| Not at all, developers usually don't really have the scope to put out great products before then < 10 years in. Some do but it is because of support networks and coding since a really early age. As an example Zuckerberg had funding and support his entire life so he was decades ahead at 20. It takes a good 10 years of coding before you can make products from design to development to maintenance and live mode, and some good working time to understand problems that need solving. You are actually in the prime age for entrepreneurship. Go get it. Paul Graham and Robert Morris started Viaweb when they were 31/30 years old and sold it after a couple of years. VCs do want younger because it is better terms/leverage (http://business.time.com/2013/03/14/ask-the-expert-the-best-...) but if you have a good company/product that is investable you will get investment, or if you make a product people want, people will want it if you get it in front of them. I think the bias toward funding only young is also probably harming products differentiation. However you can understand why VCs go younger, mainly because success of those kids is like an emerging underground band that might sell out stadiums one day. They want in earlier than other VCs or before anything of value has been created so it is under their umbrella. VCs are hipsters in that they are trying to find value before others see it. VCs main goal is to pan for Zuckerbergs like gold upstream from the blue ocean well before the red ocean, because in 5-10 years time they might be their 1 in 10 successes needed. It is a risk they are willing to take to get potential big companies very early. But you can build a company that makes you a success where you can create your own freedom at any age, you might do it so well you don't need investment, or it may make your company more robust and market tested because you have to bootstrap instead of seeking investment. Great people with great products find a way. Some links on ages of entrepreneurs: http://www.quora.com/What-successful-Internet-entrepreneurs-... http://www.forbes.com/sites/krisztinaholly/2014/01/15/why-gr... http://techcrunch.com/2011/05/28/peak-age-entrepreneurship/ https://hbr.org/2014/04/how-old-are-silicon-valleys-top-foun... http://venturebeat.com/2014/10/31/why-middle-aged-entreprene... https://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor/older-entrepreneurs-... |