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Ask HN: Is it too late to do a startup after 35?

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to do a startup after 35?

#21

Post by Mz »

From: http://v25media.s3.amazonaws.com/edw519_mod.pdf

  127. It’s Never Too Late
  Teen years - flipped burgers & partied
  Age 21 - graduated college, flipped burgers, & partied
  Age 24 - touched my first computer
  Age 25 - wrote my first program
  Age 27 - touched my first PC
  Age 31 - wrote my first low level code
  Age 32 - started my first business
  Age 39 - started my second business
  Age 41 - accessed the internet for the first time
  Age 44 - wrote my first browser-based app
  Age 51 - found Hacker News
  Now - having more fun than ever

  It’s never too late, you’re never too old, and it’s not whether the glass is half full or half empty.

  It’s about getting up off your butt and filling the glass the rest of the way.
If you spend any time around here, you might be passingly familiar with the author (as he is currently #5 on the leader board):

https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=edw519

Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to do a startup after 35?

#22

Post by Disruptive_Dave »

excitom wrote: post #20

As someone who has spent almost 40 years in high tech, and who has founded 3 companies after 30 (one after 40), I just don't buy the B.S. that you've over the hill after your 20's. I think any V.C. that buys that hype is going to miss out on enormous opportunities. Part of the thinking is that once you marry and have a family, then 100 hour work weeks are out. Well, setting aside the discussion of quantity v. quality…

I can also say, as a 35yo co-founder who works with a bunch of 20-somethings, I am WAY more focused and productive than them. Not their fault, this came with time in stress-filled work environments and the natural maturing of my personal life. I can do in 8 hours what they do in 12, on a regular basis.

Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to do a startup after 35?

#23

Post by seanmcdirmid »

USNetizen wrote: post #4

You are absolutely not too old. Actually, contrary to the Silicon Valley stereotype, most startup founders are between their late 30's and early 40's - where they have the perfect mix of remaining youthful drive and critical industry experience (it is also, coincidentally, the age range where fluid intelligence of youth and crystallized intelligence of wisdom intersect and balance out). The fastest growing startups a…

If you have a family, obligations, the amount of risk you can take on might be more limited. It's ok taking equity in leui of a decent salary in your 20's when single, but this is much harder when life goals change after having a kid.

Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to do a startup after 35?

#24

Post by codingdave »

excitom wrote: post #20

As someone who has spent almost 40 years in high tech, and who has founded 3 companies after 30 (one after 40), I just don't buy the B.S. that you've over the hill after your 20's. I think any V.C. that buys that hype is going to miss out on enormous opportunities. Part of the thinking is that once you marry and have a family, then 100 hour work weeks are out. Well, setting aside the discussion of quantity v. quality…

VCs don't buy that hype. They just know that young founders are more likely to be convinced that VCs are mentors and follow their guidance easier than guys in their 40s. The VCs will own more of the company, and have more board seats, and have more influence, all for less output of cash.

Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to do a startup after 35?

#25

Post by USNetizen »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #23
USNetizen wrote: post #4

You are absolutely not too old. Actually, contrary to the Silicon Valley stereotype, most startup founders are between their late 30's and early 40's - where they have the perfect mix of remaining youthful drive and critical industry experience (it is also, coincidentally, the age range where fluid intelligence of youth and crystallized intelligence of wisdom intersect and balance out). The fastest growing startups a…

If you have a family, obligations, the amount of risk you can take on might be more limited. It's ok taking equity in leui of a decent salary in your 20's when single, but this is much harder when life goals change after having a kid.

Well, that is another stereotype. When you're older and have held more high-paying jobs, you also tend to have savings, assets, a better credit history and other funds to cushion the blow. Plus, with a spouse, you have economies of scale potentially so they can work while you lead a startup with little or no pay.

I would guarantee if you took a survey, that the average founder actually falls somewhere around 38-45 years old, with one to two kids, a mortgage and everything else. Yet, the risk is substantially lower because they can leverage up to 20 years of earned experience (and contacts) in an industry (or multiple).

If you don't believe me, just ask the guys that started Intel, who were in their 40's with families. They even did it in a time when technology startups were virtually unheard of.

Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to do a startup after 35?

#26

Post by fiatmoney »

"Doing a startup" is a middling to bad idea (particularly if you mean "working for below-market wages & illiquid impossible-to-value options at a hip VC funded consumer web foosball emporium", as opposed to actually founding).

"Starting a company" on the other hand is an excellent idea, if you think you've found a niche where you can make it work.

Your remarks about wanting to "feel the excitement" and "compete with the 20s" though make me think you might want to contemplate what you're trying to get out of it. If it's possibly-positive-value consumption (similar to the idea of starting a clothing boutique or coffeeshop) that's a different decision calculus than if it's an investment of time & some money that's intended to pay off with a given return in a given timeframe.

Some people spend money climbing mountains; some people found guide companies so they can spend more time climbing mountains; some people found sporting goods stores because they've noticed the margins are pretty high and more people seem to be climbing mountains lately. There's a key difference between #2 & #3.

Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to do a startup after 35?

#28

Post by noso »

you should read following:

The Ray Kroc Story

“If I had a brick for every time I’ve repeated the phrase Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value, I think I’d probably be able to bridge the Atlantic Ocean with them.” —Ray Kroc

How do you create a restaurant business and become an overnight success at the age of 52? As Ray Kroc said, “I was an overnight success alright, but 30 years is a long, long night.”

http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/our_story/our_history/the_ray...

You are never too old to dream! Jut work hard and you will get to where you want to be.

Re: Ask HN: Is it too late to do a startup after 35?

#29

Post by solve »

YC interviewers say yes. Some have directly told me that they use this equation when judging applications:

impressiveness = achievements / age

Now that YC has tried to tackle the race and gender concerns, I really hope that ageism is next. They can start by switching the age application question to just an "over 18?" checkbox.

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