There are also many reasons why you should not. (Speaking as someone who left her PhD two years in to do a startup.)
The best thing to do if you are facing the option of a PhD and also interested in other paths (startup, bigco, etc) is to fully understand what the PhD will do for you and what it is like. Including the impact it might have on your mental health, career, and ability to do a startup later. Reading essays like pgbovine's are a great way to fully understand this decision.
The best thing to do if you are facing the option of a PhD and also interested in other paths (startup, bigco, etc) is to fully understand what the PhD will do for you and what it is like. Including the impact it might have on your mental health, career, and ability to do a startup later. Reading essays like pgbovine's are a great way to fully understand this decision.