Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45
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2007–2026One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.
First comments on top threads
HN comment orderI have been an entrepreneur for 17 years and am now “middle aged”. In my early years, I made many, many mistakes that could probably be pegged to youthful hubris. I also had no idea how to run a real business because I had scant experience even working for one let alone crafting anything approaching a “go to market plan”. If I were to start a new company today, I would probably lack the carefree creativity of a 23-year-old, not…
Important note about these studies: Success = high employee growth from year 0-5 OR fastest sales growth OR successfully exit through an IPO or acquisition VC isn't looking at those three factors above. They are looking at LARGEST overall return percentage. VC and the media don't care about 1-30x returns, which is likely where most of these exits are. HBR should go back and look at the ages of founders that have $1B exits or 100X+ returns on capital if…
Founding a successful startup requires a tonne of soft skills that most people need time to build.
The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.
- Breakout years
- 2
- Total points
- 725
- Total comments
- 208
100+ points or 50+ comments
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
Every submission
| Date | Title as submitted | By | Points | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-07-13 | Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45 | sus_007 | 4 | 0 |
| 2018-07-13 | Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45 | bovermyer | 4 | 0 |
| 2018-08-30 | Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45 | karimf | 1 | 0 |
| 2018-10-14 | Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45First breakout · Best thread | BerislavLopac | 576 | 168 |
| 2020-09-28 | Research: Average Age of a Successful Founder is 45 | paulsutter | 104 | 34 |
| 2022-03-12 | The average age of a successful startup founder is 45 (2018)Latest 20+ point return | caaqil | 27 | 6 |
| 2023-04-13 | Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45 (2018) | IAmGraydon | 3 | 0 |
| 2024-11-10 | Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45 (2018) | squircle | 6 | 0 |