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Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

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Re: Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

#141
post #4

I have been an entrepreneur for 17 years and am now “middle aged”. In my early years, I made many, many mistakes that could probably be pegged to youthful hubris. I also had no idea how to run a real business because I had scant experience even working for one let alone crafting anything approaching a “go to market plan”. If I were to start a new company today, I would probably lack the carefree creativity of a 23-ye…

To regain youthful energy/creativity, you could try increasing testosterone. Even topical pregnenolone + DHEA (5 mg : 5 mg) along with a multivitamin + D & K + chelated/TRAACS magnesium supplement may be effective. Given your age, there are also anti-aging benefits. Iodine protocol. MSM lotion. Would execution ability have been sufficiently improved by reading/observing more? What makes you now better at executing?

Is this safe? Any guides?

Re: Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

#142
post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lady Gaga worked hard and got rich and famous. But you’re probably not Lady Gaga. It’s funny that we understand this hit-based reality for music, tv, movie, and sports stars, but can’t seem to grasp it when it comes to startups.

Going the other way around is interesting too. If you look at how early many of them started working hard it doesn't quite seem as random. Say, Taylor Swift, by the time she was 12 or 13 it was pretty apparent she was dead set on making it in the music industry. And no, she didn't hit it right-off, did plenty of not-so-notable work for a while.

Just an FYI on Taylor Swift, she is not an "aww shucks" country music girl that cut her teeth by playing at malls and smaller venues. Her wealthy father purchase part of a record label which then signed her. The image that is portrayed is propaganda.

Re: Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

#143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps, but I would be careful to apply 'older execute better' as a general explanation for the study result. It's possible but selection bias could also be playing a huge role here. I can't imagine a more risky period to step out of a 'career' and become a founder than 45. So it's possible people making the leap at this age are a lot more certain about their chances of success before taking the plunge than younger…

> I can't imagine a more risky period to step out of a 'career' and become a founder than 45. Why? What makes age 45 more risky than 40 or 50, or 35 or 60? Or are you just comparing "age bracket where people probably have a family" vs. "people probably too young to have a family"?

That, and, as you get older you need your money to be more stable (reducing returns over the long term)

Re: Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

#144
post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Going the other way around is interesting too. If you look at how early many of them started working hard it doesn't quite seem as random. Say, Taylor Swift, by the time she was 12 or 13 it was pretty apparent she was dead set on making it in the music industry. And no, she didn't hit it right-off, did plenty of not-so-notable work for a while.

Just an FYI on Taylor Swift, she is not an "aww shucks" country music girl that cut her teeth by playing at malls and smaller venues. Her wealthy father purchase part of a record label which then signed her. The image that is portrayed is propaganda.

It's like the "Bill Gate's mom was on the board of IBM, so he's a phony" story. Just as in tech, successful people in other industries tend to have supportive parents.

Re: Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

#145

I've compiled and added to this list over time. When you go digging for how old the founders of major tech companies have been, you'll find they're overwhelmingly closer to their mid 30s, nearly all are over ~27, with plenty in their 40s. Exceptionally few have been like Gates, Jobs and Zuckerberg. If you're 30 and you think it's too late, it's not, you may not have even hit your prime yet. Ages of founders: Paul Gra…

Based on that list, median (and average) founder age is 35. The most common ages are 28 (15), 37 (14), and 32 (12), 36 (11), 33 (9), and 30 (9).

Re: Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

#147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To regain youthful energy/creativity, you could try increasing testosterone. Even topical pregnenolone + DHEA (5 mg : 5 mg) along with a multivitamin + D & K + chelated/TRAACS magnesium supplement may be effective. Given your age, there are also anti-aging benefits. Iodine protocol. MSM lotion. Would execution ability have been sufficiently improved by reading/observing more? What makes you now better at executing?

Is this safe? Any guides?

Thread about pregnenolone + DHEA: https://raypeatforum.com/community/threads/pansterone-liquid....

Re: Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

#148
post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not sure it ignores it. For someone who is 18 and very creative, the facts you posted could be helpful to say that they have a chance to be insane lucky if they have the aprox 1 in a billion set of skills and timing required to make it to market. On the other hand, the stats in the article point out that for someone in their 30s or 40s, they have 1/(10? 50?) chance to be able to found a successful startup, for s…

Lady Gaga worked hard and got rich and famous. But you’re probably not Lady Gaga. It’s funny that we understand this hit-based reality for music, tv, movie, and sports stars, but can’t seem to grasp it when it comes to startups.

It's also common for people to write pop stars like Lady Gaga off as no-talent hacks who are totally run by their handlers, which is of course nonsense.

Re: Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

#149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To regain youthful energy/creativity, you could try increasing testosterone. Even topical pregnenolone + DHEA (5 mg : 5 mg) along with a multivitamin + D & K + chelated/TRAACS magnesium supplement may be effective. Given your age, there are also anti-aging benefits. Iodine protocol. MSM lotion. Would execution ability have been sufficiently improved by reading/observing more? What makes you now better at executing?

Is this safe? Any guides?

Your testicles will shrink, and your body will stop naturally producing testosterone over time as you continue with the testosterone injections - basically, once you start it has to be for life! Be careful doing this.

Re: Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

#150
post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Jobs was 49 when iPhone development began.

And before the mid 90s, Apple was in constant peril of being wiped out.

> And before the mid 90s, Apple was in constant peril of being wiped out.

People always seem to forget this fact!

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