[elliebike]

I suspect a large part of this is due to the fact that those with wealthy parents are more likely to have a) family money to fall back on if things go wrong and b) family investment in the early days

Everyone else has to seriously consider the (high) risks of their startup failing and not being able to afford rent, or whether their idea is worth burning their life savings.

[cmrdporcupine]

It's also highly cultural; if the people around you that you see as role models are serious about business, connections, management, etc. that's what you pursue. And higher management comes more naturally to people who have spent their childhood in an ethical framework that divides people into manageable units, too.

My working class / middle class parents just didn't have room in their worldview for having employees, nor would they feel comfortable delegating their household aspects to maids and the like. When we had kids my wife and I couldn't imagine having a nanny (despite being able to afford it) while many of those around us didn't blink at it.

I remember working at a startup in the 00s and having to peel out of the office every day at 5:30 to get my daughter from daycare and my (silver spoon raised) boss saying something like "we need to pitch into get you a nanny" and it struck me then how that kind of thing was really tied to "entrepreneurship." I didn't _want_ a nanny, I liked my daughter's daycare, and I very much enjoyed picking her up and getting my hug at the end of her day of play and learning with a group of kids.

Connections, money, yes, but also a managerial/directive ethic, no qualms about telling other people what to do and paying as little as possible for it.

[JKCalhoun]

Wow, I just made this exact same point. You and I must have similar experiences.

[HarryHirsch]

You forgot the family network. Zuckerberg père is a prominent Westchester dentist. Easier to find decent lawyers and accountants when you grow up in that sort of environment. Apparently, Zuckerberg met Sandberg at a party, hosted by a mutual friend.

[polote]

If you had read the article, you would have seen that it's exactly what they say : “A strong economic base may benefit those interested in setting up a start-up, providing an economic safety net in the event of failure,”

[brundolf]

Your parents don't even have to be wealthy. Just having parents who are financially stable, own their house, could literally keep you off the streets and give you food if you fell on truly hard times, makes an enormous difference compared to not having that.

[michaelbrave]

I would also bet family connections and introductions.

[mamon]

And c) They are more likely to be entrepreneurs themselves, so they have some experience to share.

[BluePen8]

And support for when it doesn't go to plan. An entrepreneur parent will empathize, as odds are they've experienced setbacks themselves.

Most ideas and first attempts fail, I'd imagine people are more likely to try again if they're not catching flak from their parents that they didn't get it right the first time.