Is 31 too old for startup? • Hacker News Board

Re: Is 31 too old for startup?

#21

Post by JoeAltmaier » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 6:08 PM UTC

sopooneo wrote: post #20

The desire to want to just "make it" seems deeply wrong-headed to me. Granted, I don't own a company so this may be one of the many times that I am wrong, but it seems like a pretty important characteristic would be having a particular product or vision you are passionate about. And deeply wanting to be a "reluctant billionaire" seems contradictory. All that said, good luck to the guy. I sincerely hope I'll get the c…

Others here express a dissimilar sentiment: the only durable reason to start a company, is because you want to start a company. If you're passionate about that, you have a better chance of getting the business side right.

Re: Is 31 too old for startup?

#22

Post by 27182818284 » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 6:29 PM UTC

kfcm wrote: post #18

Yes, you're too old. You should just find some comfy corner, curl up, and die. Now that the pity-party is over, let's focus on reality. One is NEVER too old to found a startup. And the fact of the matter is, there are many more startup founders (both technical and non-technical) over 30 than under. Take a look at these links, and ask yourself again if you're too old: http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-average-age-of-fo…

Well off the top of my head at least two of the people on your list had earlier successes than the ones you listed.

Ev Williams did Twitter, but did Blogger before. Elon was 28 with PayPal

Probably not the best examples you could have chosen. It is like saying Bill Gates wasn't a success until he was in his fifties because it wasn't until then that he started the Gates Foundation.

Re: Is 31 too old for startup?

#23

Post by adamnemecek » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 6:55 PM UTC

kfcm wrote: post #18

Yes, you're too old. You should just find some comfy corner, curl up, and die. Now that the pity-party is over, let's focus on reality. One is NEVER too old to found a startup. And the fact of the matter is, there are many more startup founders (both technical and non-technical) over 30 than under. Take a look at these links, and ask yourself again if you're too old: http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-average-age-of-fo…

I'm sure you meant: Jeff Bezos, Amazon: 30 in 1994

Re: Is 31 too old for startup?

#24

Post by codegeek » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 7:16 PM UTC

If it is too old, too bad for me. NOT. Age is just a number. I am sure there are plenty of 31 year olds who are as successful as the 18 year olds.

Re: Is 31 too old for startup?

#25

Post by kfcm » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 7:20 PM UTC

adamnemecek wrote: post #23

kfcm wrote: post #18

Yes, you're too old. You should just find some comfy corner, curl up, and die. Now that the pity-party is over, let's focus on reality. One is NEVER too old to found a startup. And the fact of the matter is, there are many more startup founders (both technical and non-technical) over 30 than under. Take a look at these links, and ask yourself again if you're too old: http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-average-age-of-fo…

I'm sure you meant: Jeff Bezos, Amazon: 30 in 1994

D'oh. Thanks for the catch. Changed.

Re: Is 31 too old for startup?

#26

Post by ramblerman » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 7:23 PM UTC

"but it’s just not as cool to be a 35 years old millionaire now days when there are 24 years old billionaires running around."

If you actually meant that, I'd say you're too immature. Honestly it's about making money, or changing something you care about in this world. if you want to be a founder because it's fashionable well ...

Re: Is 31 too old for startup?

#27

Post by kfcm » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 7:37 PM UTC

27182818284 wrote: post #22

kfcm wrote: post #18

Yes, you're too old. You should just find some comfy corner, curl up, and die. Now that the pity-party is over, let's focus on reality. One is NEVER too old to found a startup. And the fact of the matter is, there are many more startup founders (both technical and non-technical) over 30 than under. Take a look at these links, and ask yourself again if you're too old: http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-average-age-of-fo…

Well off the top of my head at least two of the people on your list had earlier successes than the ones you listed. Ev Williams did Twitter, but did Blogger before. Elon was 28 with PayPal Probably not the best examples you could have chosen. It is like saying Bill Gates wasn't a success until he was in his fifties because it wasn't until then that he started the Gates Foundation.

I didn't choose the examples; just reposted them from the Techcrunch article.

As for Williams and Elon, true. But they did continue starting companies. Is there a difference in a first-time startup and follow-ups? Sure. Better networks; experience breeding efficiencies; reputation opening doors.

But the risk and the hard work (generally) are still there. Not too mention expectations of others and yourself from previous success can be the biggest hurdle faced. Been there, done that.

The point remains the same though. Startup founders are all ages, and there are many more 30+ founders out there than are trumpeted by the media. This is especially true in the non-technical startup realm.

Re: Is 31 too old for startup?

#28

Post by gm » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 7:50 PM UTC

bravoyankee wrote: post #6

By even asking such a question I think the startup life is not for you.

Was going to say that myself. Downvotes be damned, this answer get to the heart of it.

Re: Is 31 too old for startup?

#29

Post by kevin_morrill » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 8:49 PM UTC

It's never too late.

Ray Kroc bought McDonalds and grew it to a massive empire when he was 61. Read his book Grinding it Out.

Frank Lloyd Wright was broke several times in his life and considered through by the architectural establishment. He was 68 when he designed Fallingwater, one of the great homes every built.

Re: Is 31 too old for startup?

#30

Post by thaumaturgy » Fri, Nov 16, 2012, 8:52 PM UTC

mbesto wrote: post #15

31 is a perfect age. But so is 18, 24 and 42. Side discussion - "And I want to be the next Steve Jobs." These type of statements always irk me. I have no evidence to support my claim but I suspect that Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, etc. rarely publicly stated they want to "be the next XYZ". Rather they had a vision to _do_ something bigger. For example, Gates' vision was to "put a computer in every home".…

That bugs me too, even more so when I hear it from VC or their brethren, because it seems like they should know better.

Steve Jobs was not the next Bill Hewlett; Elon Musk is not the next Steve Jobs; Google was not the next Apple; Facebook was not the next Google.

The only thing those all share in common is that they were the next big thing. Although you can use those examples as aliases for "the next big thing", they'll tend to change the traits that you're looking for. If you're looking for "the next Mark Zuckerberg" for instance, then it's easy to let yourself get trapped into looking for someone with Mark Zuckerberg-like traits -- and then you'll miss the next big thing, because that person isn't going to be "the next Mark Zuckerberg".