Interesting question, isn’t it? There’s this stereotype we’ve all seen – the college dropout in their 20s with nothing but a laptop, big dreams, and maybe a hoodie. Think Zuckerberg, Page, and Brin. The narrative is that young entrepreneurs are the ones building billion-dollar empires from dorm rooms. But is it actually true?

average age of SUCCESSFUL startup founders is 45

Turns out, not so much.

A study by Harvard Business Review looked into this and found that the average age of successful startup founders is 45. Yes, 45. Not 25. And even more interesting? A 50-year-old founder is almost twice as likely to create a high-growth startup as someone 20 years younger.

The UK isn’t much different. Here, the average age of founders tends to hover around 38 to 40. For many industries, especially outside of tech, it skews even older. But even in tech -the so-called “young person’s game” -successful founders are typically in their early 40s. So why does this stereotype of youth persist?

Maybe it’s because of where the spotlight tends to fall. We love a good story of a 22-year-old shaking things up. Or maybe it’s to do with venture capitalists who, for some reason, favour younger founders. Someone once told me that my age might work against me when pitching to VCs. I was a bit surprised- rude, really -but it got me thinking.

Could it be that younger founders are seen as easier to guide -or negotiate with? Perhaps they’re assumed to be “hungrier.” But here’s the thing: experience counts. Older founders come with a head start in areas that really matter:

– Experience: Years of working in your industry give you a deep understanding of its gaps, challenges, and opportunities.
– Networks: Relationships built over time often open doors younger founders don’t even know exist.
– Problem-solving: You’ve been through ups and downs. That resilience can make all the difference when things get tough.
– Financial stability: Not being entirely reliant on funding means you can take your time to get things right.

Your moment hasn’t passed

Let’s not forget the examples that prove age is just a number. Steve Jobs didn’t launch the iPhone until he was 52. Colonel Sanders didn’t create KFC until his 60s. These stories aren’t just inspiring – they’re evidence that age brings a lot of advantages.

So, if you’ve ever thought about starting something but felt like your moment has passed, maybe it hasn’t. The data suggests you’re more likely to succeed now than you would have in your 20s.

What do you think? Have you ever felt too old to try something new -or did you dive in anyway? I’d love to hear your experiences. Let’s talk about why age might just be your superpower.