Education and Tech Entrepreneurship

Advanced education is critical to the success of tech startups.

In this study, we explore the education backgrounds of U.S.-born technology and engineering company founders. Despite common stereotypes characterizing these individuals as young college dropouts, we found them to be middle-aged, well-educated and hold degrees from a wide assortment of universities.

In fact, twice as many U.S.-born tech entrepreneurs start ventures in their 50s as do those in their early 20s. U.S.-born engineering and tech company founders are overwhelmingly well-educated. While there are significant differences in the types of degrees these entrepreneurs obtain and the time they take to start a company after they graduate. Further, elite, highly ranked schools are over-represented in the ranks of these founders, and Ivy-League graduates achieve the greatest business success; however, 92 percent of U.S.-born founders graduate from other universities.

Media

Wired Magazine – Clive Thompson: Why Veteran Visionaries... (09/22/08)
Wall Street Journal – Tech Entrepreneurs Mostly Aren't Youngsters After All (05/01/08)
EE Times – Study: US Entrepreneurs are Educated, Experienced (05/01/08)
Information Week – Tech Entrepreneurs Older, More Educated than Stereotype (05/01/08)
Pacific Business News – What an Entrepreneur Looks Like (05/01/08)
Business Week – How To Foster Tech Entrepreneurship (04/30/08)