How ironic to read this question this evening. I'm 38. Right now I am finalising the documentation pack (16 documents in all!) to sell my second company. It's two-and-a-half years old. We sign the documents in 12 hours time. The company took no VC, but just a small amount of trade money. We're selling out to our largest customer because they made us an offer we couldn't refuse.
At 38 you are most certainly NOT too old to startup. At 38 your personal circumstances may mean that you cannot take the same level of risk that you could at 28 or 21. But if you are happy, healthy, and have a means of keeping a roof over your head and your dependents' head, then go for it.
The very very worst that could happen is that you could find yourself looking for a job in a few months time. But you'll be looking for that job with a bunch more experience, and credibility, than you would have without having tried to start something.
Best wishes to you. Enjoy it. And if your luck works out, you'll make a fortune. If your luck doesn't work out, you'll hold with you a great experience that you'll cherish forever.
Kids are often inefficient and waste a lot of time just figuring stuff out and making mistakes. Use your experience to your benefit and just make sure your idea is something that you can do in the finite amount of time you might have available to yourself.
I'm 34 and starting a new company while in the process of leaving my previous one in capable hands.
Starting a company is saying to the world you are ready for a major change in your life. This is a big step, one that shouldn't be taken lightly, especially with a mortgage. But if your losing sleep over this idea at night, then it's one that might be necessary. Even if it's a complete failure, you would have succeeded in changing your life.
No. I'm 38 and a year in as CTO of a startup while moonlighting on another "hobby" business I've had for a couple of years.
Oh, and I have two kids, a wife, and a yard. I actually know my kids and they know who I am :-). But, I don't watch TV, the only video games I play are with my kids, and I'm having the time of my life.
You can do it. It's just a matter of desire and priorities. Me, I have more fun getting code to run than watching TV or playing an RPG. And that's really the only "sacrifice" I've made, and I think it's a rather good one, personally.
No, 38 is not too young. Sure, you'll get better as you get older, but there's no reason not to start now. If it's a software startup, you'll want a good codebase in place now before your kids get old enough to hack on it.
P.S. You put "am I too old" in the title. You might be able to get one of the moderators to fix that typo.
If you think you're too old, then you probably are.
Age is a state of mind.
Actually, at 41 myself (and 3 months into my own startup), I find that as the kids get older (7 and 11), I'm getting more time again to pursue my passions.
Speaking as a 36-year old in the throes of testing his app I bloody hope not! If you're sufficiently clear of responsibilities that you can do this, well, you'll always regret it if you don't.
I guess the reasons PG and co recommend youung-uns are mainly:
1) Energy (physical, I guess)
2) No serious financial obligations
3) No family obligations.
I think #2 is probably the biggest. However, if you are older and have no debt/mortgage, plenty of everything, they why not. #3 you can't do anything about really, but as long as you don't mess with #2, the #3's in your house won't be too upset.
Also having kids teaches you to sleep efficiently and economically (you sleep when you can).
I find it fascinating to watch startups, I think its an awesome thing to do.
as long as you feel you have the time/flexibility/energy/whatever to make it happen, you're not too old.
the standard difference is that younger people tend to have more flexibility in failure -- if they don't succeed they can still get a regular job and retire and live happily ever after. they don't have a family, a house, sometimes don't have a car, are comparatively more healthy, etc. its easier to live off of nothing, bootstrap themselves, and fail gracefully.
a prototypical older person has more responsibilities, has bills to pay, has a family to support, etc.. there's more of a need of a steady income stream. if you feel like you're in a situation to be able to follow your idea and still uphold your responsibilities, then go for it.
At 39 I work in a startup. I would say that mid-thirties is probably the ideal age to get involved with a startup. Both the founders for which I work are also 'mid thirties'. At that age you probably have enough experience to be at a great advantage over people in their 20s.
You're definitely not too old -- I'm 36, and my co-founder is in his forties.
Possible drawbacks to older founders include:
- may not be able to work for free (or nearly so) for as long a time, because they have families to support (or have simply grown accustomed to a higher standard of living than ramen and crashing on someone's couch).
- may not be able to work for as many hours per week, again because of families, accustomed comfort, etc.
On the positive side, older founders are:
- more likely to have the business and professional relationships that will facilitate customer sales and/or investor deals.
- may be able to work more efficiently and effectively, because of the things they have learned (technology, management, specific domains, business, etc).
There might be some business plans that can best be executed by college-age folks, but there are others that are best executed by someone older -- figure out how to make your idea work for you, and go for it!
You're probably too old to quit your job, live in a one bedroom apartment with two other dudes, and eat Ramen for six months. But you're probably not too old to start something as a side project with your friends and see if it goes somewhere.
It's not your age that counts, but your level of PASSION (and the target market), as some wise man once said, "There's no OFF switch on a successful entrepreneur". Col. Sanders was in his seventies when he started KFC. But ... it really depends on your level of debt and risk aversion. And of course, if you have a significant other then he/she must share your passion otherwise you'll either drop out or your significant other with be very EX! Starting a business will not get you out of debt quickly (if ever) but further into debt until you start making more than you spend.
[+] [-] frazerb|17 years ago|reply
At 38 you are most certainly NOT too old to startup. At 38 your personal circumstances may mean that you cannot take the same level of risk that you could at 28 or 21. But if you are happy, healthy, and have a means of keeping a roof over your head and your dependents' head, then go for it.
The very very worst that could happen is that you could find yourself looking for a job in a few months time. But you'll be looking for that job with a bunch more experience, and credibility, than you would have without having tried to start something.
Best wishes to you. Enjoy it. And if your luck works out, you'll make a fortune. If your luck doesn't work out, you'll hold with you a great experience that you'll cherish forever.
[+] [-] bh|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] utnick|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] MaysonL|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] MaysonL|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] brk|17 years ago|reply
Been done plenty of times. Now get to work!
[+] [-] cmos|17 years ago|reply
I'm 34 and starting a new company while in the process of leaving my previous one in capable hands.
Starting a company is saying to the world you are ready for a major change in your life. This is a big step, one that shouldn't be taken lightly, especially with a mortgage. But if your losing sleep over this idea at night, then it's one that might be necessary. Even if it's a complete failure, you would have succeeded in changing your life.
Cheers to that!
[+] [-] acegopher|17 years ago|reply
Oh, and I have two kids, a wife, and a yard. I actually know my kids and they know who I am :-). But, I don't watch TV, the only video games I play are with my kids, and I'm having the time of my life.
You can do it. It's just a matter of desire and priorities. Me, I have more fun getting code to run than watching TV or playing an RPG. And that's really the only "sacrifice" I've made, and I think it's a rather good one, personally.
[+] [-] brlewis|17 years ago|reply
P.S. You put "am I too old" in the title. You might be able to get one of the moderators to fix that typo.
[+] [-] DougBTX|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] byteCoder|17 years ago|reply
Age is a state of mind.
Actually, at 41 myself (and 3 months into my own startup), I find that as the kids get older (7 and 11), I'm getting more time again to pursue my passions.
[+] [-] tjr|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dcminter|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] michaelneale|17 years ago|reply
1) Energy (physical, I guess) 2) No serious financial obligations 3) No family obligations.
I think #2 is probably the biggest. However, if you are older and have no debt/mortgage, plenty of everything, they why not. #3 you can't do anything about really, but as long as you don't mess with #2, the #3's in your house won't be too upset.
Also having kids teaches you to sleep efficiently and economically (you sleep when you can).
I find it fascinating to watch startups, I think its an awesome thing to do.
[+] [-] michael_nielsen|17 years ago|reply
(That submission got no votes at all, which greatly surprised me, given how often people discuss this here.)
[+] [-] jcl|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] radley|17 years ago|reply
It's not a matter of age, it's just a matter of managing commitments.
[+] [-] nir|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] noodle|17 years ago|reply
the standard difference is that younger people tend to have more flexibility in failure -- if they don't succeed they can still get a regular job and retire and live happily ever after. they don't have a family, a house, sometimes don't have a car, are comparatively more healthy, etc. its easier to live off of nothing, bootstrap themselves, and fail gracefully.
a prototypical older person has more responsibilities, has bills to pay, has a family to support, etc.. there's more of a need of a steady income stream. if you feel like you're in a situation to be able to follow your idea and still uphold your responsibilities, then go for it.
[+] [-] ucdaz|17 years ago|reply
Ask yourself these questions:
1. Do you have passion behind your idea?
2. Can you execute your idea to fruition?
3. If not now, when? When your 50? 70?
Don't live life asking yourself "What if?" Give it a try before you dig yourself into a deep hole.
[+] [-] ojbyrne|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dboyd|17 years ago|reply
Good luck!
[+] [-] tptacek|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bootload|17 years ago|reply
So is there any logic behind this or just a quick response?
[+] [-] matthewsimon|17 years ago|reply
Possible drawbacks to older founders include: - may not be able to work for free (or nearly so) for as long a time, because they have families to support (or have simply grown accustomed to a higher standard of living than ramen and crashing on someone's couch). - may not be able to work for as many hours per week, again because of families, accustomed comfort, etc.
On the positive side, older founders are: - more likely to have the business and professional relationships that will facilitate customer sales and/or investor deals. - may be able to work more efficiently and effectively, because of the things they have learned (technology, management, specific domains, business, etc).
There might be some business plans that can best be executed by college-age folks, but there are others that are best executed by someone older -- figure out how to make your idea work for you, and go for it!
[+] [-] t0pj|17 years ago|reply
I'm designing my first web site.
I can only do it during nights and weekends.
I'm happy.
I'm 35.
I will never quit.
[+] [-] senthil_rajasek|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Prrometheus|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bh|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] FredSAN|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ajbatac|17 years ago|reply