Why can't you work on this start up in your off hours? I don't see unemployment as a good option. It's not very much money. If you really wanted to do that, since you "great earning potential," why don't you save up for a few months and then try it? Although, I think the first option makes more sense in many cases.
I also am working on it in my "off hours" (after an 8-5 job, supporting other entrepreneurs in my community, and exercising every day how much time is that?) but I don't believe there's much evidence that's how great companies are built. How many great companies were "spare time" companies built by someone who wasn't in college (college is nothing but free time, whatever any student tries to tell you). Great companies are built on talent, process, and RELENTLESS EXECUTION.
I'm not saying unemployment is the right thing, but this is a MORAL not practical decision. Unemployment + my savings would be more than enough for my to relentlessly execute for 6 months to a year, which would be enough time to either validate or show I wasn't going to validate enough to get investment.
I read that you said you saved up. And I think the "relentless execution" stuff is great. Good stuff. But, you're talking about unemployment, so even though you have saved, if you can make all this money, couldn't you work just a little more save more than you'd get on unemployment. You realize that is not manna from heaven money It "ain't that much" in other words.
I get that it is potentially a "moral" and not a "practical" decision but it could a practical or legal issue if you are committing fraud to get the money, just a thought. But if you think that's the best choice for you; go for it, I guess.
