What our deal flow reveals about founders over 50 vs. young founders so far.
When we started Brilliant Minds, people doubted founders over 50 even existed. Today, our deal flow doesn’t just prove they exist—it shows they’re leading in ways young founders can’t match.
What 50+ founders focus on
Deep industry solutions: Tackling problems they’ve faced in their careers.
Complex technical problems: Health tech (28.7%), AI infra (21%) and FinTech (8.3%) lead the way.
Industry-transforming tech: High-impact, research-backed innovation that transforms entire sectors.
source: Based on Brilliant Minds' deal flow of 680 startups
“39.2% of our deal flow are first-time founders proving it’s never too late to start disrupting.”
Serial founders dominate in health tech, leveraging their experience and networks to navigate highly regulated, high-barrier industries. Their proven ability to scale solutions efficiently is a key strength.
First-time founders stand out in clean tech, driven by a passion to tackle climate and sustainability challenges with fresh perspectives. Their career-long expertise in related fields often informs their focus on research-backed, impactful innovations.
Why It Matters:
Serial founders excel in sectors requiring strategic navigation of regulatory and market complexities. First-time founders bring bold, fresh ideas to industries like clean tech, where innovation is critical to addressing global challenges.
This dual dynamic showcases the versatility and impact of founders over 50, proving that both experience and new perspectives are vital for solving today’s toughest problems.
Team dynamics
Multigenerational teams dominate tech/AI (58%): Wisdom meets fresh ideas.
Healthcare/biotech teams (52%): Collaboration across ages to solve complex challenges.
Traditional sectors: More likely to see single-generation teams, reflecting established norms.
source: Based on Brilliant Minds' deal flow of 680 startups
Young founders vs. 50+ founders: The comparison
Young founders
Focus: Consumer apps, social media, quick-adoption products.
Approach: Viral growth, heavy marketing, rapid scaling, high burn rates.
Problem Selection: Daily conveniences, lifestyle trends, entertainment.
Market Strategy: User acquisition, venture capital dependence, fast exits.
50+ Founders
Focus: Healthcare, deep industry solutions, climate, and high-barrier markets.
Approach: Long-term solutions, leveraging expert networks, strategic industry transformation.
Problem Selection: Complex challenges, scientific breakthroughs, regulatory compliance.
Market Strategy: Strategic partnerships, sustainable growth, revenue-driven models.
Why 50+ founders stand out
While younger founders move fast and chase viral growth, founders over 50 focus on expertise, industry transformation, and sustainable strategies makes them the ideal innovators for high-barrier markets.
The data speaks: experience wins when it comes to solving the world’s most challenging problems. At Brilliant Minds, we’re here to back them.