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I think a huge factor is attitude to risk. The younger entrepreneurs are in the no-ties shoot-for-the-sky phase. A larger proportion of people in the 30-40 ran

by dodo53 14y ago

I think a huge factor is attitude to risk. The younger entrepreneurs are in the no-ties shoot-for-the-sky phase. A larger proportion of people in the 30-40 range will be becoming more risk averse as they need to have financial stability to pay mortgages/support kids/spouses or whatever. But people tend to become more able to take financial risk as they get past young-kids stage, and develop enough of a savings cushion to go off on their own for a bit.

lkrubner 14y ago
"The younger entrepreneurs are in the no-ties shoot-for-the-sky phase." But of course, we know that these types of endeavors have the highest failure rates, of all the different kinds of new businesses that you can start. The shoot-for-the-sky businesses seem to appeal mostly to certain venture capitalists, who are looking for the occasional big payout. And that kind of venture firm doesn't really care about the fact that shoot-for-the-sky projects have a high failure rate, since a high failure rate is already part of the venture model. But if we are talking about the majority of successful businesses that get launched in the USA, then the average age of entrepreneurs is much older than the youthful image that gets much discussed on certain startup sites.
dllthomas 14y ago
On the other hand, people with a spouse that can pay the bills can afford to be less risk-averse, and they are usually older.
fghh45sdfhr3 14y ago
I think risk might be the opposite. Very young people might have no risk... unless they don't want to move back in with their parents. But older people might have the least risk if their kids are grown and don't need help, their own parents gone, and they have enough money saved not to worry about failing. Thus over 50 could have less risk than 25 and under.
- SatvikBeri 14y ago
  Anecdotally, many of the older people I know starting businesses have their kids moved out, and either a spouse whose income is more than enough for both of them or enough savings to retire. That might be why so many people in the 55-64 age group are starting businesses.
  - fghh45sdfhr3 14y ago
    Indeed, the first startup I worked for was founded by a Ph.D who's wife was a working M.D.

by dodo53 14y ago

lkrubner 14y ago

"The younger entrepreneurs are in the no-ties shoot-for-the-sky phase." But of course, we know that these types of endeavors have the highest failure rates, of all the different kinds of new businesses that you can start. The shoot-for-the-sky businesses seem to appeal mostly to certain venture capitalists, who are looking for the occasional big payout. And that kind of venture firm doesn't really care about the fact that shoot-for-the-sky projects have a high failure rate, since a high failure rate is already part of the venture model. But if we are talking about the majority of successful businesses that get launched in the USA, then the average age of entrepreneurs is much older than the youthful image that gets much discussed on certain startup sites.

dllthomas 14y ago

On the other hand, people with a spouse that can pay the bills can afford to be less risk-averse, and they are usually older.

fghh45sdfhr3 14y ago

I think risk might be the opposite. Very young people might have no risk... unless they don't want to move back in with their parents. But older people might have the least risk if their kids are grown and don't need help, their own parents gone, and they have enough money saved not to worry about failing. Thus over 50 could have less risk than 25 and under.

SatvikBeri 14y ago
Anecdotally, many of the older people I know starting businesses have their kids moved out, and either a spouse whose income is more than enough for both of them or enough savings to retire. That might be why so many people in the 55-64 age group are starting businesses.
- fghh45sdfhr3 14y ago
  Indeed, the first startup I worked for was founded by a Ph.D who's wife was a working M.D.