[confoundcofound]

It’s so deflating to see both YC & PG focus their content almost solely on the younger generations. As someone who came to tech later in their mid-30s, it’s not hard to feel like expired goods when the “thought leaders” of tech are unabashedly gunning for younger minds with little to no acknowledgement of those who may want to start ventures during later stages of life.

The more I try to plug myself in, the more it seems like starting a company at this age is borderline schizophrenic delusion.

[mbgerring]

Average age of successful startup founders is 35-45. YC likes young founders because they’re impressionable and exploitable.

[autonomousErwin]

That makes them sound a bit more predatory than the reality of it but I get what you mean. When you're younger, by definition, you've got more shots on goal, you don't have other responsibilities (mortgage, kids, partners etc.) so you can take more riskier decisions, and you more have to rely on first principle thinking instead of experience (because you don't have any).

Saying that, I would like to see the advice for higher age ranges as I have a feeling more successful startups tend to be around there.

[pylua]

Can you elaborate on this — or any evidence?

[pylua]

I had the same sort of reaction, even though I felt like the article was not intending to invoke that.

Looking back, when I was the age in the article I was way too insecure and nervous to be able to take this advice. Looking at it now I think it is great and want to set my children up with that way of thinking.

I am 34 and found the message inspiring.

[codingdave]

Don't be deflated - it is not a negative statement on you. For most people, going the startup route is bad advice. Older people know that and take much more care to set up safety nets for themselves before going into the VC world. I don't want to go so far to say that YC & PC are exploiting the naivety of youth... but they certainly know which demographics will embrace the risk vs. which will not, and they speak accordingly.