4 ms·

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 n

by pitt1980 13y 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 13y 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 13y 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 :-)
- pitt1980 13y ago
  I don't want to make this personal everyone is diffent, there are people all over all sorts of these spectrums also I too have experienced annoyance at marketing targeted at a population I'm not a member of that said, if you simply look at it from a "who is it easy to add value too?" perspective the younger you skew these things, the easier it is to add value or inversely, the older you skew, the harder it is to add value you have diminishing returns to covering a few months living expenses and bring in a group of contacts that represents a good (deal/value add) for virtually all 22(?) year olds, the older you make your target, the increasing smaller percentage of people for whom that represents a good (deal/value add)
  - roberthahn 13y ago
    It's a good argument. You're right - it is easier to add value to the 22yo demographic. I just don't think it's particularly wise. :))
    - pitt1980 13y ago
      fair enough, best of luck with your startup, that's an impressive undertaking at any age as far as I'm concerned

virmundi 13y 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 13y 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 :-)

pitt1980 13y ago
I don't want to make this personal everyone is diffent, there are people all over all sorts of these spectrums also I too have experienced annoyance at marketing targeted at a population I'm not a member of that said, if you simply look at it from a "who is it easy to add value too?" perspective the younger you skew these things, the easier it is to add value or inversely, the older you skew, the harder it is to add value you have diminishing returns to covering a few months living expenses and bring in a group of contacts that represents a good (deal/value add) for virtually all 22(?) year olds, the older you make your target, the increasing smaller percentage of people for whom that represents a good (deal/value add)
- roberthahn 13y ago
  It's a good argument. You're right - it is easier to add value to the 22yo demographic. I just don't think it's particularly wise. :))
  - pitt1980 13y ago
    fair enough, best of luck with your startup, that's an impressive undertaking at any age as far as I'm concerned