Last week the popular Silicon Valley blog, Valleywag, put together a list of the hottest technology entrepreneurs and how old they were when they started their companies. The result was that most of them were in their 20s. Some venture capitalists are also now suggesting that they will not fund anyone who is over 30 years old and trying to launch a new technology company.
The blog notes that most of the biggest technology success stories have been made by founders who were in their 20s and that the peak age was 26.
Bill Gates was 20 when he started Microsoft. Steve Jobs was 21 when he created Apple with Steve Wozniak (25). The Google guys were both 25 when they launched their business.
The hypothesis is that while older entrepreneurs mail fail less often because of the experience they have gained, they are also less likely to achieve spectacularly positive results.
Having just turned 27 on the weekend am I now over the hill?
Evan Carmichael
I started my company when I was 19 (now 21) so looks like i’m more likely to be successfully then my older counterparts. Interesting.
Ghee I guess the pressure is on to rule the world by age 26.
There’s some pretty big companies there that were started by the 30+ bunch. I expect there’s pro’s and con’s to being both under and over 30…
Evan, if you’re over the hill, than I must have fallen off completely… lol. (I’m 29)
No, Kernal Sanders started when he was 70. and made KFC
The young ones are fearless. Like learning to ski, a second language. There is something to say about not knowing better. The older executives and/or entrepreneurs I know say they wish they took risk earlier rather than “learning” They also wish they learned how to network earlier which I think is a natural skill many entrepreneurs have.
Hey guys,
It’s great to see so many young entrepreneurs like myself…. I’m 25 yrs old from Hollywood, CA and I moved out here to start an exotic car membership club unlike any other… Check out my website at gqexotics.com and if you or someone you know is interested in investing, I am looking for capital… Thanks guys!
I wonder what I would ask Mahler if I had the chance to travel back in time and meet him in person.