You’re finally at the point in your life to launch the company of your dreams. After decades of working for others, you are ready to be your own boss. You’ve got the experience, the professional network, and a killer business idea that also brings you joy . . . but where’s the money?
The data are clear: it’s a solid business decision to fund founders who start companies later-in-life. Researchers from MIT, the Census Bureau, and the Kellogg School of Business looked at the founder’s age as a predictor of success across 2.7 million companies and concluded that a 50-year-old entrepreneur is nearly twice as likely to have a runaway success as a 30-year-old. “The longer you’ve been around, the better your odds,” notes Benjamin F. Jones, an author of the study.
And yet, many encore entrepreneurs find it vexing to raise capital, especially when ageism bias appears to be a factor.
Join us at the next Founders Over 55+ Club for an informative conversation on the funding landscape for encore entrepreneurs:
• Doug Dickson, Board Chair Encore Boston Network, provides a useful framework of funding mechanisms that will help you to organize your thinking about access to capital
• Mike Bevilacqua, Practice Leader at KPM Outsource Accounting Solutions, and financial advisor for entrepreneurs, outlines the pros and cons of various funding sources and how to evaluate what avenues would work best for you such as public and private grants, government loans, personal loans, private equity, angel funding, and VC investments.
• Hosted by Danielle D. Duplin, Cofounder and Global Director, AGENCY: Worldwide Innovation for Living Longer and Aging Better
• Plenty of time for your questions and virtual networking with members of the Founders Over 55 community!
The Founders Over 55+ Club is a collegial community of company founders in their encore careers. We start and build thriving businesses where our age and lifelong experiences are an asset. We share best practices for success, celebrate each other’s professional and personal journeys, and champion an age-friendly business ecosystem. F55+ is an inclusive member-led club that welcomes entrepreneurs of ALL ages, stages, generations and backgrounds.