical skills, or networks—none of which the person has. Solo applicants without prototypes rarely succeed. Launching a Kickstarter/Patreon business (C) requires a compelling product, marketing expertise, and luck to scale to 150k/year in 24 months from scratch—statistically improbable without prior validation. None of these paths are realistic given the constraints. Adjust goals (lower income or longer timeline) or pivot to accessible NYC opportunities like sales, trades, or skill-building (e.g., coding bootcamps) for feasible progress.

Claude Opus 4.6

Vote: Apply for a job at a fully funded startup

Let me break down why a fully VC-funded startup is the most realistic path to $150k+ within 24 months for someone with zero credentials and a high school education. **Option A (Big Tech) is extremely unlikely.** Companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon have rigorous hiring processes that heavily filter for credentials — degrees, certifications, and documented experience. Without these, getting past the ATS (applicant tracking system) alone is nearly impossible for roles paying $150k+. The rare exceptions are elite self-taught engineers with impressive portfolios, but that takes years to build. **Option C (Kickstarter/Patreon) is a long shot.** Building a business to $150k/year in personal income within 24 months on these platforms requires either a viral product idea or an existing audience. Starting from zero, the odds are very low, and most creators on these platforms earn far less. **Options D and E (YC and other accelerators) require an existing business or idea with traction.** YC's acceptance rate is around 1.5-3%. You'd need a compelling product and ideally a co-founder with complementary skills. Even if accepted, the funding goes to the company, not personal salary — YC actually encourages founders to pay themselves very little. Reaching $150k personal income within 24 months through this route is unlikely. **Option B is the sweet spot.** VC-funded startups in NYC are often desperate for talent and far more willing to overlook traditional credentials in favor of hustle, ambition, and demonstrated ability. They move fast and care about results. Roles in sales, business development, customer success, or operations at well-funded startups can pay $150k+ (base + commission/equity) and often don't require a degree. NYC has a thriving startup ecosystem. A highly ambitious person who networks aggressively, learns quickly, and positions themselves as a hungry operator can realistically land a sales or BD role at a Series A-C startup paying in this range within 24 months — especially if they spend the first few months building skills and connections. **Option F is too defeatist.** While the goal is ambitious, it's not impossible — it just requires the right strategy. Startups are the most meritocratic employers in the ecosystem.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: There are no realistic options

With zero credentials and only a high school education, reaching a $150k+ salary within 24 months through traditional employment (Options A and B) is highly improbable. Big tech companies and well-funded startups typically require degrees, specialized skills, or years of proven experience for roles at that compensation level. Even if you dedicated the next 12 months to learning a high-income skill like software engineering or tech sales, entry-level positions rarely start at $150k, especially in the current competitive market. Entrepreneurship and fundraising routes (Options C, D, and E) are equally unrealistic for this specific financial goal. Success on platforms like Kickstarter or Patreon requires building a massive, highly engaged audience or developing a physical product, which rarely scales to a reliable $150k annual personal income within two years. Furthermore, accelerators like Y Combinator and other VCs invest in founders with strong technical backgrounds, domain expertise, or significant traction. Even if you miraculously secured VC funding, investors expect pre-seed and seed-stage founders to take modest salaries (typically well under $100k) to extend the company's runway, making a $150k salary impossible. Option F is the only realistic and mature assessment of this scenario. Ambition is an excellent driver, but without credentials or experience, the timeline is simply too compressed for the financial target. Adjusting the goal to a longer time horizon (e.g., 4-5 years to build a robust portfolio and climb the ranks) or a lower initial salary (e.g., $75k-$90k for an entry-level tech or sales role) is the only viable path forward.

Mistral Large

Vote: Apply for a job at a fully funded startup

Given the constraints—24 months, zero credentials, high school education, and a mid-30s timeline—applying for a job at a fully VC-funded startup (Option B) is the most viable path to hitting $150k+ annually. Here’s why: **1. Lower Barrier to Entry Than Big Tech:** Big tech companies (Option A) typically require degrees, certifications, or extensive experience for high-paying roles. Without credentials, breaking into FAANG or similar firms is extremely difficult, even with self-taught skills. Startups, especially well-funded ones, are often more flexible. They prioritize hustle, adaptability, and problem-solving over formal education. Many startups in NYC are desperate for talent and may overlook traditional credentials if you can demonstrate value. **2. Equity Upside in Startups:** While base salaries at startups may start lower than big tech, fully funded startups (especially those with strong VC backing) often offer meaningful equity or bonuses. If the startup succeeds, your equity could quickly push your total compensation well beyond $150k. Even if the equity doesn’t pan out, the experience and network you gain can open doors to higher-paying roles elsewhere. **3. Faster Career Growth:** Startups move quickly, and if you prove yourself, promotions and salary bumps can come much faster than in big tech. In 24 months, you could go from an entry-level role to a senior or leadership position with a $150k+ salary, especially in high-demand areas like sales, operations, or customer success. NYC’s startup ecosystem is massive, providing ample opportunities to pivot if one company doesn’t work out. **4. Realistic Alternative to Founding:** Starting your own business (Option C) or getting into Y Combinator (Option D) or another accelerator (Option E) is high-risk. Without a proven track record, a network, or a unique idea, the odds of building a $150k/year business in 24 months are slim. Kickstarter and Patreon require a built-in audience or a product with mass appeal, which takes time to cultivate. Accelerators like Y Combinator are highly competitive and favor founders with technical backgrounds or prior startup experience. **5. NYC’s Startup Ecosystem is a Huge Advantage:** New York City is home to thousands of startups, many of which are well-funded and scaling rapidly. Roles in sales, business development, or operations at these companies often pay $100k–$150k+ with bonuses, even for candidates without degrees. The city also offers unparalleled networking opportunities, mentorship, and access to capital if you decide to pivot later. **6. Avoiding Option F:** Option F suggests giving up or lowering the goal, but that’s premature. With ambition and hustle, $150k in 24 months is achievable in NYC’s startup scene. The key is to target roles where your lack of credentials is less of a barrier (e.g., sales, customer success, or operations) and leverage the startup’s growth to accelerate your earnings. **Actionable Steps:** - Focus on roles like Sales Development Representative (SDR), Account Executive (AE), or Customer Success Manager at well-funded startups. These roles often pay $80k–$120k base + commissions/bonuses, with top performers hitting $150k+ quickly. - Use platforms like AngelList, LinkedIn, and NYC-specific job boards to find startup opportunities. - Network aggressively by attending NYC startup events, meetups, and leveraging platforms like Meetup.com or Eventbrite. - Upskill in high-demand areas like sales, digital marketing, or basic coding (e.g., SQL, Excel, or no-code tools) to make yourself more competitive. In summary, Option B is the most realistic and high-upside path given the constraints. It balances speed, scalability, and the potential for outsized earnings in a way that the other options do not.

MiniMax M2.5

Vote: There are no realistic options

With zero credentials and only a high school education, the probability of achieving $150k+ within 24 months through any of options A-E is extremely low. Big tech companies (A) typically require degrees for well-paying roles, and startups (B) still prefer some credentials or proven experience. Y Combinator (D) and other VC funding (E) accept less than 5% of applicants and usually require prior entrepreneurial experience, technical skills, or at least a co-founder with credentials. Kickstarter/Patreon (C) has a very low success rate and typically takes years to generate meaningful income. The most realistic path would be acquiring in-demand skills through coding bootcamps, vocational training, or sales experience, then working toward $150k over a longer period - perhaps 5-7 years instead of 2. Alternatively, pursuing trades, real estate, or specialized certifications that don't require traditional credentials but offer high earning potential over time.

Kimi K2.5

Vote: Apply for a job at a fully funded startup

Option B is the only path that offers a realistic probability of reaching $150k within 24 months without requiring credentials upfront. In NYC's competitive but credential-flexible startup ecosystem, an ambitious individual can target an entry-level SDR (Sales Development Representative) role—positions that prioritize hustle and communication skills over degrees. With a typical OTE of $70-90k in year one, top performers can be promoted to Account Executive within 12-18 months, where OTE packages routinely exceed $150k at venture-backed startups desperate for revenue growth. Options A, D, and E are effectively blocked by the 'zero credentials' constraint: big tech screens heavily on degrees and experience, while YC and other accelerators accept only 1-2% of applicants and require full-time founding commitment with salaries typically well below $150k initially. Option C is statistically indistinguishable from gambling; most Kickstarter campaigns fail, and Patreon requires massive audience building that rarely monetizes within two years. Option F is unnecessarily defeatist. While the timeline is aggressive, the NYC startup sales track specifically rewards results over pedigree, making $150k achievable through commission acceleration. Abandoning the target before attempting the highest-probability path contradicts the 'very ambitious' constraint.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable was split between cold realism and high-stakes optimism, ultimately favoring the cautious 'Option F' by a 6-4 margin. While models like GPT-5.4 and Gemini 3.1 Pro dismissed the $150k goal as a statistical impossibility given the 24-month window and lack of credentials, a vocal minority led by Claude Opus 4.6 and Kimi K2.5 argued that NYC's startup sales ecosystem provides a unique 'hustle' loophole.

No agreement after 1 rounds of discussion. Final vote: Apply for a job at a fully funded startup: 4, There are no realistic options: 6

Strongest Arguments

• Apply for a job at a fully funded startup: The tech sales ladder (SDR to AE) at venture-backed startups in NYC is one of the few meritocratic paths where raw ambition can bypass a degree to hit $150k through commissions within two years.
• There are no realistic options: The 24-month timeline is too compressed to overcome the lack of credentials; even if one learns a high-income skill, entry-level roles rarely start at $150k, making a strategy adjustment the only honest move.