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Is Age Just a Number? Big Wins by Older Entrepreneurs

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Is Age Just a Number? Big Wins by Older Entrepreneurs

Is Age Just a Number? Big Wins by Older Entrepreneurs

The entrepreneurial archetype that people think of in 2015 is usually some sort of kid-genius programmer or visionary that strikes it big. Think of Mark Zuckerberg, who created co-founded Facebook in his early 20s and launched a multi-billion dollar empire.

However, through society’s reverence for such enigmatic figures, we’ve forgot about a group that gets less appreciation than they deserve: entrepreneurs who launch big businesses closer to their golden years.

Today’s infographic shows that older entrepreneurs are more likely than their younger counterparts to be successful in certain industries. For example, the average successful founder in the computers, health care, and aerospace industries is about 40 years old. Further, a study by the Founders Institute discovered that businesses are more likely to succeed as their founders close in on that same age.

There are actually more entrepreneurs in higher age brackets than before. Just 14.3% of new entrepreneurs in 1996 were older than 55, and in 2012 that number soared to 23.4%. Today, this older segment actually starts new businesses at a higher rate than folks in their 20s or 30s, and has the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity overall. An older entrepreneur can handle the financial risks, and also tends to have a more stable family life and better experience.

Some successful entrepreneurs who started businesses later in life include Sam Walton (Wal-mart) at age 44, Gordon Bowker (Starbucks) at age 51, Arianna Huffington (Huffington Post) at age 54, and Charles Flint (IBM) at age 61.

Is age just a number? It seems so. Older entrepreneurs are founding more businesses and achieving great things, even in the “Zuckerberg” age.

Original graphic by: SurePayroll

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Mapped: Internet Download Speeds by Region

North America and East Asia have the speediest internet.

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Map illustrating median download speeds in each global region.

Mapped: Internet Download Speeds by Region

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

In today’s fast-paced world, internet speed isn’t just a convenience—it’s the driving force behind how we work, play, and connect.

In this map, we illustrate median download speeds in each global region, based on data from the World Bank’s Digital Progress and Trends Report 2023.

North America and East Asia Have the Speediest Internet

According to the World Bank, download speeds in high-income countries increased significantly between 2019 and 2023, while speeds in lower-income countries stagnated.

As of 2022, North America and East Asia have the speediest internet.

RegionMedian mobile download speed (Mb/sec)Median fixed broadband download speed (Mb/sec)
East Asia & Pacific90171
Europe & Central Asia4485
Latin America & the Caribbean2674
Middle East & North Africa3636
North America83193
South Asia2743
Sub-Saharan Africa1615

This difference in broadband speeds can mainly be attributed to investment.

In 2020, nearly 90% of global telecommunication investment came from East Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, and North America. These regions not only concentrate the highest-income population but also the top technology hubs.

Meanwhile, low- and middle-income regions such as Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for less than 10% of total investment.

Most of the investment is directed towards fiber optic and 5G mobile networks. According to the mobile industry association GSMA, mobile operators alone are projected to invest more than $600 billion between 2022 and 2025, with 85% of the total allocated for 5G.

In 2023, broadband speeds in high-income countries were 10x faster for fixed connections, and 5x faster for mobile connections compared to those in low-income countries.

Fixed broadband connections, which provide high-speed internet to residences or businesses, reached 38% of the population in high-income countries. In comparison, fixed broadband penetration was only 4% of the population in lower-middle-income countries and almost zero in low-income countries.

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