AI Ready: The Advantages of Being a Young Entrepreneur
Introduction
The entrepreneurial landscape is rapidly evolving, and being AI ready offers significant advantages for today’s young entrepreneurs. This shift is exemplified by the journey of three ambitious founders who have embraced technology to carve their niche in business.
– Arnau Ayerbe, a recent graduate from the University of Bath, quickly found himself in a prestigious AI engineering role at JP Morgan. However, he soon recognized that the conventional corporate path felt limiting. I realized very quickly that the person to my right and to my left were going to be me in 20 years, and I didn’t want to become that, recounts Ayerbe, who opted for a more adventurous route.
– Alongside his high school friend from Madrid, Pablo Jiménez de Parga Ramos, and university peer Bergen Merey, Ayerbe co-founded Throxy in London in 2023. The company specializes in creating AI agents for sales teams and has already raised nearly £5 million in funding, achieving annual sales of almost £1.2 million. Their story represents a growing trend among young adults; data from Enterprise Nation reveals that 62% of Gen Z—those born between 1997 and 2012—aspire to start their own businesses.
The Surging Trend of Gen Z Entrepreneurs
– Recent insights from the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans program indicate that loans awarded to Gen Z founders have doubled in the past five years.
– For the founders of Throxy, the path hasn’t been easy, marked by a demanding “9-9-6” work philosophy, which calls for working 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week. Ayerbe acknowledges the trials faced, stating, “If I had known the amount of effort and work I needed to do to take the company to this point, I would probably have never started it.”
Leveraging Familiarity with AI
– A key advantage for these young entrepreneurs lies in their intuitive understanding of AI technology. Ayerbe recalls working with early models of ChatGPT during his academic projects, describing the experience as “magic.” He believed deeply in AI’s potential to revolutionize how humans work.
– Research from investment network Antler supports this notion, revealing that younger entrepreneurs are increasingly leading successful AI startups. An analysis of 3,512 founders of companies that became worth over $1 billion showed that the average age of an AI unicorn founder dropped from 40 in 2020 to 29 in 2024.
Overcoming Age Bias
Despite their successes, young entrepreneurs often face age-related challenges. Rosie Skuse, a business owner in her early 20s, highlights the common underestimation she has encountered. I was often mistaken for my boss’s assistant, she shares. “People wouldn’t even shake my hand at first. It was really tough, and I struggled with it.
Skuse, now 29, is the founder and CEO of Molto Music Group, which caters to high-profile clients like The Dorchester and Raffles. Despite launching in 2019 and facing early setbacks due to the Covid pandemic, her company made its first million in 2023 and grossed £1.6 million in 2025.
I have no business education; it’s all been trial by fire, Skuse explains. But being young and fostering a youthful company can be a breath of fresh air compared with our competitors. It’s more memorable.
Wisdom from Experience
Experienced entrepreneurs provide valuable insights for their younger counterparts. Lee Broders, 53, who started his first business at 26, emphasizes that success isn’t solely about making a quick profit. Speed can often hide fragile foundations, he cautions. Growing something quickly doesn’t always equal sustainability or robustness.
Similarly, Sarah Skelton, co-founder and managing director of Flourish, a recruitment firm, notes that young entrepreneurs may miss out on critical leadership skills often gained through traditional work environments. It’s fantastic that you can set up a business quickly today, but lived experience is vital for effective leadership, she advises, highlighting the importance of building a robust professional network.
In conclusion, being AI ready positions young entrepreneurs like Ayerbe, Ramos, Merey, and Skuse at the forefront of innovation. Their stories illustrate both the opportunities and challenges that come with launching a business in a rapidly evolving landscape. While age may bring certain biases, it also endows them with a fresh perspective and a deep familiarity with technology, setting the stage for a promising future in entrepreneurship.