I'm doing some side projects, but until now never managed to start anything (personal problems), and it always bugs me if I'm "too old" to start a startup.
HN take on this?
If you can change your situation or tolerate the changes creating a startup will introduce (working after hours, quitting your job, making contacts, whatever you choose), you can do it.
My story: I initially went, fine, I'm too old and I can't program so I'm out. This was a waste. When I sat down and genuinely looked at it I have basically the same profile as a graduate (single, educated, no major bad debt), but with the bonus of what the last 8 years in a corp setting has brought to me (insight, GFC, some usable assets, project management skills, etc).
Pathway after throwing out the age idea was simple - what are my skill sets? What resources do I have? What am I willing and realistically able to do? What will I enjoy? How much profit do I want from this? Will it be a fulltime job?
Now I'm into doing a volume of freelance art, and moving the completed work into merchandising and passive revenue ideas (prints, licensed work, etc). It's not the traditional "startup" type thing, but the plan is to expand it into a standalone business of some form once it builds a head of capital up.
Basically, do whatever you can stomach, and don't use age as an excuse. Building your venture / new life will probably take a few years anyhow, so will it bother you if you're 32 and still building something? 38? 45? Or would it bother you more to _wait_ until you're 45 to start?
"More millionaires are made in their 50s than any other decade." (From Dave Ramsey: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,426043,00.html)
If 'startup' to you means 21 year olds drinking beer in a studio and living on ramen noodles and pizza, then yeah, you're WAY too old (what are you even doing READING this site?).
If 'startup' means a way of you controlling your destiny, making a difference in your life and the lives of others, being creative, and following your passions, then you're not too old.
If you are supporting other people it may be quite a bit harder but if you are basically only supporting yourself I would see age as an advantage as you have more experience in dealing with problems and more solutions available.
Age to me seems like a silly thing to prevent you from starting a business it is the other things in like that should be taken into consideration.
You'll see that people who create startups come in all ages and walks of life.
We'll see if startup #3 does any better (having a strong cofounder has certainly helped), but I think I can already say that there's no way our early-20s selves would have gotten this far (the two of us just weren't ready for it).
So no, you've got a few good years left.