[pinkmuffinere]

This is interesting! I wish it would address whether the founders in their 50s had spent their 20s-40s continually trying to start companies. I expect more experience in starting something makes you better at doing so. But this would mean that people should _start_ young, so they can eventually succeed

[bombcar]

Remember that most startups don't have a "single founder" and the founder who becomes the "face" of the startup if it goes big is not necessary the only contributor to the success.

Older partners may have less time to dedicate to the startup, or have other reasons to hold back.

It may also indicate that a percentage of startup success is attributable to networking effects, which mostly grow with age.

I think the biggest thing to start a successful business is to not start a startup.

[epistasis]

I think another huge factor is the network of people you know and the breadth of knowledge you can tap into that way.

Superstar young founders have crowds coming to them to fill those gaps, but less high profile young founders don't have access to that.

I would think that a very astute person starting their first startup in their 40s, but with tons of connections and deep knowledge in the target market, would have an easier time than a generalist that had done ton of startups but with less connection to the target market. But that's a broad heuristic which may have nearly as many exceptions to the rule as data supporting it...

[randomdata]

> whether the founders in their 50s had spent their 20s-40s continually trying to start companies.

Apart from some differences in legal paperwork, starting a company and seeking employment are the exact same thing. An employee needs everything else that makes a business: Sales, marketing, capital, viable product, customers, etc. So, unless you think it is the legal paperwork that falters those who are younger, almost assuredly they did. Just like most everyone else.

Lack of capital is what kills most businesses. Statistically, 50-somethings have the greatest access to free capital. Any younger and you're still working on acquiring it. Any older and you have to focus what you have towards supporting retirement. That may explain it more than anything.