The best of times, the worst of times: Tech startups - advanced degrees, founder ages, etc

The best of times, the worst of times

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way... Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Tech startups - advanced degrees, founder ages, etc

The EETimes reports on a new study by the Kauffman foundation about the founders of technology and engineering startups.

3 interesting takeaways -

• The average and median age of U.S.-born tech founders was 39 when they started their companies.

• U.S.-born tech founders with MBAs established companies more quickly (in 13 years) than others. Tech founders with PhDs typically waited 21 years(!)

• U.S.-born tech founders holding CS and IT degrees founded companies sooner after graduating than engineering degree holders (14.3 years vs. 17.6 years).

Note that the study only included US born tech founders. I wonder how the numbers would vary for non-US born tech founders founding tech companies in the US.

Even more reason to get an MBA!

Labels: entrepreneurship, manaswini, silicon-valley, startup