Age as a Factor on Startups

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of age as a factor on the success of a startup. The research took into consideration three different theories, being culture fit theory by (Mobasseri et al., 2017), generational differences theory by(Ng & Parry, 2016) and risk sensitivity theory by (Weber et al., 2002). The research used a case study company within Finland which is marketing adtech firm that can be classified as a startup. Triangulation was used in order to achieve the data collection necessary for a valid and reliable study. The study used a mix of self completion forms, one on one interviews and a managerial dashboard. The results showed that the main factors which affect a startups success in regard to age come down to the work persona which is formed through a combination of three specific factors: the culture fit of an employee, their ability to take risks and the generational differences between employees. These all tie back to the theories originally examined. In regards to the secondary research questions of the age distribution within startups, and how a younger workforce can be a positive and a negative it was found that startups tend to favour younger employees with a small mix of older employees. These older employees tend to have experience which benefits them, but in the long run it seems that younger employees who have experience tend to perform best.