[D] Guidance Needed: Completed a Large-Scale Al Safety Project as an Undergraduate, Now at a Crossroads

Hi everyone, I'm a final-year Computer Science (B.Tech) student, and for the past year or so, I've dedicated myself to a single, large-scale project outside of my regular coursework. The project is a novel, end-to-end software architecture aimed at addressing a foundational challenge in AI governance and safety. The system is multi-layered and complex, and I've successfully built a complete, working prototype, which is fully documented in a detailed, professional-grade white paper. I've reached the point where the initial development is 'complete,' and frankly, I'm at a crossroads. I believe the work has significant potential, but as a student about to graduate, I'm unsure of the most impactful path forward. I would be incredibly grateful for any advice or perspective from those with more experience. The main paths I'm considering are:

• The Academic Path: Pursuing a PhD to formally research and validate the concepts.
• The Entrepreneurial Path: Trying to build a startup based on the technology.
• The Industry Path: Joining a top-tier industry research lab (like Google AI, Meta AI, etc.) and bringing this work with me. My questions are:
• For those in Academia: How would you advise a student in my position to best leverage a large, independent project for a top-tier PhD application? What is the most important first step?
• For Founders and VCs: From a high level, does a unique, working prototype in the AI governance space sound like a strong foundation for a viable venture? What would you see as the biggest risk or first step?
• For Researchers in Industry: How does one get a project like this noticed by major corporate AI labs? Is it better to publish first or try to network directly? Any insights you can offer would be extremely valuable as I figure out what to do next. Thank you for your time!