Ask HN: Does your co-founder have to be the same age as you? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Does your co-founder have to be the same age as you?

#11

Post by dnsworks » Sat, Nov 21, 2009, 2:23 AM UTC

What really matters is your ability to execute as a team. I was 24 when I started my last company with a co-fouder who was 31 at the time. We had completely different backgrounds, and polar views on the world, but we worked well together as a team. That's really all that matters.

Before my last company, I had been the youngest employee at every company I received a W2 from. Now I'm an old man at the age of 30 realizing that none of the engineers I've sat down with for dnsworks would have any recollection of the Challenger Explosion or the wall falling. Merely a sobering side note.

Re: Ask HN: Does your co-founder have to be the same age as you?

#12

Post by Mz » Sat, Nov 21, 2009, 1:10 PM UTC

I would assume that it's a lot like dating: If the age difference is An Issue between you and someone, then it's a problem and can be a show stopper. If it's not, it's not. In some cases, what you have in common in terms of lifestyle, interests and so on can overcome the difference in age. In other cases, those strengths just aren't there.

Re: Ask HN: Does your co-founder have to be the same age as you?

#13

Post by pbhjpbhj » Sat, Nov 21, 2009, 3:35 PM UTC

petesalty wrote: post #9

I think it has a lot to do with lifestyle/attitude more than age. For example, I'm 40, but I don't have kids, nor a mortgage, nor any other major financial responsibilities. I do have a long term partner but she's also an entrepreneur working on her own businesses. I hate to get up early, like to play video games, work out regularly and like a good strong drink now and again. I have the lifestyle of a 20 year olod al…

I have the lifestyle of a 20 year old

Sounds like the lifestyle of a 40+ yr old bachelor to me. You have a "long term partner" (presume you mean life-partner not business), you have low living costs, you have disposable income, these are not part of a normal 20-something lifestyle.

Re: Ask HN: Does your co-founder have to be the same age as you?

#14

Post by pbhjpbhj » Sat, Nov 21, 2009, 3:37 PM UTC

JCThoughtscream wrote: post #2

Thoughtscream's crew ranges from 21 to nearly-30. Personality and chemistry matters more than an arbitrary age range, I think - though I suppose my statement's weakened by the fact that we are still all in our 20s.

"21 to nearly-30", yet you speak as if that is a large age range. 16-70 would be a large age range. Clearly whatever Thoughtscream is it only associates younger people.

Re: Ask HN: Does your co-founder have to be the same age as you?

#15

Post by JCThoughtscream » Sun, Nov 22, 2009, 2:19 AM UTC

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #14

JCThoughtscream wrote: post #2

Thoughtscream's crew ranges from 21 to nearly-30. Personality and chemistry matters more than an arbitrary age range, I think - though I suppose my statement's weakened by the fact that we are still all in our 20s.

"21 to nearly-30", yet you speak as if that is a large age range. 16-70 would be a large age range. Clearly whatever Thoughtscream is it only associates younger people.

You'll notice that I acknowledge that an 8-9 year spread is admittedly a somewhat narrow range in which to back up my statement?

Now, do you think the statement, that personality and group chemistry outweighs age difference, should be refuted, or are you merely make a snark?

Re: Ask HN: Does your co-founder have to be the same age as you?

#16

Post by pbhjpbhj » Sun, Nov 22, 2009, 9:44 PM UTC

JCThoughtscream wrote: post #15

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"21 to nearly-30", yet you speak as if that is a large age range. 16-70 would be a large age range. Clearly whatever Thoughtscream is it only associates younger people.

You'll notice that I acknowledge that an 8-9 year spread is admittedly a somewhat narrow range in which to back up my statement? Now, do you think the statement, that personality and group chemistry outweighs age difference, should be refuted, or are you merely make a snark?

Thoughtscream's crew ranges from 21 to nearly-30. Personality and chemistry matters more than an arbitrary age range, I think - though I suppose my statement's weakened by the fact that we are still all in our 20s.

I can't see where in that sentence you said that the age range was narrow IYO. Was it in another comment?

Yes, I'd agree group chemistry matters more than a specific age range, but you appeared to be saying "look this group has people all the way from 21 to 30 years, this huge range shows that personality and chemistry ...". Group chemistry I suspect is highly dependent on age and background and specific circumstances of the group.