Through Entrepreneurship
Through Entrepreneurship is a podcast exploring how entrepreneurship – when supported by the right ecosystems – can drive economic growth, solve complex societal challenges, and foster a more equitable future.
Each episode goes beyond the myth of the lone entrepreneur to uncover the real systems that make innovation possible. From student debt and healthcare barriers to the transformative power of local businesses and public-private partnerships, the show examines the forces that shape who gets to succeed and who gets left behind.
Grounded in research and stories from entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and community leaders, Through Entrepreneurship highlights the power of new and growing businesses as engines of job creation and community resilience.
Every conversation ends with actionable insights for all stakeholders: entrepreneurs, educators, policymakers, investors, and citizens alike – because building a more supportive entrepreneurial environment is a collective endeavor.
Through Entrepreneurship
013: How Age-Proofing Your Career Unlocks the Next Economic Boom
The "Great Age Shift" is not a burden but the biggest untapped economic opportunity: the longevity dividend. Unlocking this $26 trillion-plus potential relies on supporting experienced older founders, the encore entrepreneurs, who are statistically more successful and perfectly positioned to innovate for this growing market.
Key Concepts & Discussion Points
- Longevity Economy Scale: The U.S. 65+ population is projected to reach 82 million by 2050. The global 60+ group jumps from 1 billion in 2020 to 1.4 billion by 2030.
- Economic Power: The U.S. 50+ segment contributed $8.3 trillion (40% of U.S. GDP) in 2018, projected to hit $26.8 trillion by 2050.
- Aha! Moment: The average age of founders for the fastest-growing U.S. startups (top 0.1%) was 45. A 50-year-old founder is about twice as likely to achieve a major successful exit compared to a 30-year-old.
- Encore Edge: Success is driven by deep industry experience, established networks, greater financial stability for bootstrapping, and practiced managerial skills.
- Motivation: The primary motivation is personal fulfillment, finding purpose in a "second act," and a strong desire for social impact.
- Age Tech Market: Innovation is critical across healthcare (telemedicine, digital therapeutics), elder care (caregiver solutions, fall prevention sensors), and combating isolation (learning communities like Get Setup).
- Barriers: The main hurdles are pervasive investor age bias in funding and the need for tailored support to address perception/reality of digital skills gaps.
Actionable Recommendations
For Policymakers & Government Leaders:
- Remove Disincentives: Adjust pension/Social Security rules that penalize continued contributions.
- Expand Support: Expand tailored digital skills programs and foster intergenerational teams.
For Entrepreneurs & Innovators:
- Leverage Experience: Use domain expertise as the "unfair advantage".
- Embrace Tools: Utilize low-code/no-code and AI tools to bypass pure coding skill barriers.
- Target Growth: Focus on the specific needs of the fast-growing 80+ segment.
For the Ecosystem (Investors, Educators, Community Leaders):
- Challenge Bias: Actively challenge age bias, as the data proves older founders' higher success rate.
- Support Caution: Support "rational caution" and the focus on steady profitability.
- Celebrate Role Models: Highlight encore success stories (e.g., Ray Kroc, Colonel Sanders, Dave Duffield).
The Big Takeaway
Embracing senior entrepreneurship is an economic necessity that transforms aging from decline to a new stage of creativity and contribution. Harnessing this longevity dividend through institutional support secures a more sustainable economic future.