7 ms·

We actually do have some data, but a little thing like facts never hinders an uninformed opinion. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1127248 ht

• ericlavigne 16y ago
  That's an interesting read. Some conclusions about US-born tech startup founders include: (1) they tend to be 30+ years old, (2) they tend to have advanced degrees, especially from ivy-league schools, and (3) those with advanced degrees tend to create bigger companies, especially if they went to ivy-league schools. I didn't see any commentary on whether someone who is older or has a degree is more likely to succeed in their venture at all. This study couldn't address that question because the survey sample was composed entirely of people who had already reached a certain threshold of success. I find the study interesting mainly because it hints at the answer to this related question, and would love to see some data that addresses this issue more directly.