On: Poll: What was your financial situation when you s...

[cj]

Side project+: You have an existing job and are continuing either full time or part time while you start the business

What are some successful companies that got off the ground this way?

[ksikka → cj]

Khan academy started this way, although they are a non profit.

[sophiebits → ksikka]

Only sort of true -- Sal quit his job not long after he decided to spend a substantial amount of time on it.

[_p62c → cj]

One notable one is Facebook, if you count Zuckerberg's education as an existing job.