Jeff Bezos says young founders should work before launching a startup

Should you skip working your way up and launch a startup straight out of school, or wait until you’ve gained some ‘real-world’ experience? It’s a divisive question that Jeff Bezos himself has weighed in on.

In a recent interview, the Amazon founder advised young founders, particularly Gen Z, to gain work experience before launching their own companies. He argues that time in the workforce will teach you valuable lessons.

There’s a touch of irony, since Bezos himself famously started Amazon with a not-insignificant $250,000 investment from his parents. Still, his point raises an important question for budding entrepreneurs: learn the ropes, or dive in head-first?

Why Bezos thinks work experience matters

“I always advise young people: go work at a best-practices company somewhere where you can learn a lot of basic fundamental things [like] how to hire really well, how to interview, etc.,” Bezos told Italian Tech Week earlier this month, as reported by Fortune. 

“There’s a lot of stuff you would learn in a great company that will help you, and then there’s still lots of time to start a company after you have absorbed it.”

He added that working for an established company, instead of immediately starting your own, “increases your odds” of success.

Bezos’ point is that time spent at a well-run company offers a new starter a crash course in leadership, operations, and customer understanding. It’s a lower-risk environment to make mistakes and see how systems actually work, before you’re responsible for building your own.

It’s worth remembering that Bezos has openly said he got a hefty investment from his parents to get Amazon off the ground. That said, even with family backing, professional experience, and an Ivy League education, he’s still had his share of missteps.

Take the 2014 Fire Phone, for example; it ended up costing Amazon $170 million. His career shows that while no advantage guarantees perfection, gaining hands-on experience in a real-world setting can make a difference in knowing how to respond to setbacks.

The Zuckerberg effect

Then there’s the other path, the clichéd tech founder who didn’t even finish university, yet still went on to make billions. 

The stereotype was immortalised by Mark Zuckerberg, as depicted in The Social Network as a hoodie-wearing student who launched Facebook from his Harvard dorm. Fast forward to May 2025, and the Meta chairman is worth $221.2 billion, according to Forbes.

His story, along with similar ‘college dropout’ trajectories such as that of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, shaped the stereotype of the founder that is young, fearless, and untainted by corporate culture.

It’s easy to be drawn in by this approach. Younger founders often bring energy, fresh ideas, and a willingness to take risks. Without years of ingrained habits or industry biases, they can notice opportunities that others might miss. 

And many would jump at the chance to skip the office and focus on their own project, but is it always the best route?

Skipping the “real world” can mean a much steeper learning curve, potential operational blind spots, and a higher chance of burnout. Zuckerberg’s “move fast and break things” motto can be effective, but it loses its appeal when it’s your business or wellbeing on the line.

Founders who worked first

Many successful entrepreneurs built their foundations elsewhere before starting their own ventures.

For example, Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky worked as an industrial designer after graduation, while Glossier founder Emily Weiss had a high-profile internship at Teen Vogue. Those experiences gave them insights that later proved invaluable.

It’s also about building resilience. Early wins, like a solid degree or internship, boost your confidence to embark on bigger projects, while overcoming mistakes early on will help you bounce back from larger setbacks. 

Roles in startups, consultancies, or tech firms can help future founders develop practical skills, managing budgets, leading teams, and delivering value to customers.

For Gen Z founders, it’s wise to pick a suitable “prep job” that offers insight into transferable skills like smart decision-making, leadership, and how to deal with clients.

Ultimately, there’s no one-size-fits-all. Zuckerberg’s early start and Bezos’ post-30 leap show that routes to success can vary; and both cases show that having helping hands or financial backing certainly also doesn’t go amiss.