It's an additive function including optimism, risk-taking, and government procedures, not an either-or situation.
We focus on the latter part because as startup junkies we're interested in that. But there are lots of low risk businesses which do not require partners and such. Running a hot-dog stand at the park, starting a small-engine repair service, doing horse-grooming, running an ice-cream truck. Sure, these things require optimism and capital (to some small degree), but you can get ramen-profitable with a bubble-gum vending company without partners or investors or any of the other stuff we talk about for technology startups.
What you can't get away from, however, is dealing with government at all of its levels.
We focus on the latter part because as startup junkies we're interested in that. But there are lots of low risk businesses which do not require partners and such. Running a hot-dog stand at the park, starting a small-engine repair service, doing horse-grooming, running an ice-cream truck. Sure, these things require optimism and capital (to some small degree), but you can get ramen-profitable with a bubble-gum vending company without partners or investors or any of the other stuff we talk about for technology startups.
What you can't get away from, however, is dealing with government at all of its levels.