[geerlingguy]

At 20, I had maybe 2% of the skills and knowledge that I’d need to be a successful entrepreneur. In my mid 30s, I maybe have 30%. I’d say it takes more luck the younger you are, and the 40s-50s is when talent and experience can make a huge difference in success... since you actually might have those two attributes by then!

[jayess]

I would agree with this. I've been trying to start companies since I was 12 years old and now that I'm in my late 30s, I've finally hit on a success. It took a lot of tries and failures to figure it out.

[alexpetralia]

Perhaps you could say that when you're young, there's a higher chance you'll fail due to internal reasons, but a higher chance you'll start due to external reasons (ie. very few commitments).

As you get older, there's a lower chance you'll fail due to internal reasons, but a lower chance you'll start (eg. less risk-seeking, less geographically mobile, family commitments, debt, etc.).

By this logic then, I'd expect VCs would jump at the opportunity to work with older, more experienced entrepreneurs who happen to be free from those commitments.

[nashashmi]

Older people are also more lenient towards your mistakes at a younger age. More people give you a chance. And celebrate even the tiniest successes.

I would say the younger you are, the better your ability to acquire entrepreneurial spirit, but the less knowledge you have to execute. The older you are, the more knowledgeable you are at executing yet the more shy you become at dreaming big.

This makes me recall the phrase: An entrepreneur needs the right balance of genius and craziness.

[vanderZwan]

I also suspect I'll be a lot less salty about not having any time to sit down and program myself any more because I have to deal with all the business parts.