I quit Google and ended my path to a US green card to cofound a startup in London. It's a huge risk, but I want to live an exciting life.

Gregor Konzett says he questioned if quitting Google was a good idea in the current job market.

Gregor Konzett

• A former Google engineer left Silicon Valley to join a London startup accelerator program.
• He moved after feeling limited at Google and wanting to build his own startup.
• He says giving up a stable job and a US visa was worth the risk, even in a difficult job market.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Gregor Konzett, a 27-year-old former Google employee based in London.