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Older Entrepreneurs Finding New Life In Startups

By on March 10, 2013 in News

USA Today:

Over the past decade, the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity belongs to the 55 to 64 age group, according to a study by the Kauffman Foundation, a Kansas City, Mo.-based entrepreneurship institute. The 20 to 34 age bracket has the lowest rate.

“When people think startups, they think kids,” said Christian Gurney of Torsion Mobile, a year-old Des Moines tech firm. He and co-founder Richard Kirsner’s combined ages are 114, and they say it’s no liability.

“We tell clients, ‘We’ve made lot of mistakes and we’re not likely to repeat them.’ That gets chuckles, but also wry smiles,” Gurney said. “They’ve worked with the new startup sensation, a 20-something, and 50% of the time it flamed out.”

Do you think older entrepreneurs really know best?

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Angela Shupe has added 5,783 posts to Business Opportunities Weblog.

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  • http://infocorpsolutions.net Amit

    The young have the energy but the old have the experince and uncanny ability to spot talents, upcoming glitches and points where things could go wrong.

  • http://www.cmoe.com Susan

    Perhaps they may not necessarily know best, but they do have the advantage of experience and more insights. I actually find it refreshing that more and more older people are starting their own companies.

  • http://www.reminicents Jeff Byer

    As an older entrepreneur I have found that starting a business provided more than just an income. It has provided hours of entertainment and has given me a
    sense of self worth.

  • http://n.a. cindy hawkins

    I am 64; my hubby Ric is close to 70. We are both still employed, but between us we have worked in the maritime industry, the textile industry, the music industry, catering, health, and film and tv. In our respective work lives we have each of us never missed an opportunity to acquire new skills and learn something: sometimes the really terrible misfires teach you volumes! And as the other comments say, wisdom and experience are important, and become part of your ‘Life Portfolio”, as you move into your older years and perhaps decide to start a business entity. Look at the knowledge you have to draw on! And when in doubt, I call up one of my silver haired buddies. And often THEY have some great ideas from their own career history!

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