I am 25, went to an Ivy League, did 2 years of consulting at an MBB firm, and then left to build a startup with my friend from college. We lived and worked together for a year but couldn't make it work due to personal/roommate/cofounder issues confounding.
One month ago I finally moved out. I applied to an entrepreneurial fellowship and I am in the final evaluation stage. The fellowship is centered on health innovation. I find it exciting and did healthcare work while in consulting but I am not sure if healthcare will be the bread and butter of my career. I think the fellowship may give me an amazing network of healthcare innovators. The major drawback is that I would have to move to Philly from NYC. It feels a bit destabilizing given I recently just moved out of the situation with me ex cofounder/roommate.
On the other hand, I have been building a startup to help NYC renters find apartments easier and faster. The idea was inspired by how difficult it was to find an apartment and move out of my previous place. In this one month, I have built an MVP and started making some content to build a personal brand. It feels incredibly rewarding to see one of my ideas come to life, and I feel committed to do anything to make it work as long as it resonates with the market.
The decision is hard because I feel like I've spent my life/ career so far chasing recognition and prestige. I was never happy when I did consulting even though it padded my resume and paid well. I think the fellowship gives me an easy pivot from consulting to entrepreneurship, and would help me find a community and network of people to support my future startup journey. But I also feel compelled to just build, and see where my skills take me.
If my ultimate goal is to someday build my own company, which path do you think I should take?