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This seems so… retarded. "YC 'zigs', so we're going to 'out-zig' them?" Seriously? Someone should try 'zagging' and seek older people with this kind of enthus

This seems so… retarded. "YC 'zigs', so we're going to 'out-zig' them?" Seriously? Someone should try 'zagging' and seek older people with this kind of enthusiasm to develop startups. With their real-world experience and domain knowledge, I bet the kinds of companies experienced people create would be a lot more interesting. And, in aggregate, more successful. -old(er) and cranky entrepreneur.

fecak 12y ago
I know of at least a few companies that fall into this category. A few years old, products with serious traction, laser focused on one problem, engineering teams that all have 5+ years experience, and almost all working remotely (which is likely tied to the experience level). The concept of funding people instead of an idea is one I hope will grow.
- mathattack 12y ago
  The value in these companies comes from the talent. Is it really feasible to give blind offers to large groups of college grads based purely on their potential? Large consulting firms seem to think so, and their market cap per employee is much lower than software firms, so perhaps this can work.
  - fecak 12y ago
    Is it really feasible to give blind offers to large groups of college grads based purely on their potential? Not in my eyes, no. Large consulting firms that hire bunches of grads are good at marketing the benefits of short-term employees.
neuromancer2701 12y ago
yeah, as some one "older"(mid-30s), married and with children, YC or HAXLR8R( I am interested in open hardware) are just not options financially partly because of where they are bay area cost of living seems like it is a massive tax on a startup. It would be definitely be interesting to see a wider range of ages and not having to move to the SF area. Kima15 is a little more interesting it would be neat to see if they have different demographics and if the outcomes are different.
pitt1980 12y ago
I see this reply all the time I feel like there is undue offense being taken here I'm not sure that older entrepreneurs are fertile ground for accelerators not because older enterpreneurs are worse than young enterprenuers (the opposite is probably almost obviously true), but more because the types of funding that most accelerators are giving out can't really complete with what most 30+ year old can self fund someone who's been making a programmer's salary for 10+ years, probably doesn't need the relative pittances that accelerators throw out, they've also probably built a personal network such that what what accelerators provide isn't all that valuable
- virmundi 12y ago
  I think that really depends on where you're from. I've got a small network in Indianapolis. It's not really good for anything but consulting work, largely in Indianapolis. So I'm bootstrapping a consulting/product company right now. It would be nice to get some accelerator cash for the project, but I'm not the target market. Others will probably have this issue too. If you're not, in/near the valley, your network might not count for too much when it comes to a start up.
- roberthahn 12y ago
  I disagree on all counts. You're making generalities that can be falsified. And no one has done the homework to figure out what's really going on. It is possible for an older entrepreneur to not have the kind of funding you're suggesting. I'm one. It is possible that an older entrepreneur had the kind of career that didn't encourage the development of a network of connections useful for building a business. This is (mostly) also true for me. I count myself lucky - I'm part of an incredible program that provides me with a basic living expense (my wife makes up the rest), and access to advisors, lawyers, bookkeepers, marketers, sales people and negotiators to teach me the knowledge and skills that I lack. I could not have gotten this far on my own. But the point I was making is that there seems to be such a focus on getting young people (what's next? high school grads?) that there's a much richer, more experienced field of opportunity being ignored. Or at least underreported on HN :-)
  - 12y ago

fecak 12y ago

I know of at least a few companies that fall into this category. A few years old, products with serious traction, laser focused on one problem, engineering teams that all have 5+ years experience, and almost all working remotely (which is likely tied to the experience level). The concept of funding people instead of an idea is one I hope will grow.

mathattack 12y ago
The value in these companies comes from the talent. Is it really feasible to give blind offers to large groups of college grads based purely on their potential? Large consulting firms seem to think so, and their market cap per employee is much lower than software firms, so perhaps this can work.
- fecak 12y ago
  Is it really feasible to give blind offers to large groups of college grads based purely on their potential? Not in my eyes, no. Large consulting firms that hire bunches of grads are good at marketing the benefits of short-term employees.

neuromancer2701 12y ago

yeah, as some one "older"(mid-30s), married and with children, YC or HAXLR8R( I am interested in open hardware) are just not options financially partly because of where they are bay area cost of living seems like it is a massive tax on a startup. It would be definitely be interesting to see a wider range of ages and not having to move to the SF area. Kima15 is a little more interesting it would be neat to see if they have different demographics and if the outcomes are different.

pitt1980 12y ago

I see this reply all the time I feel like there is undue offense being taken here I'm not sure that older entrepreneurs are fertile ground for accelerators not because older enterpreneurs are worse than young enterprenuers (the opposite is probably almost obviously true), but more because the types of funding that most accelerators are giving out can't really complete with what most 30+ year old can self fund someone who's been making a programmer's salary for 10+ years, probably doesn't need the relative pittances that accelerators throw out, they've also probably built a personal network such that what what accelerators provide isn't all that valuable

virmundi 12y ago
I think that really depends on where you're from. I've got a small network in Indianapolis. It's not really good for anything but consulting work, largely in Indianapolis. So I'm bootstrapping a consulting/product company right now. It would be nice to get some accelerator cash for the project, but I'm not the target market. Others will probably have this issue too. If you're not, in/near the valley, your network might not count for too much when it comes to a start up.
roberthahn 12y ago
I disagree on all counts. You're making generalities that can be falsified. And no one has done the homework to figure out what's really going on. It is possible for an older entrepreneur to not have the kind of funding you're suggesting. I'm one. It is possible that an older entrepreneur had the kind of career that didn't encourage the development of a network of connections useful for building a business. This is (mostly) also true for me. I count myself lucky - I'm part of an incredible program that provides me with a basic living expense (my wife makes up the rest), and access to advisors, lawyers, bookkeepers, marketers, sales people and negotiators to teach me the knowledge and skills that I lack. I could not have gotten this far on my own. But the point I was making is that there seems to be such a focus on getting young people (what's next? high school grads?) that there's a much richer, more experienced field of opportunity being ignored. Or at least underreported on HN :-)
- 12y ago