The Art of Entrepreneurship at Any Age

“It’s Never Too Late to Build Something Great” 

They say success favors the young, but reality tells a different story. According to studies by the Kauffman Foundation and MIT Sloan, the average successful entrepreneur is around 40–45 years old, and founders over 50 are statistically twice as likely to achieve a high-growth exit compared to those in their 30s (MIT Sloan, 2018; Kauffman Foundation, 2014; Harvard Business Review, 2018). Experience, emotional intelligence, and resilience often outweigh raw speed or youth. 

In Episode 08 – ‘Don't Be Afraid to Change your Profession’ of the Mente Hispana Podcast, a guest shared how leaving a stable job at 45 to launch his own company was 'less about risk and more about alignment, aligning my work with my values and my family.' That’s the real art of entrepreneurship: transforming experience into impact. 

The Latino Drive to Build and Belong 

In Latino culture, work is more than survival, it’s identity. The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in our roots, often fueled by necessity but driven by pride. From family-owned taquerías to digital startups, Latino entrepreneurs bring to the table a unique blend of resilience, community, and vision. 
 
This mindset “no hay edad para empezar” reminds us that leadership is not measured by years, but by the willingness to serve and create. As many of our Mente Hispana guests highlight, purpose is timeless, and every chapter of life can spark new beginnings. 

Practical Strategies for Every Age 

Whether you’re 25 or 55, here are three principles to anchor your next step: 

1. Leverage Your Experience.
   Your past roles, even the ones that seemed ordinary, gave you insights others lack. Map them. Every contact, challenge, and success is a competitive advantage. 

2. Build a Support Network. 
   Surround yourself with mentors and peers who challenge your perspective. In remote and multicultural teams, diversity of thought is your greatest asset. 

3. Adopt a Growth Mindset. 
   Replace the question “Am I too old to start?” with “What do I still want to contribute?” That shift changes everything. 

“Dreams don’t retire, people do.” 

 
Entrepreneurship has no expiration date it’s a lifelong invitation to grow, serve, and create meaning. The best time to start may have been yesterday; the second-best time is today. As one Mente Hispana guest put it, “Dreams don’t retire, people do.” 

Follow Mente Hispana on Spotify and YouTube to hear stories of entrepreneurs who prove that leadership, courage, and creativity have no age limit. 

Additional Resources 
• “The Age of the Entrepreneur” – Harvard Business Review 
• “Latino Entrepreneurs Are Rewriting the American Dream” – Forbes Latino 
• Mente Hispana Podcast – Inspiring conversations with Latino leaders building without borders. 

Written by Sergio Velarde, MBA, M.A. in Human Capital Management, and Industrial Engineer. He is the CEO of GTMG and Founder of Mente Hispana — The Thought Leadership Podcast. With 10+ years of international experience in organizational strategy and human development, Sergio helps leaders build resilient, high-performing teams across cultures. 

References 

• Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (2014). 'The Old Are the Perfect Entrepreneurs.' World Economic Forum. Available at: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2014/01/old-perfect-entrepreneur 
  Azoulay, P., Jones, B. F., Kim, J. D., & Miranda, J. (2018). 'Age and High-Growth Entrepreneurship.' MIT Sloan Research Paper No. 5191-16. Available at: https://mitsloan.mit.edu/shared/ods/documents?PublicationDocumentID=6212 

• Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (2014). 'The Old Are the Perfect Entrepreneurs.' World Economic Forum. Available at: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2014/01/old-perfect-entrepreneur 

• Azoulay, P., Jones, B. F., Kim, J. D., & Miranda, J. (2018). 'Age and High-Growth Entrepreneurship.' MIT Sloan Research Paper No. 5191-16. Available at: https://mitsloan.mit.edu/shared/ods/documents?PublicationDocumentID=6212 

• Harvard Business Review (2018). 'The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45 Years.' Available at: https://hbr.org/2018/07/research-the-average-age-of-a-successful-startup-founder-is-45 

• Enterprise Nation / King’s College London (2023). 'We Rely on Entrepreneurs Over 50.' Available at: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/care-analysis-we-rely-on-entrepreneurs-over-50 

• Mente Hispana Podcast (2025). Episode 08 – ‘Don't Be Afraid to Change your Profession’. Available on Spotify and YouTube.