How Old Is Too Old for YC?

Question

Ok, I know there is no limit, but in practical terms how would age impact the decision?I am a sole founder, but would consider a co-founder if I could find a suitable one, with a working software product that has been demonstrated as working well by me personally in a substantial use case.It's basically no code for industrial safety and control systems, imo it finds the sweet spot between needing to not know how to code and relating directly to the output.The combustion engineers and the PLC systems engineer I worked with loved it.It is an executeable specification that generates the controller code and the functional description, plus allow simulation, interface via OPC, application of formal methods by TLA+ etc etc etc.There is no invention, other than a workflow and methodology collecting a number of known solutions together particularly well. It allows the seemingly elusive dream of an IEC61499 arbitrary/generic implementation. It also allows traceability to a level that easily supports SIL 3 rigor.But, I am on the wrong side of 50, will this be a detraction to YC?My other path is to open source it and hope it becomes ubiquitous, as I would rather do this than see it whither and die, it is too good to just ignore or discard.

contingencies · Accepted Answer

I'm 40 and just began managing factories and designing electronics, resolving machine issues and doing some electrical for the last 5 years. Absolutely a lot of it needs a refresh. Reading your recent comments I can see you know your stuff. Happy to collaborate or share ideas, please provide an email address in your profile. Can't answer the YC question, I did the online course and it was good but I probably got more technically out of the TechStars Venture Deals course.

jd_illa · Answer

I think the answer to your questions is no, but why does it matter? It sounds like you are on the path to creating a great product that people want. I'm sure YC would be a helpful boost, but ultimately creating an awesome product for people who want it is the most exciting aspect of the startup journey. Traction > accelerator prestige!