I left my $200K Microsoft job to bet on my startup. Work became less fun, and AI made me feel ready to build it alone.
Junead Khan left Microsoft after two years to pursue his AI startup. He explains why he quit his six-figure job without customers or VC funding.
Junead Khan, a 25-year-old entrepreneur from Seattle, recently left his $200,000 job at Microsoft to pursue his AI startup, Treasury. He earned over $200,000 at Microsoft in 2024, but felt the job had become less enjoyable and that he wanted to focus entirely on his side business. Treasury is an AI-powered financial advisor tool aimed at average people who want or need financial guidance but cannot afford traditional advisors.
Khan built the startup on the side while working at Microsoft for two years before officially resigning last August. He documented his journey on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to build an audience and gain credibility as a solo founder. Khan believes AI has made software development more accessible and enabled him to build Treasury without a cofounder or venture capital funding.
His social media following has grown from fewer than 500 to around 30,000 followers, and he advises others to find their unique platform and content style to grow their presence.
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